EART34001
Dinosaur Palaeobiology
10
Semester 1
Undergraduate
Level 6
Phillip Manning
Unit coordinator
1
FHEQ level (Framework for Higher Education Qualifications) ' Last part of a Bachelors '
European Credit Transfer & Accumulation System Rating : 5.0
<div> <p>Dinosaurs and their descendants, the birds, are some of the most successful vertebrates to have evolved, diversify and successfully occupy environments from Pole to Pole. The 230 million year fossil record chronicles their combined evolutionary success, a history that is underpinned by their archosauromorph origins. Students will examine the geological and palaeontological record, reviwing the tools that are now used to excavate, prepare, reconstruct and study the fossils that help provide an understanding of dinosaur palaeobiology. The Earth processes that were intimtaley associated with the evolution, diversification and distribution of archosaurs will be reviewed within a palaeobiogeographic framework. The death, buriel and preservation of vertebrate remains will also be studied to help reconstruct the taphonomic controls and overprints that might impact the fossil record and its interpretation. The ebb and flow of evolution and extinction will also be explored, as will the Mass Extinction events that hailed the beginning and also the end of the Mesozoic Age of the Dinosaurs. The origin and evolution of dinosaur avian descendants will also be explored in the broader context of the recovery of biomes after mass-extinction events.</p></div><p>This course unit detail provides the framework for delivery in 20/21 and may be subject to change due to any additional Covid-19 impact. Please see Blackboard / course unit related emails for any further updates.</p>
<div> <p>Dinosaurs and their descendants, the birds, are some of the most successful vertebrates to have evolved, diversify and successfully occupy environments from Pole to Pole. The 230 million year fossil record chronicles their combined evolutionary success, a history that is underpinned by their archosauromorph origins. Students will examine the geological and palaeontological record, reviwing the tools that are now used to excavate, prepare, reconstruct and study the fossils that help provide an understanding of dinosaur palaeobiology. The Earth processes that were intimtaley associated with the evolution, diversification and distribution of archosaurs will be reviewed within a palaeobiogeographic framework. The death, buriel and preservation of vertebrate remains will also be studied to help reconstruct the taphonomic controls and overprints that might impact the fossil record and its interpretation. The ebb and flow of evolution and extinction will also be explored, as will the Mass Extinction events that hailed the beginning and also the end of the Mesozoic Age of the Dinosaurs. The origin and evolution of dinosaur avian descendants will also be explored in the broader context of the recovery of biomes after mass-extinction events.</p></div><p>This course unit detail provides the framework for delivery in 20/21 and may be subject to change due to any additional Covid-19 impact. Please see Blackboard / course unit related emails for any further updates.</p>
<div> <p>The course will provide an understanding of the terminology, palaeobiology and evolution of archosaurs, with a focus upon the dinosauria. It will also explore how dinosaur form and function was influenced by biological, physiological, mechanical, and environmental factors. Major changes of the Earth and its processes during the Mesozoic will also be discussed in detail in relation to their impacts upon the evolution of archosaurs.</p></div><p> </p>
<table border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"> <tbody> <tr> <td colspan="2" style="width:496px;"> <p><em>On the successful completion of the course, students will be able to: </em></p></td> <td style="width:72px;"> <p><em>Developed</em></p></td> <td style="width:66px;"> <p><em>Assessed</em></p></td> </tr> <tr> <td style="width:64px;height:59px;"> <p>ILO 1</p></td> <td style="width:432px;height:59px;"> <p>Demonstrate a broad understanding of dinosaur evolution and palaeobiology.</p></td> <td style="width:72px;height:59px;"> <p>x</p></td> <td style="width:66px;height:59px;"> <p>x</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td style="width:64px;height:67px;"> <p>ILO 2</p></td> <td style="width:432px;height:67px;"> <p>Describe and understand the processes that impact upon the preservation of fossils (taphonomy)</p></td> <td style="width:72px;height:67px;"> <p>x</p></td> <td style="width:66px;height:67px;"> <p>x</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td style="width:64px;height:76px;"> <p>ILO 3</p></td> <td style="width:432px;height:76px;"> <p>Will acquire the practical skills to describe, interpret and understand vertebrate fossils</p></td> <td style="width:72px;height:76px;"> <p>x</p></td> <td style="width:66px;height:76px;"> <p>x</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td style="width:64px;height:66px;"> <p>ILO 4</p></td> <td style="width:432px;height:66px;"> <p>Use their knowledge to apply a suite of analytical techniques available to interrogate fossil remains both in the lab and the field.</p></td> <td style="width:72px;height:66px;"> <p>x</p></td> <td style="width:66px;height:66px;"> <p>x</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td style="width:64px;height:66px;"> <p>ILO 5</p></td> <td style="width:432px;height:66px;"> <p>Use their knowledge to evaluate hypotheses relating to major vertebrate evolutionary events and evolutionary processes</p><p> </p></td> <td style="width:72px;height:66px;"> <p>x</p></td> <td style="width:66px;height:66px;"> <p>x</p></td> </tr> </tbody></table><p> </p>
<div> These are each typically 2h lecture sessions, but with discussion time built-in every week. </div><div> </div><div> Week 1 Introduction to Vertebrate Anatomy & Recap Tetrapod Evolution</div><div> Week 2 Burial Laws & Palaeobiogeography</div><div> Week 3 Reconstructing Past Communities & Archosaur Origins</div><div> Week 4 The Permo/Trias Mass-Extinction Event & Defining Dinosaurs</div><div> Week 5 The first dinosaurs & Basal Theropods</div><div> Week 6 Theropod Palaeobiology & Radiation of the Theropods </div><div> Week 7 Ornithopods & Thyreophorans</div><div> Week 8 Sauropod Dinosaurs & The Dynamics of Extinct Giants</div><div> Week 9 Avian Theropods and the Origins of Birds</div><div> Week 10 The KPg Mass Extinction Event & Course Review</div><div> Week 11 Student assignment review seminars.</div><div> Week 12 Student assignment review seminars.</div><div> </div>
<div> <p>The format for each week will be two 1 hour sessions (deliverd as blended learning to include reading, lectures and discussion groups (via blackboard or zoom). Students will given an assignment in week 3 that will be a hypothesis driven research topic to be handed-in on week 10. Each student will then deliver a ~10 minute live presentation on their reserach assignment to the whole class via zoom/blackboard.</p></div><p> </p>
1
Written exam
50%
2
Written assignment (inc essay)
30%
7
Oral assessment/presentation
20%
<table border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="0"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="width:102px;height:68px;"><p align="center">Assessment type</p></td> <td style="width:85px;height:68px;"><p>% Weighting within unit</p></td> <td style="width:66px;height:68px;"><p align="center">Hand out and hand in dates</p></td> <td style="width:94px;height:68px;"><p align="center">Length</p><p align="center"> </p></td> <td style="width:170px;height:68px;"><p align="center">How, when and what feedback is provided</p></td> <td style="width:123px;height:68px;"><p>ILO tested</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td style="width:102px;height:101px;">Hypothesis driven research assignment</td> <td style="width:85px;height:101px;">30%</td> <td style="width:66px;height:101px;"> <div>Hand out</div> <div>week 3</div> <div> </div> <div>Hand in week 10</div> <div> </div> </td> <td style="width:94px;height:101px;">2,500-3,000 word assignment</td> <td style="width:170px;height:101px;">Written feedback</td> <td style="width:123px;height:101px;">1-5</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="width:102px;height:101px;"><p>Short seminar on research assignment</p></td> <td style="width:85px;height:101px;"><p>20%</p></td> <td style="width:66px;height:101px;"><p>Week 11 and 12</p></td> <td style="width:94px;height:101px;"><p>~10 minutes</p></td> <td style="width:170px;height:101px;"><p>Written and scored feedback given 2 days of presentation</p></td> <td style="width:123px;height:101px;"><p>1-5</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td style="width:102px;height:101px;"><p>Open Book assessment</p></td> <td style="width:85px;height:101px;"><p>50%</p></td> <td style="width:66px;height:101px;"><p>End of term</p></td> <td style="width:94px;height:101px;"><p>2</p></td> <td style="width:170px;height:101px;"><p>Standard feedback after open-book assessment</p></td> <td style="width:123px;height:101px;"><p>1-5</p></td> </tr> </tbody></table><p> </p>
<table border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="0"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="width:204px;"> <p>Pre-requisite units</p></td> <td style="width:437px;"> <p>None</p></td> </tr> </tbody></table><p> </p>
BSc (Hons) Earth and Plan Scie
BSc (Hons) Earth (Geology)
Third Year
Optional
BSc (Hons) Earth and Plan Scie
BSc (Hons) Earth (Resources)
Third Year
Optional
BSc (Hons) Earth and Plan Scie
BSc(Hons)Earth&Plan Sci-Palaeo
Third Year
Mandatory
MEarthSci (Hons) Ea and Pl Sci
MEarthSci (Hons) Earth (Geolo)
Third Year
Optional
MEarthSci (Hons) Ea and Pl Sci
MEarthSci (Hons) Earth (Resou)
Third Year
Optional
MEarthSci (Hons) Ea and Pl Sci
MEarthSci (Hons) Earth (Palae)
Third Year
Mandatory
MEarthSci (Hons) Earth Industr
MEarthSci EPS Yr Industry (ER)
Third Year
Optional
MEarthSci (Hons) Earth Abroad
MEarthSci EPS Abroad (ER)
Third Year
Optional
MEarthSci (Hons) Earth Abroad
MEarthSci EPS Yr Abroad (Pala)
Third Year
Mandatory
BSc (Hons) Environmental Sci
BSc (Hons) Env Science (EECB)
Third Year
Optional
MEnvSci Environmental Science
MEnvSci Environ Science (EECB)
Third Year
Optional
MEnvSci Env Sci with Ind Exp
MEnvSci Env Sci with IE (EECB)
Third Year
Optional
MEnvSci Env Sci with Int Study
MEnvSci Env Sci with IS (EECB)
Third Year
Optional
MEarthSci (Hons) EPS with Res
MEarthSci (H) EPS (ER) with Re
Third Year
Optional
MEarthSci (Hons) EPS with Res
MEaSc (H) EPS (Paleo) with Res
Third Year
Mandatory
MEnvSci (Hons) Env Sci w Resea
MEnSc (H) En Sc (EECB) with RP
Third Year
Optional
<p>Each week reading will be provided for the relevant literature, mostly in the form original scientific papers and articles.</p><p> </p>
Lectures
20
0
80
<p>20 x 1 hour sessions deliverd as blended learning (combination of pre-class reading/video, along with lectures and seminars).</p>