ID:
502352
Duration (hours):
60
CFU:
6
SSD:
PALEONTOLOGIA E PALEOECOLOGIA
Year:
2025
Overview
Date/time interval
Secondo Semestre (02/03/2026 - 12/06/2026)
Syllabus
Course Objectives
The Part 2-Paleontology of the course “Principles of Earth Sciences” aims to provide the students with basic concepts about the fossil significance and the fossil application to Paleobiology (in a historic-evolutive view), Stratigraphy (also in terms of their contribute to form biogenic rocks) and Paleoecology. At the end of the course the students will know how a fossil can form and how to utilize fossils in the Earth Sciences. In detail, the students will be able to recognize the main groups of fossil Invertebrates contained within a stratigraphic succession, Paleozoic to Holocene in age, to use the fossil content to date a sedimentary succession and to reconstruct the paleoenvironment where the succession was deposited.
Course Prerequisites
Know the difference among "chemical element", "chemical compound", "mineral" and "rock". Know the periodic table of the elements and the redox reactions; know the reaction of chlorophyll photosynthesis and how calcium carbonate is formed. Knowledge of the main minerals that form the rocks and in particular the sedimentary ones (Quartz and Chalcedony, Miche, Feldspar, Calcite, Dolomite, Sulfur, Pyrite, Gypsum and Rock salt); know the definitions of «crystallographic axes» and «polymorphic of a mineral".
Teaching Methods
The teaching “Paleontology” includes lessons, laboratory experiences and individual laboratory exercises finalized to the observation of fossil samples and a field-trip.
Assessment Methods
The final examination is oral and includes a practical part addressed to the recognition and determination of fossil samples combined with an oral discussion with open questions on arguments explained during the teaching.
Texts
- Raffi S. & Serpagli E. – Introduzione alla Paleontologia. UTET - Allasinaz A. – Invertebrati Fossili. UTET - Benton M.J. & Harper D.A.T. – Introduction to Paleobiology and the Fossil Record. WILEY-BLACKWELL The slides of each lesson are available online in “Kiro” http://elearning3.unipv.it/terra/.
Contents
The Part 2, Paleontology, is composed of two portions, a first one dealing with the general paleontological concepts such as: the fossil meaning and Taxonomy (paleontological species concept, nomenclature rules and taxonomic hierarchy); the taphonomic processes (Biostratinomy, Burial and Fossilization s.s.); the major stratigraphic categories, particularly the Biostratigraphy; the theories of Evolution (micro e macro Evolution); the origin of life and the major evolutive events in the history of life; and a second portion reporting some outlines of Systematic of Invertebrate Paleontology, mostly concerning with those Invertebrate Phyla showing peculiar paleontological meaning in the fossil record. They are: Porifera, Cnidaria, Brachiopoda, Mollusca (Bivalvia, Gastropoda, Cephalopoda), Artropoda (Uniramia, Crustacea, Chelicerata), Echinodermata and Hemichordata (Class Graptolithina). The course includes also a field trip on some Italian Fanerozoic sedimentary successions with important geological and paleontological meaning.
Course Language
Italian
More information
A tutor is available to help the students during the practical activities and individual exercises finalized to the recognition of fossil samples. The scheduled dates of these tutorial activities are available online on “Kiro”.
Degrees
Degrees
NATURAL SCIENCES AND TECHNOLOGIES
Bachelor’s Degree
3 years
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