Paleontology and Laboratory
A.Y. 2024/2025
Learning objectives
The course is organized into two units and illustrates the basic concepts of Palaeontlogy that are usefull to geologists.
The first unit is theorethical and includes the presentation of Taphonomy, Systematic Palaeontology with the most important groups of marine invertebrates, Palaeoecology, Biostratigraphy and Chronostratigraphy. Every systematic group is shortly presented in term of stratigraphic distribution, anatomy, structure and morphology of the skeleton, systematic subdivision of the group, mode of life and application in Palaeontology.
The Laboratory unit is dedicated to the description and identification at Phylum/Class level of specimens from a collection consisting of several hundreds of specimens.
The first unit is theorethical and includes the presentation of Taphonomy, Systematic Palaeontology with the most important groups of marine invertebrates, Palaeoecology, Biostratigraphy and Chronostratigraphy. Every systematic group is shortly presented in term of stratigraphic distribution, anatomy, structure and morphology of the skeleton, systematic subdivision of the group, mode of life and application in Palaeontology.
The Laboratory unit is dedicated to the description and identification at Phylum/Class level of specimens from a collection consisting of several hundreds of specimens.
Expected learning outcomes
The student will learn how to recognize and describe macrofossil specimens collected in the field. He will be able to understand the taphonomy of these specimens and to compare it with the diagenetic features of the sediment/rock hosting the specimens.
The student will be able do identify and select the fossils useful for palaeoecological analyses and for biostratigraphic applications.
The student will be able do identify and select the fossils useful for palaeoecological analyses and for biostratigraphic applications.
Lesson period: year
Assessment methods: Esame
Assessment result: voto verbalizzato in trentesimi
Single course
This course can be attended as a single course.
Course syllabus and organization
Single session
Responsible
Lesson period
year
Course syllabus
Module 1 (48 hours)
Role and aims of Paleontology. Relationships with Life Sciences and Earth Sciences.
Living organisms. Chemical elements. Compounds: proteins, lipids, carbohydrates, nucleic acids. The cell, chromosomes and reproduction. Energy production: photosynthesis, aerobic respiration, anaerobic respiration and fermentation. The division of living organisms: the five kingdom model. Ways of life of Monera, Protistae, Fungi, Plantae and Animalia.
Fossils and Taphonomy. Biostratinomic processes: decomposition, disarticulation, maceration, transport, prediagenetic dissolution, burial. Fossildiagenetic processes: encrustation, filling, dissolution, impregnation and permineralization, carbonification, replacement and histometabase, neomorphism. Classification of fossils based on taphonomic history: external mold, natural and artificial cast, internal mold, pseudoshell and replaced shell. Classification of fossils based on transport and burial: autochthonous, allochthonous, reworked and infiltrated fossils.
Classification of fossils. Systematics and taxonomy. Evolutionary taxonomy. Taxonomic hierarchy. Biological species and paleontological species. Delimitation of paleontological species: examples of biometric methods. Grouping species into higher categories: analogous and homologous structures. Naming taxonomic categories.
Elements of systematic paleontology. Characteristics and meaning of the main systematic groups (in summary): Foraminifera (Fusulinaceae, Alveolinidae, Nummulitidae), Porifera, Cnidaria (Rugosa, Tabulata and Scleractinia), Brachiopods, Bivalves, Gastropods, Cephalopods, Trilobites.
Applications of paleontology:
1) Elements of Paleoecology. Classification of marine environments. Mode of life of organisms: ability to move and feed. Ecological factors that control the distribution of organisms. Abiotic and biotic factors: light, wetting, hydrodynamism, temperature, salinity, O2 concentration, nutrients, turbidity, substrate, pressure. Paleoautoecology: taxonomic uniformity and morphofunctional analysis. Paleosynecology: populations and associations. Diversity of an association. Use of fossils to reconstruct the depositional environment of sedimentary rocks (examples).
2) Elements of Biostratigraphy. Stratigraphic sections. Procedure for biostratigraphic classification of a stratigraphic section. Types of biozones: dange zone, concurrent range zone, interval zone, association zone, acme zone. Direct and indirect biostratigraphic correlations. The distribution model and its meaning in the definition of chronostratigraphic units. Using fossils to date sedimentary rocks (examples).
Module 2 (32 hours)
The module has practical purposes, no new notions and concepts are learned, but the knowledge acquired with the first module is applied directly on the fossils. The program includes 2 lessons dedicated to the description of the fossilization of the specimens in the collection, and 10 lessons each dedicated to a systematic group: Fusulinoidea; Alveolinidae and Nummulitidae; Porifera; Cnidaria; Brachiopoda; Bivalvia; Gasteropoda; Nautiloidea; Ammonoidea and Trilobita. The module ends with four lessons of written description of specimens of the various groups.
Role and aims of Paleontology. Relationships with Life Sciences and Earth Sciences.
Living organisms. Chemical elements. Compounds: proteins, lipids, carbohydrates, nucleic acids. The cell, chromosomes and reproduction. Energy production: photosynthesis, aerobic respiration, anaerobic respiration and fermentation. The division of living organisms: the five kingdom model. Ways of life of Monera, Protistae, Fungi, Plantae and Animalia.
Fossils and Taphonomy. Biostratinomic processes: decomposition, disarticulation, maceration, transport, prediagenetic dissolution, burial. Fossildiagenetic processes: encrustation, filling, dissolution, impregnation and permineralization, carbonification, replacement and histometabase, neomorphism. Classification of fossils based on taphonomic history: external mold, natural and artificial cast, internal mold, pseudoshell and replaced shell. Classification of fossils based on transport and burial: autochthonous, allochthonous, reworked and infiltrated fossils.
Classification of fossils. Systematics and taxonomy. Evolutionary taxonomy. Taxonomic hierarchy. Biological species and paleontological species. Delimitation of paleontological species: examples of biometric methods. Grouping species into higher categories: analogous and homologous structures. Naming taxonomic categories.
Elements of systematic paleontology. Characteristics and meaning of the main systematic groups (in summary): Foraminifera (Fusulinaceae, Alveolinidae, Nummulitidae), Porifera, Cnidaria (Rugosa, Tabulata and Scleractinia), Brachiopods, Bivalves, Gastropods, Cephalopods, Trilobites.
Applications of paleontology:
1) Elements of Paleoecology. Classification of marine environments. Mode of life of organisms: ability to move and feed. Ecological factors that control the distribution of organisms. Abiotic and biotic factors: light, wetting, hydrodynamism, temperature, salinity, O2 concentration, nutrients, turbidity, substrate, pressure. Paleoautoecology: taxonomic uniformity and morphofunctional analysis. Paleosynecology: populations and associations. Diversity of an association. Use of fossils to reconstruct the depositional environment of sedimentary rocks (examples).
2) Elements of Biostratigraphy. Stratigraphic sections. Procedure for biostratigraphic classification of a stratigraphic section. Types of biozones: dange zone, concurrent range zone, interval zone, association zone, acme zone. Direct and indirect biostratigraphic correlations. The distribution model and its meaning in the definition of chronostratigraphic units. Using fossils to date sedimentary rocks (examples).
Module 2 (32 hours)
The module has practical purposes, no new notions and concepts are learned, but the knowledge acquired with the first module is applied directly on the fossils. The program includes 2 lessons dedicated to the description of the fossilization of the specimens in the collection, and 10 lessons each dedicated to a systematic group: Fusulinoidea; Alveolinidae and Nummulitidae; Porifera; Cnidaria; Brachiopoda; Bivalvia; Gasteropoda; Nautiloidea; Ammonoidea and Trilobita. The module ends with four lessons of written description of specimens of the various groups.
Prerequisites for admission
Knowledge of the elements of sedimentary geology which are illustrated in the Introduction to Geology course is required.
Teaching methods
The Module 1 consists of 48 hours of lectures. The lessons are held with the help of Powerpoint presentations.
The Module 2 consists of 32 hours of lessons, each organized with a first part of review of the concepts explained in the Theory Module, a second part carried out with a video camera with projection on the screen in the classroom, in which the features of some specimens are explained, and a third part in which students can observe the different fossils up close with a magnifying lens.
The Module 2 consists of 32 hours of lessons, each organized with a first part of review of the concepts explained in the Theory Module, a second part carried out with a video camera with projection on the screen in the classroom, in which the features of some specimens are explained, and a third part in which students can observe the different fossils up close with a magnifying lens.
Teaching Resources
The lectures are given by using Powerpoint presentations. The PDF files are available to the students.
Assessment methods and Criteria
Three written tests are carried out in itinere, the grade for each one is in 30/30. The first two tests concern the first and second part of the theory module, while the third consists of the description of three fossils and is carried out at the end of the Laboratory module.
GEO/01 - PALEONTOLOGY AND PALEOECOLOGY - University credits: 9
Practicals: 36 hours
Lessons: 48 hours
Lessons: 48 hours
Professors:
Balini Marco, Bottini Cinzia
Shifts:
Professor:
Balini Marco
Turno I
Professor:
Bottini CinziaTurno II
Professor:
Bottini CinziaProfessor(s)