History of Paleontology. Classification, evolution, and phylogeny. Taphonomy and fossilization processes. Origin of life and main evolutionary events of the Paleozoic, Mesozoic and Cenozoic. Diversity changes over geological time and extinctions. Paleoecology. Biostratigraphy and chronostratigraphy. Paleobiogeography. Paleoclimatiology. Paleoichnology. Notes on some of the most important fossil groups.
- Società paleontologia Italiana (2020) Manuale di paleontologia. Fondamenti. Applicazioni. Idelson-Gnocchi
- Raffi S. & Serpagli E. (1993). Introduzione alla paleontologia. UTET, Scienze della Terra Torino.
Sistematica
- M. J. Benton, D.A. Harper. (2020) Introduction to Paleobiology and the Fossil Record. Wiley-Blackwell
Learning Objectives
To provide a general framework on the genesis and significance of the fossil remains of organisms of the past, on the role of the paleontological record in the reconstruction of the history of the Earth and in evolutionary theories. To provide knowledge on the role of fossils in paleoecological and paleoenvironmental reconstructions, in paleoclimatology, paleobiogeography and stratigraphy.
Prerequisites
Recommended classes: Geology
Teaching Methods
Frontal lessons in the classroom.
An excursion to sites of paleontological importance based on the anti-pandemic regulations in force.
Type of Assessment
Oral examination: The student will be required to answer some questions related to the main topics covered in the course. The critical ability to analyse the topics of the course will also be assessed.
Course program
History of paleontology. Deep time and the origins of geology. Fossils as a tool for a theory of evolution. The discovery of the history of the Earth. Relative chronology and absolute chronology.
Classification, evolution, and phylogeny: Systematic, taxonomy, classification and nomenclature. The concept of species. Evolutionary theories and fossil record: Georges Cuvier's catastrophes, Charles Darwin's natural selection, neo-Darwinian synthesis, Eldredge-Gould's intermittent equilibria. Origin of variations, micro- and macroevolution.
Tafonomy and fossilization processes: Organisms, biomolecules and biominerals. The death of organisms. Biostratinomy. Burial. Diagenesis of organic parts. Diagenesis of biominerals. Types of fossils. Fossil Lagerstatten.
Origin of life and main evolutionary events of the Paleozoic, Mesozoic and Cenozoic. Diversity change over geological time and extinctions. Sepkoski curve. Cambrian, Paleozoic and Modern Fauna.
Paleoecology: basic concepts of ecology (populations, communities, habitats, ecological niche). Autoecology and synecology. Physical and chemical factors that regulate the distribution of marine organisms. Modes of life. Trophism. Measures of biodiversity. Paleocommunity.
Biostratigraphy and chronostratigraphy: guide fossils, biozones, bioevents. Biostratigraphic resolution, integrated biostratigraphy.
Paleobiogeography. Models and ways of diffusion of organisms: dispersion, vicariance. Paleo-biogeographic units. Case studies.
Paleoclimatiology. Climate and climatic variations, biotic, geological and geochemical archives. Paleoclimatic variations of the Phanerozoic.
Paleoichnology: Concept of icnotaxon. Stratinomic and ecological classification of trace fossils. Paleoichnology of invertebrates, concept of ichnofacies. Vertebrate paleoichnology. Applications.
Notes on some of the most important fossil groups: Phylum Cnidaria, Brachiopoda, Mollusca, Echinodermata, Arthropoda.