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| Unit name |
Taphonomy and Palaeoecology |
| Unit code |
EASCM0004 |
| Credit points |
10 |
| Level of study |
M/7
|
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 1B (weeks 7 - 12)
|
| Unit director |
Dr. Braddy |
| Open unit status |
Not open |
| Pre-requisites |
|
| Co-requisites |
|
| School/department |
School of Earth Sciences |
| Faculty |
Faculty of Science |
Description including Unit Aims
This unit will present an overview of the preservation (taphonomy) and relationships of extinct organisms to past environments (palaeoecology), focussing on how these subjects influence our interpretations of the history of life. The main aims are: to study preservational processes (e.g. death, decay, decomposition, disarticulation, and time-averaging) of animals, particularly arthropods, and plants; to analyse factors involved in exceptional preservation; to study the ecology of individuals, populations and communities, and; to assess approaches to palaeoenvironmental reconstruction, particularly in relation to the preservation and palaeoecology of body fossils, and trace fossils.
Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion you should be able to:
- Describe taphonomic and palaeoecological terms and concepts, including time averaging, taphocoenoses, biofacies etc.
- Determine the stages involved in fossil preservation, including the (chemical and biological) processes involved in fossilisation, decay sequences etc.
- Determine the ecology of fossil individuals, populations and communities, by understanding limiting factors on their distribution (temperature, light, salinity etc.), sedimentary environments, functional morphology and trace fossils.
- Reconstruct ancient environments, using evidence from sedimentary, geochemical and (body and trace) fossil data.
Teaching Information
Lectures and practicals
Assessment Information
There is no theory exam for this unit. Assessment is based on an "open book" course test (50%) and the written assignment (50%).
Reading and References
References will be provided throughout. Recommended texts include:
- Taphonomy: Releasing the data locked in the fossil record. Eds Allison, P. A. and Briggs, D. E. G. 1991. Plenum Press, N. Y. 560 pp.
- The Processes of Fossilization. Ed. Donovan, S. K. 1991. Belhaven Pr. 303 pp.
- Palaeobiology: A synthesis. Eds. Briggs, D. E. G. and Crowther, P. R. 1990. Blackwell Sci. Publ. 583 pp. (Particularly sections 3 and 4).
- Palaeoecology: Ecosystems, Environments and Evolution. By Brenchley, P. J., and Harper, D. A. T. 1998. Chapman and Hall. 402 pp.
