Paleontology

Year
0
Academic year
2024-2025
Code
01003735
Subject Area
Área Científica do Menor
Language of Instruction
Portuguese
Mode of Delivery
Face-to-face
Duration
SEMESTRIAL
ECTS Credits
6.0
Type
Elective
Level
1st Cycle Studies

Recommended Prerequisites

Not applicable.

Teaching Methods

Theorical: using audiovisual means to facilitate the understanding of concepts, models and methodologies.

Practical and laboratory: application of theoretical knowledge to practical problems.

Fieldwork: students will be divided into groups for the planning of the field work, and each group will be responsible for one of the tasks to perform on the day of the field trip.

Learning Outcomes

The course aims to help students understand:

1) the concept of fossil as representation of life forms from the Past;

2) the fossil record as a basic argument of the Theory of Evolution;

3) The Geological Timetable as an expression of the History of Life on Earth;

4) The Paleontological Heritage as non-renewable georesources culturally indispensable in enhancing the scientific literacy.

Skills to develop:

Instrumental: competence in analysis and synthesis, skills to solve problems, competence in oral and written communication.

Personal: competence in critical thinking and competence in working in interdisciplinary teams.

Systemic: competence in applying theoretical knowledge in practice, competence in planning and managing, concern for quality, competence in autonomous learning.

Work Placement(s)

No

Syllabus

Scope and development of Paleontology.

Taphonomy. Biostratinomy and diagenesis.

Systematics and Taxonomy. Principles of classification. Hierarchy of systematic terms. Rules of nomenclature. Zoological and Botanic Guides. The individual. The species.

Theory of evolution. Genetics. Laws of evolution.

Biostratigraphy. Stratigraphic units. Index-fossils. Biozone and chronobiozone. Criteria for the establishment of biozones.

Mode of life. Ichnology: preservation types and nomenclature. Significance of trace fossils. Ichnofacies. Taxiology.

Ecology. External factors. Relationships between organisms. Communities.

Biogeography. Principles. Present and past biogeographic provinces. The history of life on Earth.

Applied Paleontology. Paleontological Heritage.

Head Lecturer(s)

Maria Helena Paiva Henriques

Assessment Methods

Assessment
Frequency: 50.0%
Exam: 50.0%

Bibliography

Briggs, E. G. & Crowther, P. R. ed. (1990) – “Palaeobiology. A synthesis”, Blackwell Sc. Publ., Oxford, 583 p.

Chacón, M. L. & Rivas, P. Eds. (2009) - "Paleontología de Invertebrados", Soc. Esp. Paleontología, Inst. Geol. Min. España, Univ. Oviedo & Univ. Granada, 524 p.

Carvalho, I. S. Ed. (2010) – “Paleontologia. Conceitos. Métodos”, Editora Interciência, Rio de Janeiro, Vol. 1, 734 p.

Carvalho, I. Ed. (2011) - "Paleontologia. Microfósseis. Paleoinvertebrados", Vol. 2, Editora Interciência, 531 p.

Domènech, R. & Martinell, J. (1996) – “Introducción a los fósiles”, Masson, Barcelona, 288 p.

Schemm-Gregory, M. & Henriques, M.H. (2013) – “Os braquiópodes da Coleção Krantz do Museu da Ciência da Universidade de Coimbra/The brachiopods of the Krantz Collection of the University of Coimbra”, Imprensa da Universidade de Coimbra/Coimbra University Press, 262 p.

Ziegler, B. (1983) – “Introduction to Palaeobiology. General Palaeontology”, Ellis Horwood Ser. Geol., Chichester, 225 p.