Micropaleontology

Year
1
Academic year
2019-2020
Code
02003837
Subject Area
Geology
Language of Instruction
Portuguese
Other Languages of Instruction
English
Mode of Delivery
Face-to-face
Duration
SEMESTRIAL
ECTS Credits
6.0
Type
Compulsory
Level
2nd Cycle Studies - Mestrado

Recommended Prerequisites

1st cycle: Palaeontology, Stratigraphy, Sedimentology, Sedimentary petrology.   

Teaching Methods

Lectures: expository teaching through presentations with Power-point. Research activities by the students, individually or in groups;
Practical and theoretical-practical lessons: observation of microfossils using the optical microscope and stereoscopic microscope; laboratorial activities with screening and sample preparation; field work. 

Learning Outcomes

1. Knowledge and ability to understand:
Obtain knowledge of the main systematic groups of microfossils, its distribution and (palaeo) environmental and (palaeo) climatic meaning. Skills development on methods and techniques of biostratigraphy and palaeobiology, applied to the microfossils.
2. Application of knowledge and understanding:
Collect, organize and analyze descriptive data of microfossils and associated sedimentary materials using adequate concepts, methodologies and techniques.
3. Realization of judgment / decision making:
Perform laboratory and field work with security, with analytical accuracy and capacity of search autonomy.
4. Communication:
Organize information in the form of reports, highlighting the use of standard formulations and specific terminology; articulation of individual components in data collection and interpretation.
5. Skills self-learning:
Improve iteratively interpretive scenarios of data.

Work Placement(s)

No

Syllabus

1- Introduction to Micropaleontology
2-Systematic Micropaleontology
2.1-Systematic zoology applied to microfossils.
2.2-Phylogeny of the main microfossil groups.
2.3-Morphological characterization, life cycles, (palaeo) ecology, distribution
   stratigraphic and (palaeobio) geographic events in Portugal
3-(Palaeo) Oceanography. The importance of microorganisms in marine communities and sedimentogenesis.
3.1-Morphology of ocean basins, continental margins and epicontinental seas. Its variation since Pangea break-up.
3.2-Abiotic factors and their influence on the distribution of microorganisms and
microfossils.
3.3-Pelagic sediments
3.4-Coastal and oceanic currents. Upwelling zones and its influence on organic productivity.
3.5 - Glacioeustatism. Pleistocene ice ages and the long-term thermophilic communities of planktonic foraminifera.
4 - Micropaleontology and biostratigraphy
5 - Micropaleontology and palaeoecology.

Head Lecturer(s)

Maria Helena Paiva Henriques

Assessment Methods

Assessment
Laboratory work or Field work: 50.0%
Synthesis work: 50.0%

Bibliography

Armstrong, H. & Brasier,  M. (2005) Microfossils. 2nd. Edition. Blackwell Publishing, Incorporated, Ltd., 304 p.

Bignot, G. (1982) Les Microfossiles : les différents groupes : exploitation paléobiologique et géologique. Dunod, Paris, 211 p.

Carvalho, I.S. (2001) – “Paleontologia”. Editora Interciência, Rio de Janeiro, 629 p.

Clarkson, E.N.K. (1998) – “Invertebrate Palaeontology and Evolution”. 4th. Edition. Blackwell Sci., Cambridge, 452 p.

Meléndez Meléndez, B. (1982) - Paleontología (4 Volúmenes). Editorial Paraninfo, Madrid.

Sayve, C. (1990). Introdução à Micropaleontologia. Elf-Aquitaine Angola, Luanda, 225 p.

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