Identifying Data 2020/21
Subject (*) Paleobiology Code 610G02043
Study programme
Grao en Bioloxía
Descriptors Cycle Period Year Type Credits
Graduate 1st four-month period
 Fourth Optional 6
Language
Spanish
English
Teaching method Hybrid
Prerequisites
Department Física e Ciencias da Terra
Coordinador
Bao Casal, Roberto
 E-mail
roberto.bao@udc.es
Lecturers
Bao Casal, Roberto
Blanco Calvo, Luis Alejandro
Grandal D`Anglade, Aurora
 E-mail
roberto.bao@udc.es
alejandro.blancoc@udc.es
aurora.grandal@udc.es
Web http://campusvirtual.udc.es/moodle/
General description Esta asignatura estuda os procesos biolóxicos que operan a escala xeolóxica de tempo. Despois dunha introducción ás características principais do rexistro fósil e a súa representatividade, estúdanse aspectos relativos a análise da forma orgánica, o papel do rexistro fósil no desenvolvemento da Teoría Evolutiva moderna e a análise de procesos paleoecolóxicos e paleobioxeográficos dende una perspectiva evolutiva. No último bloque da materia preténdese obter unha visión da evolución da diversidade da vida ó longo do tempo xeolóxico no contexto dun planeta cambiante, e relacionar os coñecementos xa adquiridos, cara a interpretación da Terra como Sistema.

O enfoque da asignatura é eminentemente conceptual, deixando os aspectos mais puramente descriptivos (Paleontoloxía Sistemática) para as prácticas de laboratorio.
Contingency plan 1. Modificacións nos contidos

Non se modificarán os contidos, pero a descrición dos principais grupos fósiles que conforman as prácticas de laboratorio axustaranse ás limitacións impostas polo ensino online.

2. Metodoloxías
*Metodoloxías docentes que se manteñen

Sesión maxistral
Obradoiro
Prácticas de laboratorio
Proba obxectiva

*Metodoloxías docentes que se modifican

Todas as metodoloxías adaptaranse a un estilo presencial modelo non presencial. Isto significa que as sesións maxistrais, obradoiros e prácticas de laboratorio adaptaranse a unha impartición online. Os cuestionarios, que constitúen o fundamento da avaliación continua, realizaranse tamén online, agás que os profesores non poidan garantir a vixiancia da copia nas probas (ver abaixo). Neste caso, cancelarase a avaliación continua e a cualificación dependerá do resultado dos exames finais de xaneiro e/ou xullo.

3. Mecanismos de atención personalizada ao alumnado

Proporcionarase atención personalizada online, preferentemente a través de Microsoft Teams. Tamén se utilizarán Moodle e correo electrónico.

4. Modificacións na avaliación

Optarase pola realización de cuestionarios online, salvo que non se poida garantir a vixiancia da copia nas probas. Neste caso, cancelarase a avaliación continua e a cualificación dependerá do resultado dos exames finais de xaneiro e/ou xullo. Outorgarase máis peso aos contidos das sesións maxistrais na cualificación final tal e como segue:

Sesión maxistral: 75%
Obradoiros: 15%
Prácticas de laboratorio: 10%

*Observacións de avaliación:

Ningunha

5. Modificacións da bibliografía ou webgrafía

Ningunha

Study programme competencies
Code Study programme competences
A1 Recoñecer distintos niveis de organización nos sistemas vivos.
A2 Identificar organismos.
A3 Recoñecer, obter, analizar e interpretar evidencias paleontológicas.
A4 Obter, manexar, conservar e observar especímenes.
A29 Impartir coñecementos de Bioloxía.
B1 Aprender a aprender.
B2 Resolver problemas de forma efectiva.

Learning aims
Learning outcomes Study programme competences
To understand the concept of deep (geologic) time A3
A29
 B1
To understand the processes of fossilization and the biases of the fossil record as an indicator of ancient biospheres A2
 B1
To understand how biological processes occurring at geological time scales, such as evolution or mass extinctions, cannot always be understood as simple extrapolations of processes taking place at shorter time scales A2
 B1
B2
To expand our understanding of Evolutionary Theory from a multidisciplinary perspective A3
 B1
B2
To know the fossil groups that make up the fossil record and their practical uses A1
A2
A3
A4
 B1
B2
To identify the main bioevents in the history of the Earth, their causes and aftermath A2
A3
 B1
B2
To synthesize knowledge from a long array of subjects such as Geology, Ecology, Microbiology, Biochemistry, Botany or Zoology in the framework of an ever changing Earth A2
A3
A29
 B1
B2

Contents
Topic Sub-topic
SECTION-1. HISTORY AND CONCEPT OF PALEOBIOLOGY
Lesson 1. An introduction to Paleobiology 1.1 Introduction
1.2 Theoretical and methodological aspects
1.3 Divisions of Paleobiology
SECTION-2. TAPHONOMY
Lesson 2. The concept of fossil. Taphonomy 2.1 Introduction
2.2 The concept and types of fossils
2.3 Biostratinomy
2.4 Diagenesis of fossils
2.5 Ichnofossils
2.6 Time-averaging
2.7 Fossil-lagerstätten
2.8 The quality of the fossil record
SECTION-3. MORPHOLOGICAL ANALYSIS
Lesson 3. Size and Shape in Fossils 9.1 Introduction
9.2 The analysis of morphometrical variability
9.3 Types of growth
9.4 Population variability
9.5 Ecophenotypic variability
9.6 Sexual dimorphism
9.7 Taphonomical variability
Lesson 4. Ontogeny and Heterochrony 10.1 Introduction
10.2 Biogenetic and von Baer's Law
10.3 Heterochrony and its types
10.4 Heterochrony and allometry
10.5 Heterochronoclines
10.6 Dissociated heterochrony
10.7 Evolutionary consequences of heterochrony
Lesson 5. Morphodynamics and the Evolution of Form 11.1 Introduction
11.2 Constructional morphology. Phylogenetic factor. Functional factor. Fabricational factor. Other factors
11.3 Research methods in morphodynamics. Biomechanical analysis. Theoretical morphology
SECTION-4. EVOLUTIONARY PALEONTOLOGY
Lesson 6. Classification and Phylogeny 12.1 Introduction
12.2 Methods of classification. Essentialism, evolutionary, phenetic, and cladistic classification
12.3 Fossils and Phylogeny. Stratocladistics. Phylogenetic trees
Lesson 7. Speciation 13.1 Introduction
13.2 Species concepts
13.3 Modes of speciation
13.4 The problem of species concept in Paleontology
Lesson 8. Modes of evolution 14.1 Introduction
14.2 Darwinism and the Synthetic Theory of Evolution
14.3 Modes of evolution and the fossil record. Phyletic gradualism and punctuated equilibria
14.5 Evolutionary trends
14.6 Species selection
14.7 Coordinated stasis
Lesson 9. Paleobiogeography 16.1 Introduction
16.2 Dispersal biogeography
16.3 Paleogeography and paleoclimatology
16.4 Vicariance biogeography
16.5 Biogeographic patterns and extinctions
Lesson 10. Evolutionary Paleoecology 17.1 Introduction
17.2 Phanerozoic trends in global diversity. Explanatory hypotheses
17.3 Law of constant extinction. Red Queen Hypothesis and alternative explanatory hypotheses
17.4 Clade interactions
SECTION-5. BIOSTRATIGRAPHY
Lesson 11. Time and Geology 4.1 Dating methods
4.2 The geologic time scale
SECTION-6. HISTORY OF LIFE
Lesson 12. The origin and early evolution of Earth and Life 5.1 Origins of the Solar System and Earth.
5.2 Origin and evolution of the Atmosphere.
5.3 Origin of the Hidrosphere.
5.4 Origin and evolution of the continents.
5.5 The first life forms.
Lesson 13. The diversification of Life 6.1 The Ediacaran Fauna and other life forms.
6.2 The Cambrian Explosion.
6.3 Evolution of life forms during the Paleozoic.
6.4 Terrestrialization.
Lesson 14. Mass extinction events 7.1 Mass extinctions. Causes and their aftermath.
7.2 The end-Permian extinction.
7.3 The end-Cretaceous extinction.
Lesson 15. Climate and Life 8.1 Climatic evolution of the planet Earth.
8.2 Global glaciations. Methods of study.
8.3 The Snowball Earth hypothesis.
8.4 The influence of climatic change on the Quaternary faunas and floras.

Planning
Methodologies / tests Competencies Ordinary class hours Student’s personal work hours Total hours
Guest lecture / keynote speech A3 A29 B1 B2 22 66 88
Workshop A1 A2 A3 A4 A29 B1 B2 8 12 20
Laboratory practice A1 A2 A3 A4 A29 B1 B2 12 18 30
Objective test A1 A2 A3 A4 A29 B1 B2 2 8 10
 
Personalized attention 2 0 2
 
(*)The information in the planning table is for guidance only and does not take into account the heterogeneity of the students.

Methodologies
Methodologies Description
Guest lecture / keynote speech Lectures will be devoted to topics related to principles and problems in paleontology, as well as to the history of life on Earth. Students are expected to take their own notes. Reading assignments from specific topics delivered during the lectures are also expected to be completed.
Workshop Workshops aim to introduce the students to basic techniques and methodologies currently used in the study of fossils. For these tasks, virtual models of fossil specimens and specific software will be used. Students will be required to take their own notes and answer the workshop quizzes. Attendance to the workshops is compulsory to pass the course.
Laboratory practice Laboratory sessions will be devoted to the recognition of the basic morphological features of the main groups of fossils, as well as on the identification of important taxa from the Iberian Peninsula. Students will be required to take their own notes and answer the lab quizzes. Attendance to the lab sessions is compulsory to pass the course.
Objective test Grading is primarily based on the idea of continuous assessment and so, the final exam IS NOT REQUIRED for those students being successful during this continuous assessment. Students failing specific parts or the whole subject are required to make the final exam for the parts they failed

Personalized attention
Methodologies
Workshop
Laboratory practice
Guest lecture / keynote speech
Objective test
Description
Attendance to tutorials is expected, especially for those aspects showing greater difficulty, such as quizzes solving, tests, or workshop/laboratory observations.

Part-time students not capable of attending to the workshops and/or lab sessions are eligible to get an exemption of these compulsory tasks in the scheduled programme. They will however be required to perform the tasks associated to the workshops and labs in a different schedule adapted to their job obligations.

Assessment
Methodologies Competencies Description Qualification
Workshop A1 A2 A3 A4 A29 B1 B2 Continuous assessment using quizzes involving multiple choice, matching, true-false questions, fill in the blank questions or short answer and essay questions. These quizzes make up 15% of the final grade 15
Laboratory practice A1 A2 A3 A4 A29 B1 B2 Continuous assessment using quizzes involving multiple choice, matching, true-false questions, fill in the blank questions, short answer, essay questions or fossil identifications with real specimens 25
Guest lecture / keynote speech A3 A29 B1 B2 Continuous assessment will take place using in-class quizzes and participation during classes. All quizzes can involve multiple choice, matching, true-false questions, fill in the blank questions or short answer and essay questions. Quizzes make up 60% of the final grade. 60
Objective test A1 A2 A3 A4 A29 B1 B2 As stated in Step 5, grading is primarily based on the idea of continuous assessment and so, the FINAL EXAM IS NOT REQUIRED for those students being successful during this continuous assessment. For the rest of students a final exam will be carried out for the specific parts of the subject (i. e., lectures 65%, workshops 25% or lab sessions 25%) that they failed 0
 
Assessment comments

Students are required to obtain a final grade of at least 5.0 out of 10 to pass this subject. However, all the activities making up the assessment (lectures, workshops and lab sessions) can be compensated among them getting a grade of at least 4.0. Students passing any of the three parts (lectures, workshops and lab sessions) are given the opportunity to keep this mark for the two grading opportunities (January and July), being only examined of those parts which they failed. However, all the teaching-learning process of this subject is based on the idea of being developed in the current term. This means that for successive terms the student is suppossed to fullfill all the assignments scheduled for those specific terms.

Under exceptional
justified reasons, such as part-time learning, or students with special
educational needs, specific assessments could be undertaken.


















The grade “no show” will
be given only to those students who have not participated in more than 20% of
the assessed activities during the term.



The grade "No Show" will be given only to those students who have not participated in more than 20% of the activities being assessed during the term.

The before mentioned instructions also apply for part-time students.

Sources of information
Basic PROTHERO, D. R. (2013). Bringing Fossils to Life. An Introduction to Paleobiology. Columbia University Press, New York
BENTON, M.J. (2019). Cowen’s History of Life. Wiley
STANLEY, S. M. (2009). Earth System History. Freeman and Company, New York
MARTIN, R. (2012). Earth's Evolving Systems: The History of Planet Earth. Jones & Bartlett Learning, Sudbury
FREEMAN, S. & HERRON, J.C. (2013). Evolutionary Analysis. Preason Prentice Hall
U. of California Paleontology Museum (). Geology Wing/Tree of Life. http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/exhibit/geology.html
REGUANT, S. (2005). Historia de la Tierra y de la Vida. Editorial Ariel, Barcelona
WICANDER, R. & MONROE, J. S. (2012). Historical Geology. Evolution of Earth and Life through Time. Thompson Learning, Belmont
COWEN, R. (2013). History of Life. Blackwell Science, Oxford.
BENTON, M. J. & HARPER, D. A. T. (2009). Introduction to Paleobiology and the Fossil Record. Wiiey-Blackwell
BRIGGS, D. E. G. & CROWTHER, P. R. (2003). Palaeobiology II. Blackwell Science
CLOWES, C. et al. (). Palaeos: Life through deep time. http://www.palaeos.com
FOOTE, M. & MILLER, A.I. (2007). Principles of Paleontology. W. H. Freeman, New York
LEVIN, H. L. (2010). The Earth through Time. John Wiley & Sons, Hoboken, New Jersey
Varios autores (). Tree of Life Web Project. http://tolweb.org/tree/phylogeny.html


(*)The teaching guide is the document in which the URV publishes the information about all its courses. It is a public document and cannot be modified. Only in exceptional cases can it be revised by the competent agent or duly revised so that it is in line with current legislation.