Υ2205 - MACROPALAEONTOLOGY

INSTRUCTORS

COURSE KEY ELEMENTS

COURSE CONTENT:

A. Lectures

Research Object and Study Methods. Applications of Palaeontology. Fossils, types of fossils and fossilization methods, facies. The significance of fossils.

Systematics, fossil terminology, nomenclature, and classification. Principles of evolution, palaeoecology, and taphonomy. Fossils and geological time, stratigraphic scale, biochronology, biosratigraphy, temporal constants in independent time scales. Early life forms, evolution of living organisms in geological time, mass extinctions. Applied Palaeontology: The contribution of Palaeontology to Stratigraphy, palaeobiogeography, palaeogeography, mapping, palaeoenvironment, palaeoceanography, palaeoclimatology. Introduction to Palaeontology: the main taxonomic groups of Invertebrates, Vertebrates and Plants with an emphasis on the Greek fossil record. Principles of palaeontological material conservation, palaeontological excavations. Natural History Museums, fossil curation and palaeontological outreach, palaeontological collections and databases.

B. Laboratory Exercises

• Exercise 1: Recognition of fossil categories, types of fossils, fossilization methods, and nomenclature of fossils.
• Exercise 2: Recognition and identification of anthozoans and sponges genera, understanding their fossilization process. Comprehension of their use in stratigraphy and palaeoenvironment.
• Exercise 3: Recognition and identification of brachiopod genera. Understanding their use in stratigraphy and the palaeoenvironment.
• Exercise 4: Recognition and identification of bivalve mollusk genera. Understanding their use in stratigraphy and the palaeoenvironment.
• Exercise 5: Recognition and identification of gastropod mollusk species. Understanding their use in stratigraphy and the palaeoenvironment.
• Exercise 6: Recognition and identification of cephalopod mollusk genera. Understanding their use in stratigraphy and the palaeoenvironment.
• Exercise 7: Recognition and identification of trilobites, ammonites, rudists, and echinoderms. Understanding their use in stratigraphy and the palaeoenvironment.
• Exercise 8: Introduction to mammal odontology, morphological types of teeth.
• Exercise 9: Recognition of fossils of basic taxonomic groups of vertebrates (Horses and Hipparions, Rhinoceroses, Hippos, Pigs, main Proboscidean groups) based on their dental morphological characteristics.
• Exercise 10: Practical training in the Department's Museum of Palaeontology and Geology, recognizing fossils, significant vertebrate faunas in the Greek region.
• Exercise 11: Introduction to Palaeobotanical methodology, leaf morphology and identification.
• Exercise 12: Identification of Palaeophytic plant fossils (Pteridophytes, Gymnosperms). Fossil plant assemblages as a biostratigraphic proxy.
• Exercise 13: Identification of Cenophytic plant fossils (Conifers, Angiosperms). Palaeoclimatic reconstruction based on plant fossil assemblages.

C. Fieldwork

C1. One-day field exercise in the broader area of Pikermi-Rafina: Terrestrial facies and characteristics of Pikermi fauna. Marine facies (Neritic) and characteristics of Macrofossils in the formations of the Lower Pliocene.        
Collection of palaeontological samples in these formations (recognition of different lithological horizons and the macrofossils characterizing them, sampling method, recording sampling details: identification of macrofossils, interpretation of palaeoenvironment).

C2. Botanical Garden Julia & Alexander N. Diomedes: Plant observation, plant diversity/major taxonomic groups, geobotany /vegetation of various bioclimatic regions of Earth.

LEARNING ACTIVITIES - TEACHING METHODS:

PLANNED LEARNING ACTIVITIES:

ASSESSMENT METHODS AND CRITERIA

The assessment process is conducted in Greek (there is the possibility of examination in English for Erasmus students).

Students are assessed as follows:

• Small individual exercise assignments 10%
• Fieldwork exercises 10%
• Written progress exams or a final written exam at the end of the semester 80%     

The examination includes:

• Identification and characterization of macrofossils
• Problem-solving
• Development of topics and/or multiple-choice questions

RECOMMENDED BIBLIOGRAPHY

Additional Teaching Material:

• Dott, R.H. & Prothero, D.R., 1994. Evolution of the Earth. McGraw-Hill, INC.
• Γεωργιάδου-Δικαιούλια Ε., Συμεωνίδης Ν.Κ. & Θεοδώρου Γ.Ε. (2003). Παλαιοντολογία. Μέρος Β΄: Ασπόνδυλα, σελ. 1-237, Αθήνα.
• Γεωργιάδου-Δικαιούλια Ε., Συμεωνίδης Ν.Κ. & Θεοδώρου Γ.Ε. (2003). Παλαιοντολογία. Μέρος Γ΄: Σπονδυλωτά, σελ. 1-277, Αθήνα.
• Benton M.J. (2005). Vertebrate palaeontology. Blackwell Publishing, 1-455.
• Willis K., McElwain J. (2002) The Evolution of Plants. Oxford University Press, 408 Pages

Relevant scientific journals:

• Palaeontology ISSN 1475-4983
• Review of Palaeobotany and Palynology ISSN: 0034-6667

Additional bibliographic sources (in PDF) are available to the students who participate in this course. e-class

¹ V.S.: Visitor Students (e.g. ERASMUS)