Programme

Historical definition of Quaternary: paleontological and climatic criteria. Causes of the Quaternary climatic changes. Gelasian and Pleistocene glaciations. Historical palaeoclimatology during Holocene (6h).
Historic excursus on the Plio-Quaternary chronostratigraphy. The Plio-Quaternary boundary. Ages and Stages of the marine Quaternary. GSSP and the most relevant Quaternary marine Italian successions. The Holocene and the ice cores. The Anthropocene (10h).
Quaternary isotopic stratigraphy. Quaternary magnetostratigraphy. Quaternary dating methods (2h). Sea-level oscillations during Quaternary: geomorphological and palaeobiological sea-level indicators. The eustatic curves (2h).
Plio-Quaternary marine biostratigraphy: planktonic and benthonic foraminifers, calcareous nannofossils, marine molluscs and ostracods (concept of “northern” and “senegalese” guests) (8h). Historical chronology of Plio-Quaternary glaciations. Illustration of the most relevant glacial deposits on Alps and Apennines (2h).
History of the continental Plio-Quaternary stratigraphy (2h).
Plio-Quaternary biochronology based on large and small mammals, freshwater molluscs and non-marine ostracods. Pollen stratigraphy and climatic stratigraphy (8h).
Examples of relevant continental quaternary records in central Italy: the Plio-Quaternary deposits of the Roman Campaign; the intermontane basins in central Italy (Valdarno, Tiberino and l’Aquila basins) (8h).

Core Documentation

Pdf and copies of updated specialistic scientific publications given by the teacher

Type of delivery of the course

Lectures are carried on using ppt slides. Practical lessons are based on the description of the main macro- and microfossils typical of the Quaternary period. During lessons, students are encouraged to ask questions and make comments.

Type of evaluation

The examination consists in an evaluation interview in order to assess the student acquired knowledge of the topics discussed during the lessons.

Programme

Historical definition of Quaternary: paleontological and climatic criteria. Causes of the Quaternary climatic changes. Gelasian and Pleistocene glaciations. Historical palaeoclimatology during Holocene (6h).
Historic excursus on the Plio-Quaternary chronostratigraphy. The Plio-Quaternary boundary. Ages and Stages of the marine Quaternary. GSSP and the most relevant Quaternary marine Italian successions. The Holocene and the ice cores. The Anthropocene (10h).
Quaternary isotopic stratigraphy. Quaternary magnetostratigraphy. Quaternary dating methods (2h). Sea-level oscillations during Quaternary: geomorphological and palaeobiological sea-level indicators. The eustatic curves (2h).
Plio-Quaternary marine biostratigraphy: planktonic and benthonic foraminifers, calcareous nannofossils, marine molluscs and ostracods (concept of “northern” and “senegalese” guests) (8h). Historical chronology of Plio-Quaternary glaciations. Illustration of the most relevant glacial deposits on Alps and Apennines (2h).
History of the continental Plio-Quaternary stratigraphy (2h).
Plio-Quaternary biochronology based on large and small mammals, freshwater molluscs and non-marine ostracods. Pollen stratigraphy and climatic stratigraphy (8h).
Examples of relevant continental quaternary records in central Italy: the Plio-Quaternary deposits of the Roman Campaign; the intermontane basins in central Italy (Valdarno, Tiberino and l’Aquila basins) (8h).

Core Documentation

Pdf and copies of updated specialistic scientific publications given by the teacher

Reference Bibliography

Anderson, D.E., Goudie, A.S. & Parker, A.G., 2007. Global environments through the Quaternary. Oxford University Press, pp. 392. Williams, M., Dunkerly, D., De deckker, P., Kershaw, P. & Chappell, J., 1998. Quaternary environments. Arnold eds. Andersen B. G. & Borns, H. W. jr, 1994. The Ice Age world. Scandinavian University Press. Malatesta A., 1985. Paleobiologia dell’era glaciale. NIS, Roma.

Type of delivery of the course

Lectures are carried on using ppt slides. Practical lessons are based on the description of the main macro- and microfossils typical of the Quaternary period. During lessons, students are encouraged to ask questions and make comments.

Type of evaluation

The examination consists in an evaluation interview in order to assess the student acquired knowledge of the topics discussed during the lessons.