Programme

General Palaeontology:
Brief history of Palaeontology (2h).
Taphonomy (2h).
Systematics: classification. the species concept. Different taxonomy schools (2h).
Palaeoecology: marine palaeoecology. Elements of continental palaeoecology. Palaeoichnology (4h).
Biostratigraphy: biozones. Biostratigraphic correlations (4h).
Evolution: fossils and evolution. Lamark’s and Neo-lamarckist’s evoluton theory. Darwin’s evolution theory. Microevolution. Synthetic and Punctuated Equilibria theories. Macroevolution. Extinction. Adaptive radiation (4h).
Palaeobiogeography: the historical biogeography: dispersion and vicariance. The ecological biogeography. Plate tectonics and palaeobiogeography (4h).
Case studies (2h)

Systematic Palaeontology:
Prokaryote and eukaryote cells. The Kingdoms (1h).
Kingdom Protista - Foraminifera: morphology, taxonomy, stratigraphic distribution and palaeoecology. Detailed study on Orbitolinidae, Fusulinidae, Alveolinidae, Nummulitidae, orbitoids, and Globigerinini (6h). Morphology, taxonomy, stratigraphic distribution and palaeoecology of Radiolaria, Tintinnida, Calcareous Nannofossils and Calcareous Algae (1h).
Kingdom Animalia – Porifera: morphology, taxonomy, and palaeoecology (1h).
Cnidaria: morphology, taxonomy, stratigraphic distribution and palaeoecology (1h).
Mollusca: general morphology and taxonomy. Morphology, taxonomy, stratigraphic distribution and palaeoecology of Bivalvia (including detailed study of Superfamily Hippuritoidea), Gastropoda and Cephalopoda (6h).
Arthropoda: general morphology and taxonomy. Morphology and palaeoecology of Trilobita and Ostracoda (2h).
Echinodermata: general morphology and taxonomy. Morphology and palaeoecology of Echinoidea and Crinoidea (2h).
Lophophorata: general morphology and taxonomy. Morphology and palaeoecology of Bryozoa. Morphology, taxonomy, stratigraphic distribution and palaeoecology of Brachiopoda. (2h).
Stratigraphic Palaeontology: the Cambrian and Phanerozoic fauna; (2h).

Laboratory of Palaeontology:
Practical training on micro- and macrofossil morphology (18h).
Microbiofacies analysis of the Neotethyan basinal sedimentary successions during Meso-Cenozoic (example: the Umbro-Marchean succession) (9h).
Microbiofacies analysis of the Neotethyan carbonate platform sedimentary successions during Meso-Ceonozoic (example: the Latium-Abruzzi succession) (9h).

Core Documentation

General Paleontology:
Società Paleontologica Italiana (a cura della), 2020 – Manuale di Paleontologia. Fomdamenti – Applicazioni. Idelson-Gnocchi, Napoli.
Raffi S. & Serpagli E., 1993 - Introduzione Alla Paleontologia. U.T.E.T.;
Benton M.J. & Harper D.A.T., 2009 - Introduction to Paleobiology and the fossil record, Wiley-Blackwell.

Systematic Paleontology:
Società Paleontologica Italiana (a cura della), 2020 – Manuale di Paleontologia. Fomdamenti – Applicazioni. Idelson-Gnocchi, Napoli.
Teacher handouts relating to the lessons
Allasinaz A., 1999 - Invertebrati fossili. U.T.E.T.

Paleontological Laboratory:
Teacher handouts relating to the lessons.

Reference Bibliography

General Paleontology: Dennett D.C., 1997 – L’idea pericolosa di Darwin. Bollati Boringhieri; Eldredge N., 1999 - Ripensare Darwin. Einaudi; Briggs D.E. & Crowther P.R. (Eds.), 2001 - Palaeobiology II. A Synthesis. Blackwell Science; Eldredge N., 2002 - Le trame dell’evoluzione. Raffaello Cortina Editore; Gould S.J., 2003 - La struttura della Teoria Evolutiva. Codice Edizioni; Ridley M., 2004 - Evolution, 4th Ed. Blackwell Science. Dawkins R., 2006 - Il racconto dell’antenato. Mondadori; Chaline J., 2006 - Quoi de neuf depuis Darwin? Etude; Prothero D.R., 2007 - Evolution. What the Fossils say and why it matters. Columbia University Press. Systematic Paleontology: Allasinaz A., 1999 - Invertebrati fossili. U.T.E.T. Clarkson E.N.K., 1998 - Invertebrate Paleontology and Evolution. Blackwell Science; Doyle P., 1996 - Understanding Fossils. An Introduction to Invertebrate Paleontology. Wiley & Sons; Fortey R., 1999 - Età, quattro miliardi di anni. Longanesi; Benton M.J. & Harper D.A.T., 2009 - Introduction to Paleobiology and the Fossil Record, Wiley-Blackwell. Paleontological Laboratory: Premoli Silva I., Rettori R. & Verga D., 2003 - Practical Manual of Paleocene and Eocene Planktonic Foraminifera. International School on Planktonic Foraminifera, 2° Course: Paleocene and Eocene. Tipografia Pontefelcino, Perugia; Premoli Silva I. & Verga D., 2004 - Practical Manual of Cretaceous Planktonic Foraminifera. International School on Planktonic Foraminifera, 3° Course: Cretaceous. Tipografia Pontefelcino, Perugia; Iaccarino, S.M., Premoli Silva I., Biolzi M., Foresi M, Lirer F. & Petrizzo M.R., 2005 – Practical Manual of Oligocene to Middle Miocene Planktonic Foraminifera. Tipografia Pontefelcino, Perugia; Iaccarino, S.M., Premoli S.I., Biolz, M., Foresi, L.M., Lirer, F., Urco, E., And Petrizzo, M.R., 2007, Practical Manual of Neogene Planktonic Foraminifera. VI Course: Neogene. Tipografia Pontefelcino, Perugia; Cestari R. & Sartorio D. (Eds.), 1995 - Rudists and Facies of the Periadriatic Domain. AGIP S.P.A.; AGIP, 1988 - Southern Tethys Biofacies. AGIP S.P.A.

Type of delivery of the course

Lectures are carried on using ppt slides. Practical lessons in the Paleontological Laboratory are based on the description of macrofossil material and the observation under the stereomicorscope of microfossils. 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. During the oral examination the student is asked to practically describe and identify macro- and microfossils.