Programme

Introduction to the 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 (8h).
Palaeobiogeography: the historical biogeography: dispersion and vicariance. The ecological biogeography. Plate tectonics and palaeobiogeography (2h).

The origin of life (2h)
The Cambrian "explosion" (2h)
Selection of fossil organisms (20h)

Core Documentation

AAVV, 2020 - Manuale di Paleontologia. Fondamenti e applicazioni. Idelson-Gnocchi;
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.

Type of delivery of the course

Interactive classroom-taught lesson. Explanations and discussions of the main topics by means of ppt slides, exercises and schemes/drawings on the chalkboard

Attendance

Compulsory

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.