Programme

General Paleontology and Systematics

Brief history of Paleontology.

Characteristics of prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells.

Classification and different taxonomic schools.

Taphonomy.

Origin of life on Earth.

Fossils and Evolution

Fossils and evolution.

Evolutionary theories of Lamarck and Darwin.

Microevolution.

Modern Synthesis.

Punctuated Equilibrium Theory.

Macroevolution.

Extinctions.

Adaptive radiations.

Biostratigraphy and Biochronology

Biozones and biochrons.

Biostratigraphic correlations.

Paleoecology, Paleoclimatology and Paleobiogeography

Marine paleoecology.

Elements of continental paleoecology.

Paleoclimatology.

Paleobiogeography: dispersal and vicariance.

Plate tectonics and paleobiogeography.

Analysis of case studies.

Stratigraphic Paleontology

Introduction to stratigraphic paleontology.

Cambrian fauna.

Phanerozoic faunas.

Kingdom Protista

Foraminifera: morphology, systematics, stratigraphic distribution, and paleoecology.

Tintinnids.

Radiolarians.

Calcareous nannofossils.

Calcareous algae.

Kingdom Animalia

Porifera.

Cnidarians.

Molluscs.

Arthropods.

Echinoderms.

Lophophorata.

Paleoichnology.

Paleontology Laboratory

Practical exercises on the identification of the fossil groups covered in the Systematic Paleontology module.

Description of macrofossils in the teaching collection.

Microscopic identification of microfossils.

Study and identification of microbiofacies from Meso-Cenozoic basin and platform successions, with reference to the Umbrian-Marchean and Latium-Abruzzi successions.

Prerequisiti

Students are expected to have a basic knowledge of geology, with particular reference to: sedimentary rocks; chronostratigraphy; Steno’s principles of stratigraphy; Walther’s Law. No additional specific knowledge is required beyond that acquired in the basic courses. No formal prerequisites are required.

Core Documentation

Società Paleontologica Italiana (a cura della), 2020 – Manuale di Paleontologia. Fondamenti – Applicazioni. Idelson-Gnocchi, Napoli.
Raffi S. & Serpagli E., 1993 - Introduzione Alla Paleontologia. U.T.E.T.; Allasinaz A., 1999 - Invertebrati fossili. U.T.E.T.
Dispense del docente.
Società Paleontologica Italiana (a cura della), 2020 – Manuale di Paleontologia. Fondamenti – Applicazioni. Idelson-Gnocchi, Napoli.

Raffi S. & Serpagli E., 1993 - Introduzione Alla Paleontologia. U.T.E.T.; Allasinaz A., 1999 - Invertebrati fossili. U.T.E.T.
Teacher handouts relating to the lessons

Attendance

Attendance of lectures, practical laboratory sessions, and field activities is regulated in accordance with the provisions of the Degree Programme’s Teaching Regulations, which specify the minimum attendance requirements and any specific provisions applicable to particular categories of students.

Type of evaluation

The examination consists of an oral examination aimed at assessing the knowledge acquired by the student concerning the topics covered during the course. The oral examination also includes a practical test involving the identification of macrofossils and microfossils, aimed at assessing the student’s ability to identify and describe the paleontological materials examined during the practical sessions. The assessment takes into account the accuracy and completeness of the student’s knowledge of the topics covered in the course, as well as the ability to identify and describe the macrofossils and microfossils presented in the practical test. Approximate duration of the oral examination: 1 hour. Criteria and methods for awarding the final grade: the assessment takes into account the level of knowledge of the theoretical content, the ability to identify, describe, and classify microfossils and macrofossils, including through microscopic examination, the student’s ability to independently interpret and integrate data, and the clarity and appropriateness of the scientific language used. Taken together, the different assessment methods allow the competences corresponding to the five Dublin Descriptors to be assessed.

Programme

Lectures:
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).

Lab:
Identification of fossils (24h)

Prerequisiti

knowledges acquired during the first year

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.

Attendance

compulsory

Type of evaluation

oral evaluation of the knowledge of teoric part, identification of fossils illustrated in the lab activities