|
Life Through Time
Geology 220
Spring, 2003
Professor Molly MillerTA: Lisa Berrios
Stevenson 5721; 2-3528; 356-7491Grad Room; 2-2140
Lisa.l.berrios@vanderbilt.edu
Office hours: M 4-5: T: 1-3 or by arrangement
Lectures: 1 PM, MWF in Stevenson 5722; lab 2-5 on Wednesday also 5722
Text: Bringing Fossils to Life: An Introduction to Paleobiology: D.R. Prothero, 1998
Architects of Eternity: Richard Corfield
What students will be able to do after taking this course:
1. Find sources of information in the geological literature, and be able to read and understand articles.
2. Communicate paleobiologic concepts and facts orally and in writing.
3. Measure, describe and interpret stratigraphic sections and describe and interpret the distribution of fossils.
4. Identify fossils, explain how they lived, and interpret the history of a given fossil since death.
5. Explain what is unique about each major group of animals, and the functioning, ecology and geologic history of each group.
6. Describe the broad history of marine life and how marine ecosystems changed through time.
7. Explain the big steps in the history of life.
8. Discuss the timing, causes, and effects of mass extinctions.
9. Summarize how evolution is thought to occur and the role of fossils in the study of evolution.
10. Develop and articulate a personal concept of the role and place of humans in the history of life.
Evaluation: lab20%
Weekly quizzes25%
Take home final (cumulative)15%
Take home exam #110%
presentations – (2) preservation +topic of interest 10 %
presentation and paper --Vanderbilt Symposium on Extinctions20%
Dates of field trips:
Expectations: Students are expected to attend class and lab, obtain all handouts, and go on all field trips.
Vanderbilt Symposium on Extinctions will be held on April 16th. This symposium is on all aspects of mass extinctions – what became extinct, how fast the extinctions occurred, recovery from the extinction, causes of mass extinctions – will be in the form of a symposium held at a scientific meeting. Students will prepare illustrations and give polished 15-20 minute presentations on topics of their choice. Topics are due 3/17; paper is due 3/9.
Geological Time Scale: Knowledge of the geologic time scale provides the temporal context for comprehending the history of life. Each student must demonstrate knowledge of the time scale by completing the time scale quiz twice during the semester. Times to be announced.
Honor Code: Students are encouraged to work together in labs and on group projects. They may get suggestions of references for papers or presentations from anyone, but all other work on papers and presentations must be done independently. Reference to any book or papers during an exam is a violation of the Honor Code, as is exchange of information between students.
Quizzes: Every Friday; one can be dropped. If one is missed, student may submit written explanation of reason for missing -- will be considered in borderline cases at end of semester.
COURSE SCHEDULE
(Subject to change.)
DateSubjectAssignment
(read before class)
Jan.8WHistory of Paleontology
10FPreservation
13MPreservationChap. 1
15WPreservation - presentations
17F*Presentaions (cont)
Lab: Preservation
20MProtistsChap. 11
22WProtists
24F*Discussion of “Weighing Oceans”; Corfield p. 91-125 (concentrate on 91-114)
Lab: Protists
27MCnidariaChap. 12
29WCnidaria
31F*Cnidaria, Porifera
Lab: Field trip: Observing Ordovician rocks and fossils – Charlotte Ave. or Columbia TN
Feb 3MTrace fossilsChap 18
5WFactors controlling distribution of animalsChap 8
7F*Factors controlling the distribution of animals; taphonomy
Lab: Field trip: Different Ordovician Fossils – Percy Priest Lake (or Cnidaria in lab)
Saturday – Feb. 8th 7:15AM- 2:00 PM Fossil collecting in West Tennessee
10MBrachiopoda
12WBrachiopoda
14F*Bryozoa
Lab: Cnidaria or field trip
17MEvolutionary processesCorfield: Savage Hand of Evolution
19WEvolutionary processes“
21F*Mollusca – generalChap. 15
Lab: Return to collect more fossils (Charlotte Ave or Columbia TN)
24MBivalvia“
26WBivalvia/“
28FCephalopoda Take Home Midterm due“
Lab: Identification of collected fossils; analysis of thin sections
Mar10M ExtinctionsCorfield: Heavy Metal and the Italian Rock Band
12W ExtinctionsCorfield, The Terminators
14F* Extinction movie, plus quiz
Lab: Preparation of lab reports.
17M CephalopodaExtinction topics dueChap 15
19W Cephalopoda “
21F* Gastropoda “
No Lab
Field Trip – Friday – Saturaday 21st-22nd – Falls of the Ohio
24M Relation between phyla
26W EchinodermataChap 16
28F* Echinodermata “
Lab: Bivalvia and Cephalopoda
31M ArthropodaChap 14
April2W Arthropoda“
4F Earliest lifeCorfield: Beyond the kingdom of the small
Lab: Old Hickory Blvd.
7M Ediacaran faunaCorfield: Battles of deepest time and space
9W Conditions at end of Precambrian Extinction papers due
11F * Cambrian explosion – when did complex life arise?
Lab: What happened to the buried organisms?
14M No class – preparation time
16W Vanderbilt Symposium on Extinctions – Lab and lecture
18F Big changes in history of life
Lab:
21M Evolution of freshwater animalsGSA Today - Miller
|
