Paleontology

Fall 2021

Paleontology and Geobiology

Listed in: Geology, as GEOL-251

Formerly listed as: GEOL-27

Moodle site: Course (Login required)

Faculty

David S. Jones (Section 01)

Description

This course focuses on the history of life as preserved in the sedimentary rock record. Students will learn how paleontologists and geobiologists use skeletal fossils, molecular fossils, and geochemical signatures to ask and answer questions about the evolution of ancient life and Earth history. Students will study the origination, radiation, and extinction of major groups of organisms in the context of global environmental change, with an emphasis on invertebrate and microbial life. Laboratories include the systematic description, identification, and interpretation of fossils in the field, in hand specimen, and in thin section. Three hours of lectures and three hours of laboratory. One weekend field trip required.

Requisite: GEOL 111 or consent of instructor.  Fall semester. Professor Jones.

Expectations

Students who enroll in this course will likely encounter and be expected to engage in the following intellectual skills, modes of learning, and assessment: independent research, group work, museum work, quantitative work, oral presentations, field work, lab work Students with documented disabilities who will require accommodations in this course should be in consultation with Accessibility Services and reach out to the faculty member as soon as possible to ensure that accommodations can be made in a timely manner.

Keywords

Lab Science Course

Course times and locations

GEOL 251 - LEC

Section 01
M 11:00 AM - 11:50 AM BEBU 211
W 11:00 AM - 11:50 AM BEBU 211
F 11:00 AM - 11:50 AM BEBU 211

GEOL 251L - LAB

Section 01
Tu 01:30 PM - 04:30 PM BEBU 211

Textbooks

Below are the textbooks used in this course, along with pricing information and availability at local bookstores. The price range shown is based upon queries to multiple online booksellers; click on the the price field to see detailed pricing information.

This is preliminary information about books for this course. Please contact your instructor or the Academic Coordinator for the department, before attempting to purchase these books.

ISBN	Title	Publisher	Author(s)	Comment	Book Store	Price
10-0073661708	Bringing Fossils to Life: an introduction....		Prothero, Donald		Amherst Books	TBD

These books are available locally at Amherst Books.

Offerings

2022-23: Not offered
Other years: Offered in Fall 2007, Fall 2008, Fall 2011, Fall 2012, Spring 2016, Fall 2017, Fall 2019, Fall 2021, Fall 2023