Paleobiology Practicum II
Code: 44794 ECTS Credits: 6| Degree | Type | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Paleobiology and Fossil Record | OB | 1 |
Contact
- Name:
- Josep Fortuny Terricabras
- Email:
- josep.fortuny@uab.cat
Teachers
- David Martinez Alba
- Albert Garcia Sellés
- Marta Pina Miguel
- Alba Vicente Rodríguez
- Carmen Nacarino Meneses
- Pere Figuerola Gimenez-Coral
- Andrea Villa
- Omar Cirilli
- Isaac Casanovas Vilar
- Jose Maria Robles Gimenez
- Sergio Almecija Martinez
- Arnau Bolet Mercadal
- Xenia Aymerich Nuñez de Arenas
- Julia Arias Martorell
- (External) Ane de Celis Ruiz
- (External) Ashley Hammond
Teaching groups languages
You can view this information at the end of this document.
Prerequisites
None.
Objectives and Contextualisation
Acquisition of specific methodologies and techniques for the field of vertebrate paleontology. Likewise, this module will enhance the study of vertebrate fossils with practical examples in various vertebrate groups and will be complemented by fieldtrips to paleontological vertebrate sites, as well as visits to a preparation lab devoted to vertebrate fossils and a paleontological vertebrate collection.
Learning Outcomes
- CA12 (Competence) Design a communication and dissemination project on a topic related to vertebrate palaeontology.
- CA13 (Competence) Demonstrate a proactive attitude in the search for specialised information for character coding in phylogenetic studies.
- KA11 (Knowledge) Identify the main field and laboratory methodologies and techniques used in vertebrate palaeontology, with emphasis on those that are solely applicable to this group, due to their anatomical characteristics (teeth and bones).
- KA12 (Knowledge) Identify statistical, allometric and three-dimensional geometric morphometry techniques applied to vertebrate palaeobiology as well as advanced methods in the functional morphology and biomechanics of vertebrates.
- KA13 (Knowledge) Recognise the methods of phylogenetic inference and palaeoecological and palaeobiogeographic analysis, and the dynamics of palaeobiodiversity in fossilised vertebrates.
- SA12 (Skill) Apply work methods and techniques to a palaeontological excavation of vertebrates.
- SA13 (Skill) Know how to use specialised computer programs to perform morphofunctional and phylogenetic studies applied to the study of fossilised vertebrates.
- SA14 (Skill) In a professional environment, analyse the problems associated with the recovery of fossils and their management in museum collections.
Content
1) Lab. General characteristics of vertebrate skeleton (amphibians, reptiles and mammals) and types of mammal dentition with special emphasys on some eutherian orders. Paleobiologia de Dinosaures. Els Primates de la Península Ibérica. Hominins fossils. Advanced techniques in vertebrate paleobiology: bone and tooth paleohistology, enamel isotope analysis, paleodietary inference from dental wear. Statistical techniques and geometric morphometrics applied to vertebrate paleobiology. Advanced methods of functional morphology and vertebrate biomechanics. Methods of phylogenetic inference, evolutionary models and paleoecological, paleobiogeographical and paleobiodiversity analyzes in fossil vertebrates. Communication and dissemination strategies in vertebrate paleontology.
2) Fieldtrip. Guided visit to a paleontological vertebrate site during its excavation to understand digging techniques and methods, sampling and associated information recording (stratigraphy, taphonomy, etc.). Guided visit to the vertebrate fossil collections of the Institut Català de Paleontologia to understand the problems associated with the management of these remains and the methods used for their management (inventory, labeling, storage). Visit – Tour of different museum examples and geotourism.
1) Lab. General characteristics of vertebrate skeleton (amphibians, reptiles and mammals) and types of mammal dentition with special emphasys on some eutherian orders. Advanced techniques in vertebrate paleobiology: bone and tooth paleohistology, enamel isotope analysis, paleodietary inference from dental wear. Statistical techniques and geometric morphometrics applied to vertebrate paleobiology. Advanced methods of functional morphology and vertebrate biomechanics. Methods of phylogenetic inference, evolutionary models and paleoecological, paleobiogeographical and paleobiodiversity analyzes in fossil vertebrates. Communication and dissemination strategies in vertebrate paleontology.
2) Fieldtrip. Guided visit to a paleontological vertebrate site during its excavation to understand digging techniques and methods, sampling and associated information recording (stratigraphy, taphonomy, etc.). Guided visit to the vertebrate fossil collections of the Institut Català de Paleontologia to understand the problems associated with the management of these remains and the methods used for their management (inventory, labeling, storage). Visit – Tour of different museum examples and geotourism.
Activities and Methodology
| Title | Hours | ECTS | Learning Outcomes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Type: Directed | |||
| Field sessions | 15 | 0.6 | |
| Lab session | 42 | 1.68 | |
| Type: Supervised | |||
| Exercises | 31 | 1.24 | |
| Type: Autonomous | |||
| Homework | 60 | 2.4 |
The training activities include: a) guided sessions divided into lab and field sessions. b) supervised sessions focused on exercises and c) autonomous sessions where student deep into different aspects of the lessons.
Annotation: Within the schedule set by the centre or degree programme, 15 minutes of one class will be reserved for students to evaluate their lecturers and their courses or modules through questionnaires.
Assessment
Continous Assessment Activities
| Title | Weighting | Hours | ECTS | Learning Outcomes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| class attendance | 20% | 0 | 0 | |
| Exam | 40% | 2 | 0.08 | KA11, KA12, KA13 |
| Exercises evaluation | 20% | 0 | 0 | KA11, KA12, KA13, SA13 |
| Homework evaluation | 20% | 0 | 0 | CA12, CA13, SA12, SA13, SA14 |
The evaluation of the module will be based on class attendance, the proper completion of the assigned exercises, the depth of the proposed assignments, and an in-person exam. If the student has not provided sufficient evidence for assessment, at the discretion of the course coordinator, will be considered as not assessable.
Bibliography
Casanovas-Vilar, I., Garcés, M., Marcuello, Á., Abella, J., Madurell-Malapeira, J., Jovells-Vaqué, S., Cabrera, L., Galindo, J., Beamud, E., Ledo, J.J., Queralt, P., Martí, A., Sanjuan, J., Martín-Closas, C., Jiménez-Moreno, G., Luján, À.H., Villa, A., DeMiguel, D., Sánchez, I.M., Robles, J.M., Furió, M., Ostende, L.W.V. den H., Sánchez-Marco, A., Sanisidro, Ó., Valenciano, A., García-Paredes, I., Angelone, C., Pons-Monjo, G., Azanza, B., Delfino, M., Bolet, A., Grau-Camats, M., Vizcaíno-Varo, V., Mormeneo, D., Kimura, Y., Moyà-Solà, S., Alba, D.M., 2022. Els Casots (Subirats, Catalonia), a key site for the Miocene vertebrate record of Southwestern Europe. Historical Biology 34, 1494–1508.
Cunningham, J.A., Rahman, I.A., Lautenschlager, S., Rayfield, E.J., Donogue, P.C.J. 2014. A virtual world of paleontology. Trends in Ecology & Evolution 29 (6), 347-357.
de Buffrénil, V., de Ricqlès, A.J., Zylberberg, L., & Padian, K. (2021). Vertebrate Skeletal Histology and Paleohistology (1st ed.) CRC Press: Boca Raton.
Evans, S.E. 2008. The skull of lizards and Tuatara. In: Biology of the Reptilia. The skull of Lepidosauria. Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles
Foote, M., Miller, A.I., 2006. Principles of paleontology, 3 edition. ed. W. H. Freeman, New York.
Hammer, Ø, Harper, DAT. 2006. Paleontological Data Analysis. Blackwell Publishing: Malden.
Rayfield, E. J. 2007. Finite element analysis in vertebrate morphology. Annual Reviews in Earth and Planetary Sciences 35: 541–576.
Rayfield, E.J. 2019. What Does Musculoskeletal Mechanics Tell Us About Evolution of Form and Function in Vertebrates?. In: Bels, V., Whishaw, I. (eds) Feeding in Vertebrates. Fascinating Life Sciences. Springer, Cham.
Smith, F.A., 2021. Mammalian paleoecology: Using the past to study the present. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore, Md.
Zelditch, M.L., Swiderski, D.L., Sheets, H.D. 2012. Geometric Morphometrics for Biologists. Academic Press. Cambridge, MA.
Software
-Meshroom
-Meshlab
-Slicer
-Past
-TPS Dig
Groups and Languages
Please note that this information is provisional until 30 November 2025. You can check it through this link. To consult the language you will need to enter the CODE of the subject.
| Name | Group | Language | Semester | Turn |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| (PAULm) Classroom practices (master) | 1 | Spanish | second semester | afternoon |
| (PCAMm) Field practices (master) | 1 | Spanish | second semester | morning-mixed |