Important notice
The course guide is provisional.
The PDF version of the course guide may take a few days to become available in the DDD.
Paleobiology Practicum I
Code: 44793Credits: 12
| Degree programme | Type | Course |
|---|---|---|
| Paleobiology and Fossil Record | OB | 1 |
Contact lecturer
- Name :
- Carles Martin Closas
- Email :
- carles.martin@uab.cat
Teaching staff
- Judit Marigo Cortes
- Zain Belaústegui Barahona
- Xavier Delclos Martinez
- Sara Tomas Lafaja
- Ramon Mercedes Martin
- Angel Hernandez Lujan
- Josep Sanjuan Girbau
- Oscar Cambra Moo
Teaching staff (external to UAB)
- Carles Martín Closas (cmartinclosas@ub.edu)
Group languages
You can consult this information at the end of the document.
Prerequisites
The same as those from the master.
Objectives
Referred to knowledges.
To recognize the main groups of plant fossils, invertebrates, ichnofossils and microfossils in rock samples, in the field or by observation under the microscope.
To characterize paleoenvironmental changes from the taphonomic and paleoecological study of microfossils, plant fossils, ichnofossils and invertebrates in stratigraphic successions.
To define the chronostratigraphy of sedimentary successions from the study of microfossils, plants and invertebrates.
Referred to skills
To relate different perspectives of a fossil in section to integrate them into a three-dimensional scheme, both from thin sections or from macroscopic sections.
To represent in two- and three-dimensional diagrams the reconstruction of a paleoenvironment that integrates information from the depositional environment (lithofacies) with the taphonomic and paleoecological information of various groups of fossils in real case studies.
Learning outcomes
- CA09 (Plan and develop a palaeontology study, and be able to solve any problems that arise.) Plan and develop a palaeontology study, and be able to solve any problems that arise.
- CA10 (Clearly and unequivocally convey a case study in palaeobiology, integrating previous knowledge, defining the problem to be solved, detailing the methodology used and presenting the results obtained.) Clearly and unequivocally convey a case study in palaeobiology, integrating previous knowledge, defining the problem to be solved, detailing the methodology used and presenting the results obtained.
- CA11 (Integrate partial results of a palaeobiological study into a team effort, critically analysing one's own contribution and that of the other members of the group.) Integrate partial results of a palaeobiological study into a team effort, critically analysing one's own contribution and that of the other members of the group.
- KA08 (Recognise the main groups of fossilised plants, invertebrates, ichnofossils and microfossils de visu in the field and through a microscope or binocular magnifying glass in the laboratory.) Recognise the main groups of fossilised plants, invertebrates, ichnofossils and microfossils de visu in the field and through a microscope or binocular magnifying glass in the laboratory.
- KA09 (Characterise palaeoenvironmental changes from the taphonomic and palaeoecological study of microfossils, plant fossils, ichnofossils and invertebrates in stratigraphic successions.) Characterise palaeoenvironmental changes from the taphonomic and palaeoecological study of microfossils, plant fossils, ichnofossils and invertebrates in stratigraphic successions.
- KA10 (Describe the chronostratigraphic characterisation of sedimentary successions from the study of microfossils, plants and invertebrates.) Describe the chronostratigraphic characterisation of sedimentary successions from the study of microfossils, plants and invertebrates.
- SA10 (Relate different perspectives of a fossil cross section for integration in a three-dimensional view, both in thin film microscopic cross sections and in macroscopic cross sections.) Relate different perspectives of a fossil cross section for integration in a three-dimensional view, both in thin film microscopic cross sections and in macroscopic cross sections.
- SA11 (Represent in two and three-dimensional diagrams the reconstruction of a palaeoenvironment that integrates information from the depositional environment (lithofacies) with palaeoecological information from various groups of fossils from real case studies.) Represent in two and three-dimensional diagrams the reconstruction of a palaeoenvironment that integrates information from the depositional environment (lithofacies) with palaeoecological information from various groups of fossils from real case studies.
Contents
-
- Practicum in Fundaments of Paleobiology and Methods and Techniques in Paleobiology
-
Fieldwork. Fundaments of Paleobiology by visiting several museum exhibitions and palaeontological sites in the Cretaceous of the Pyrenees (Coll de Nargó, Tremp and Ager subbasins).
2. Practicum in Marine Paleobiology
2.1. Practicum in taphonomy, paleoecology and ichnology:
a) Laboratory. Observation and analysis of taphofacies, ichnofossils and marine ichnofacies
b) Fieldwork. Study of taphonomy, paleoecology and ichnology of marine invertebrates and vertebrates in a Miocene succession of the Camp de Tarragona Basin.
c) Fieldwork. Paleoecology taphonomy and ichnology of marine invertebrates and microfossils in a sequence of Eocene platforms of the Ebro basin (in combination with the fieldwork in Micropaleontology and Biostratigraphy).
2.2. Practicum in Micropaleontology
a) Laboratory. Observation and identification of microfossils of cyanobacteria, red algae, green algae, nannoplankton, foraminifera and microfossils of marine invertebrates.
b) Fieldwork. Study of a succession of a carbonate platform rich in coralline red algae in the Miocene of the Penedès Basin and of a middle Eocene succession rich in macroforaminifera.
c) Fieldwork. Taphonomy paleoecology and ichnology of marine invertebrates and microfossils in a succession of the Eocene of the Ebro basin (in combination with the fieldwork in Taphonomy, paleoecology and ichnology).
2.3. Practicum in Marine Paleoenvironmental Modelling and Marine Invertebrates
a) Laboratory. Observation and identification of the main groups of rock-building marine invertebrates.
b) Fieldwork. Study of carbonate platforms in the Mesozoic of the Catalan Coastal Chain.
3. Practicum in Continental Paleobiology (Plants and invertebrates)
3.1. Practicum in Plant Evolution:
a) Laboratory. Observation and identification of macro and microfossils of Paleozoic, Mesozoic and Cenozoic plants. Evolutionary implications.
b) Fieldwork. Study of Miocene plants from the lacustrine La Cerdanya Basin (Pyrenees): applications in paleoenvironmental reconstruction (in combination with the fieldwork in Continental Invertebrate Paleontology).
3.2. Practicum in Continental Invertebrate Paleontology
a) Laboratory. Observation and identification of fossils of continental invertebrates, mainly arthropods, and arthropod-plant interactions.
b) Fieldwork. Study of invertebrates and plant-artropod interactions in the Miocene lacustrine basin of the La Cerdanya basin: applications in paleoenvironmental reconstruction (in combination with the fieldwork in Plant Evolution).
Learning activities and methodology
| Title | Hours | ECTS | Learning outcomes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fieldwork practicum | 76 | 3.04 | CA09, CA10, CA11, KA08, KA09, KA10, SA10, SA11 |
| Lab practicum | 90 | 3.6 | CA10, KA08, KA09, KA10, SA10 |
Laboratory practicum. It consists of sessions of usually two hours in the microscopy classroom, during which students observe fossils, draw sketches and photograph the structures explained in theory and do exercises based on these fossils. The practicum aims enhancing observation, description, graphic illustration, and synthesis skills. This block involves hours of in-person work, hours of supervised work and hours of autonomous work.
Fieldwork practicum. This block consists of five field trips, three of which will be of one day duration, and one will last for two days. They will allow contextualizing in the nature the fossils studied in theory and observed in the laboratory. Field work includes studying examples of most of the fossil groups observed in the laboratory practicum. The training activities consist of searching and recognizing fossils in a stratigraphic context and extracting taphonomic, paleoenvironmental and biostratigraphic information. The result is reflected in reports or written exercises that are elaborated as supervised work. In fieldwork, group-work skills are also exercised. The block involves in-person hours and supervised work.
The use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies is allowed exclusively for support tasks, such as bibliographic or information search, text correction or language translations. The student will clearly identify which parts have been generated with the help of this technology and specify the tools used. Lack of transparency in the use of AI in any activity will be considered a lack of academic honesty and may result in a partial or total penalty in the grades of the assessable activities.
Assessment
Continuous assessment activities
| Title | Weight | Hours | ECTS | Learning outcomes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Field work reports | 30% | 10 | 0.4 | CA09, CA10, CA11, KA08, KA09, KA10, SA10, SA11 |
| Exercises based on laboratory practicum | 20% | 30 | 1.2 | KA08, KA09, KA10 |
| Final exam | 40% | 4 | 0.16 | CA10, KA08, KA09, KA10, SA10 |
| Attendance and participation | 10% | 90 | 3.6 | CA10, CA11 |
Evaluation will include following items:
40% Final exam
20% Exercises based on laboratory practicum
30% Field work reports
10% Classroom attendance and participation
Bibliography
Behrensmeyer, A.K. Taphonomy. In: Alderton, D. and Elias, S.A. (Eds.) Encyclopedia of Geology (2nd Edition), Vol. 3 History of Life, Academic Press, Elsevier, 2021.
Benton, M.J., and Harper, D.A.T. Introduction to Paleobiology and the Fossil Record. Wiley-Blackwell. 2010.
Buatois, L.A. and Mángano, M.G. Ichnology. Organism-substrate interactions in space and time. , New York, 358 pp Cambridge University Press. 2011.
Cadenas-Amaya, S. et al. The Global Fossil Record of Chilopoda. Arthropoda 4, 1 . 2026.
Grimaldi, D., and Engel, M.S. Evolution of the Insects, New York, 755 pp., Cambridge University Press. 2005.
Mangano, M.G. and Buatois, L.A. (Eds). The trace-fossil record of major evolutionary events. Vol. 1: Precambrian and Paleozoic, Topics in Geobiology 39, Springer, 2016.
Mangano, M.G. and Buatois, L.A. (Eds.). The trace-fossil record of major evolutionary events. Vol. 2: Mesozoic and Cenozoic. Topics in Geobiology 40, Springer, 2016.
Martinetto, E., Tschopp, E., and Gastaldo, R.A. Nature Through Time. Springer Nature, 2020.
Mc Elwain, J. Paleobotany and Global Change: Important Lessons for Species to Biomes from Vegetation Responses to Past Global Change, Annual Reviews Plant Biology, 69:761-787, 2018
McGowran, B. Biostratigraphy. Microfossils and Geological time, Cambridge University Press, 2005.
Molina, E. Micropaleontología (3ª Edición). Prensas de la Universidad de Zaragoza, 2017.
Saraswati, P. Microforaminiferal Paleontology for understanding Earth’s history, Elsevier, 2021.
Selden, P.A. Origins of Land Animals, Editor(s): Richard M. Kliman, Encyclopedia of Evolutionary Biology, Academic Press, 288–295, 2016
Shao, L. and Li, Sh. Early Cretaceous greenhouse pumped higher taxa diversification in spiders. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 127, 146–155, 2018.
Sharma, P.P. and Gavish-Regev, E. The Evolutionary Biology of Chelicerata. Annual Review of Entomology 70, 143–163, 2025.
Sreepat J. Fundamentals of Invertebrate Paleontology. Microfossils, Springer, 2020.
Taylor, T., Taylor, E. and Krings, M. Paleobotany: The Biology and Evolution of Fossil Plants. Academic Press, 2nd Edition, 2009.
Tihelka, E. et al. There is a Cambrian Explosion on Land? The Case of Arthropod Terrestrialization. Biology, 11, 1516, 2022.
Willis, K.J. and McElwain, J.C. The Evolution of Plants, Oxford, 2002.
Software
Basic software: Office (Word, Excel, Power Point) or similar
Graphic dessign software: Adobe Illustrator, Corel Draw, Inkskape,...
Course groups and languages
The information provided is provisional until November 30. After this date, you will be able to consult the language of each group through this link. To access the information, you will need to enter the course CODE
| Type of teaching | Group | Language | Semester | Shift |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| (PAULm) Classroom practices (master) | 1 | Spanish | second semester | morning-mixed |
| (PCAMm) Field practices (master) | 1 | Spanish | second semester | morning-mixed |