Paleontology

Code: GEO14056L

3 ECTS

Duration: 15 weeks/78 hours

Scientific Area: Geology

Teaching languages: Portuguese

Languages of tutoring support: Portuguese, English

Regime de Frequência: Presencial

Presentation

Invertebrate and Vertebrate Paleontology, including morphology, classification, evolution and phylogeny, biostratigraphy and palaeoecology of taxonomic groups of the fossil record.

Sustainable Development Goals

Educação de qualidade - Assegurar a educação inclusiva, e equitativa e de qualidade, e promover oportunidades de aprendizagem ao longo da vida para todos.

Ação climática - Tomar medidas urgentes para combater a mudança climática e seus impactos (*).

Proteger a vida marinha - Conservação e uso sustentável dos oceanos, dos mares, e dos recursos marinhos para o desenvolvimento sustentável.

Proteger a vida terrestre - Proteger, recuperar e promover o uso sustentável dos ecossistemas terrestres, gerir de forma sustentável as florestas, combater a desertificação, deter e reverter a degradação da Terra e deter a perda da biodiversidade.

Learning Goals

Promote specialized skills in Invertebrate and Vertebrate Paleontology, including morphology, classification, evolution and phylogeny, biostratigraphy and palaeoecology of taxonomic groups of the fossil record.
Develop knowledge on Portuguese Paleontology, considering the fossil sites and stratigraphic intervals.
Reveal the scientific, didactic and historical importance of fossil invertebrates and vertebrates.
Students will have to develop skills related with:
Morphologic individualization, scientific drawing and taxonomic classification of fossil invertebrates and vertebrates.

History: Definition and applications of paleontology; Fossils (definition and types); Development of paleontological studies and its influence on human thinking; Paleontology in Portugal.
TAPHONOMY: biological and geological factors; Formation and types of sites. Reference to some well-known fossil deposits.
FOSSILIZATION: main types of fossilization; Ichnology. Techniques used in Paleontology: prospecting, sampling and preparation; Molding and reconstruction; Study of fossils.
PALEONTOLOGICAL taxonomy and Systematics: SYSTEMATICS; Taxonomic hierarchy; Main naming rules.
PALEOBOTANY: plant Fossils; Fragments and or plant organs; Main groups of plants, General characteristics and stratigraphic importance.
PALEOZOOLOGY: Major phyla of invertebrates with palaeontological interest; General characteristics; Systematic study and stratigraphic distribution; Phylogenetic relations scheme; Vertebrates, stratigraphic and evolutionary importance.

Teaching Methods

The programmatic contents will be taught through expositive theoretical lessons and practical lessons in the laboratorial handling of collections of specimens. These activities will be complemented with one or more field and/or museum classes.
Students can choose between continuous assessment or final exam. The continuous assessment includes a theoretic-practical written test (70% of the final grade) and a portfolio (theoretic annotations and practical exercises) or an individual-research essay (30% of the final grade). The final exam is a theoretical-practical written test. Approval requires a grade equal to or higher than 10 in the continuous or final evaluation.