2024
Invertebrates Paleontology
Name: Invertebrates Paleontology
Code: GEO10330M
6 ECTS
Duration: 15 weeks/162 hours
Scientific Area:
Geology
Teaching languages: Portuguese
Languages of tutoring support: Portuguese
Sustainable Development Goals
Learning Goals
Promote specialized skills in Invertebrate 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.
Students will have to develop skills related with:
Morphologic individualization, scientific drawing and taxonomic classification of fossil invertebrates;
Establishment of biunivocal correspondences between fossil invertebrate associations and the order and relative age of
stratigraphic units;
Use of taxonomic uniformitarianism and functional morphology criteria applied to the characterization of palaeoenvironmens, ecological requirements and ways of life of palaeospecies;
Identification of Portuguese fossil sites and evaluation of their importance in the palaeogeographic evolution of the country.
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.
Students will have to develop skills related with:
Morphologic individualization, scientific drawing and taxonomic classification of fossil invertebrates;
Establishment of biunivocal correspondences between fossil invertebrate associations and the order and relative age of
stratigraphic units;
Use of taxonomic uniformitarianism and functional morphology criteria applied to the characterization of palaeoenvironmens, ecological requirements and ways of life of palaeospecies;
Identification of Portuguese fossil sites and evaluation of their importance in the palaeogeographic evolution of the country.
Contents
1.General concepts
Invertebrates and metazoans
Importance on modern biosphere and during the Phanerozoic
Biostratigraphic relevance
Palaeoecology
2.Biodiversity and Fossil Record
Diversity of modern invertebrates
Skeletal synthesis, fossilization and preservation
Implications of fossil record bias
3.Origin and early diversification
First Metazoans
The Upper Proterozoic marine faunas
Origin and evolution of main Phyla
The meaning of Cambrian radiation
Mass extinctions
4.Main phyla (morphology, classification, evolution and phylogeny, biostratigraphic, palaeoecologic and biogeographic
importance)
Phylum: Porifera/Cnidaria/Briozoa/Brachipoda/Mollusca/Echinodermata/Annelida/Arthropoda/Hemichordata
5.The Invertebrates on the Portuguese Palaeontology
Historical synthesis
Main stratigraphic intervals with fossil record
Mains fossil sites
Museological collections
Scientific importance and heritage
6.Exceptional sites (lagerstätten)
7.Conclusions
Invertebrates and metazoans
Importance on modern biosphere and during the Phanerozoic
Biostratigraphic relevance
Palaeoecology
2.Biodiversity and Fossil Record
Diversity of modern invertebrates
Skeletal synthesis, fossilization and preservation
Implications of fossil record bias
3.Origin and early diversification
First Metazoans
The Upper Proterozoic marine faunas
Origin and evolution of main Phyla
The meaning of Cambrian radiation
Mass extinctions
4.Main phyla (morphology, classification, evolution and phylogeny, biostratigraphic, palaeoecologic and biogeographic
importance)
Phylum: Porifera/Cnidaria/Briozoa/Brachipoda/Mollusca/Echinodermata/Annelida/Arthropoda/Hemichordata
5.The Invertebrates on the Portuguese Palaeontology
Historical synthesis
Main stratigraphic intervals with fossil record
Mains fossil sites
Museological collections
Scientific importance and heritage
6.Exceptional sites (lagerstätten)
7.Conclusions
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.
The evaluation will be completed through a general test (theoretic-practical and theoretic contents), together with a portfolio (theoretic annotations and practical exercises) and individual work of research.
handling of collections of specimens. These activities will be complemented with one or more field and/or museum classes.
The evaluation will be completed through a general test (theoretic-practical and theoretic contents), together with a portfolio (theoretic annotations and practical exercises) and individual work of research.
Certificações
