Capability of observation, description and identification of the different fossil types. Knowledge of the main fossilisation processes. Knowledge of the evolution process and of the history of life from its first appearance to nowadays. Acquisition of the concept of index fossils and the possibility of using fossils for dating rocks; ability in the identification of some stratigraphically important species. Knowledge of the effectiveness of using fossils for further purposes (mainly in geology) and ability to promote the fruition of fossil heritage.
Teaching includes:
1. lectures with PP presentations, diagrams and, possibly, films,
2. laboratories with examination of fossils and fossiliferous rocks in order to learn to observe, describe and recognize the fossils, both isolated and within rocks. During laboratories, we will also learn methods for the collection, processing and presentation of simple data to describe individual taxa and for the documentation and enhancement of the fossil heritage.
3. seminars by researchers from Italian or foreign Universities, who are specialists of particular topics. Possibly at least one on Cenozoic mammifers.
4. field excursion at the end of the course.
Definition of Paleontology: history, articulation and employ. Concept of fossil.
Paleontological systematic: concept of biological and palaeontological species, morphospecies, cronospecies, intraspecific variability. Nomenclature: the species of Linneous and the binomial nomenclature. The International Code. The classification of organisms. Parataxonomy.
Structure, organisation and classification, and first information on autoecology, functional morfology and stratigraphic distribution of selected taxa selezionati from marin environments. Introduction to Cyanoficeae, Diatomeae, Radiolaria, Foraminifera, Coccolithophorida, Coralline algae; Tabulata, Heliolithiida, Rugosa, Scleractinia, Octocorallia, Serpuloidea, Poliplacophora, Scaphopoda, Bivalvia, Gastropoda, Cephalopoda, Bryozoa, Brachiopoda, Crinoida, Echinoida, Trilobita, Ostracoda, Cirripedia.
Taphonomy: mineralised and unmineralised parts of organisms; death. Biostratinomic processes: necrolisis, bioerosion, dissolution, transport. Burial, incorporation in resins, incrustation. Fossilisation: organic matter; mineralised parts. Types of fossil-bearing and exceptional fossil deposits, oriented distributions of fossils and concentrations: interpretation and use. Lithogenetic relevance of some fossil groups.
Fossils in the field and in the lab: main methods for observation, sampling, analysis, cataloging and exploitation.
Fossil and evolution: information about evolution, microevolution, macroevolution. History of life on Earth.
Fossils and stratigraphy: fossils as a tool for dating rocks and make correlations.
Information on fossil traces: formation, conservation, classification and palaeontological interest.
Information on palaeoecology; the distribution of organisms as a key for palaeoenvironmental, palaeobiogeographic and palaegeographic reconstructions.
Global change: fossils as climatic indicators with examples from the Mediterranean history.
Students can chose between textes that are reported below, taking into consideration that they have to include books dealing with systematics and with general palaeontology:
Raffi S. e Serpagli E. 1993. Introduzione alla Paleontologia. Utet ed.
Doyle P. 1996. Understanding fossils. An introduction to invertebrate paleontology. Wiley & sons.
Briggs D.E.G. e Crowter P.R. 1990. Palaeobiology: a synthesis. Blackwell Scientific Publications.
Ziegler B. 1983. Introduction to Palaeobiology. General Palaeontology. Donovan ed.
Allasinaz A. 1985. Paleontologia generale. Ecig ed.
Allasinaz A. 1991. Paleontologia generale e sistematica degli invertebrati. ECIG.
Allasinaz A. 1999. Invertebrati fossili. Utet.
Fortey R. 2002. Fossils: the key to the past. The Living Past Series. Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington.