The skills required for the Marine Paleophitoecology module consist of a correct knowledge of the most significant marine plants in the paleontological record and in particular their role in some paleo-environments of the geological past.
The objective of the Marine phyto-ecology module is the knowledge on the characterization of the marine environment through benthic marine vegetation of hard and mobile substrate aimed at the evaluation and monitoring of the health status of the coastal marine environment.
Frontal lessons and laboratory activities.
At least one seminar on paleontological topics of particular interest held by Italian or foreign specialists.
Lectures and exercises in laboratory.
Meaning and goals of Marine Paleoecology. The appearance and evolution of vegetals in the geological record. Methods and processes of fossilization of vegetal remnants and in particular of marine plants and seaweed. Fossilization power and role of some marine algae and plants in the formation of rocks (litogenetic power of fossils). Role of calcareous algae and plants in the biodiversity of fossil marine habitats. Algal ecofenotypes and their significance in paleoecological reconstruction. Selected cases of vegetal-dominated marine environments from Precambrian to Cenozoic, also referring to examples of the regional context. The stratigraphic meaning of marine plants. Techniques of fossil fitocommunities.
General information on the marine environment: the ocean floor; water and its properties; comparison between land and sea. Zoning of the oceans. Water movements: currents, waves and tides
Main ecological factors that condition plant organisms *: light; salinity; temperature; substrate type, nutrients and. Adaptations * of plant organisms to light, to salinity, to substrate temperature.
Indicate with an asterisk, *, the minimum arguments that can not be renounced for passing the exam
Materials used during lessons is made available to students.
Textbooks useful for the study:
Raffi S. & Serpagli E. 1993. Introduzione alla Paleontologia. UTET, Torino.
Schäfer W.1972. Ecology and Palaeoecology of Marine Enviroments. Translated from the German by I. Oertel. xii+568 pp., 275 figs, 39 pls. The University of Chicago Press, Chicago.
Danovaro R. - Biologia Marina. CittàStudi and teaching material provided by the teacher