GEOL 507    Advanced Paleontology (Paleoecology)

Section 01  •  8:30 AM–9:20 AM Monday & Wednesday  •  Hanna 308

 

Syllabus

I. Course Description

2 cr. The goal of this course is principles of paleoecology for marine, brackish water, and terrestrial invertebrates and vertebrates with an emphasis on the marine realm. Prerequisites: GEOL 211 or approval of instructor.

II. Rationale

An important application of the taxonomic identification of invertebrate and vertebrate fossils is their use to interpret ancient environments. This course examines the biotic and abiotic factors affecting modern environments and how they can be applied in understanding paleoenvironmental conditions based on fossilized remains.

III. Course Objectives and Outcomes

This course is designed to enable students to:

  1. Identify and explain major concepts in paleoecology.
  2. Investigate essential principles regarding the biotic and abiotic factors affecting modern environments.
  3. Utilize the process skills and problem-solving skills to investigate applications of paleoecological principles.
  4. Explain and give examples of the differences in ecological studies versus paleoecological studies.
  5. Identify major publications in the area of paleoecological concepts as well as works dealing with specific taxonomic groups.
  6. Choose, independently investigate, and prepare a written and oral report on a topic in paleoecology.

IV. Course Topics

The major topics to be considered are:

  1. Defining paleoecology and its essential concepts and principles.
  2. An overview of the historical development of paleoecology.
  3. Modern ecological studies and their application in paleoecological reconstructions.
  4. Identification of invertebrate and vertebrate groups which are useful in paleoenvironmental interpretations.
  5. An overview of the development of taphonomy and its essential role in paleoecology (investigating the transformation from the biosphere to the lithosphere; the formation of the fossil record from the ecosystem).
  6. Activities to provide application of major principles in paleoecological interpretation.
  7. An independent investigation in the studentıs interest area dealing with some aspect of paleoecology.

V. Instructional Methods and Activities

Methods and activities for instruction include a wide variety of instructional methods and techniques will be utilized in this course including:

  1. Advance organizers
  2. Lecture/group discussion
  3. Small group activities
  4. Individual learning and independent research
  5. Problem-solving and application activities including Internet assignments

VI. Evaluation and Grade Assignment

  1. Methods
    1. Written examinations (two at 30% each; midterm and final)
    2. Problem solving and application activities (10%)
    3. Journals, reports, and summaries of literature (20%)
    4. Internet assignments (10%)
  2. Grading Scale (University 10-point grading scale):  90-100 = A; 80-89 = B; 70-79 = C; 60-69 = D; Below 60 = F

VII. Class Policies

  1. Attendance policies correspond to those of the university. It should be noted that class attendance is very important in order to facilitate the learning process.
  2. Assignments are due on or before the indicated date. A penalty will be assessed for late assignments (normally 5% per day).
  3. Examinations are to be taken on the dates indicated on the schedule. Only excused absences will be accepted for missed examinations. Students may take a written or oral make-up examination at the instructor's earliest convenience, or the next examination may be counted as two grades.

VIII. Textbook(s)

The textbook adopted for this course is:
Dodd, J. Robert, and Robert J. Stanton, Jr. (1990). Paleoecology, Concepts and Application (2nd Edition). New York, NY: John Wiley and Sons, Inc. (Purchase of the text is not required due to the price of the book.)

IX. Bibliography

The knowledge bases that support course content and procedures include:

  1. Classic References
    1. Ager, D.V. (1963). Principles of Paleoecology. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill.
    2. Behrensmeyer, A.K., J.D. Damuth, W.A. DiMichele, R. Potts, H.-D. Sues, and S.L. Wing, eds. (1992). Terrestrial Ecosystems through Time. Chicago, IL: University of Chicago Press.
    3. Boucot, A.J. (1981). Principles of Benthic Marine Paleoecology. New York, NY: Academic Press.
    4. Boucot, A.J. (1990). Evolutionary Paleoecology of Behavior and Coevolution. Amsterdam, Netherlands: Elsevier.
    5. Dodd, J. Robert, and Robert J. Stanton, Jr. (1990). Paleoecology, Concepts and Applications (second edition). New York, NY: Wiley and Sons, Inc.
    6. Imbrie, J., and N.D. Newell, eds. (1964). Approaches to Paleoecology. New York, NY: Wiley and Sons, Inc.
    7. McKerrow, W.S., ed. (1978). The Ecology of Fossils. Cambridge, MA: M.I.T. Press.
    8. Schafer, W. (1972). Ecology and paleoecology of marine environments. Chicago, IL: University of Chicago Press, 568 p.
    9. Valentine, J.W. (1973). Evolutionary Paleoecology of the Marine Biosphere. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall.
  2. Taxonomic References
    1. Barnett, S.B. (1987). A Paleoenvironmental Analysis based on Ostracoda of the Cane River Formation (Eocene) of North Central Louisiana: unpublished M. S. thesis, Northeast Louisiana University, Monroe. 112 p.
    2. Breard, S.Q. (1978). Macrofaunal ecology, climate and biogeography of the Jackson Group in Louisiana and Mississippi: unpublished M.S. thesis, Northeast Louisiana University, Monroe. 159 p.
    3. Breard, S.Q. (1991). Paleoecology of a Late Eocene (Bartonian) vertebrate fauna, Moodys Branch Formation, Techeva Creek, Mississippi: Gulf Coast Association of Geological Societies Transactions, Volume 41, pp. 43-55.
    4. Breard, S.Q., M.J. Nault, and A.D. Callender (1994). Biostratigraphy and paleoecologic tolerances of Oligocene through Paleocene foraminiferal assemblages of the Gulf Coast Basin: Gulf Coast Association of Geological Societies Transactions, Volume 44, pp. 111-116.
    5. Breard, S.Q, and G.L. Stringer (1995). Paleoenvironment of a diverse marine vertebrate fauna from the Yazoo Clay (Late Eocene) at Copenhagen, Caldwell Parish, Louisiana. Gulf Coast Association of Geological Societies Transactions, Volume 45, pp. 77-85.
    6. Breard, S. and G. Stringer (1999). Integrated Paleoecology and marine vertebrate fauna of the Stone City Formation (Middle Eocene), Brazos River section, Texas. Transactions of the Gulf Coast Association of Geological Societies, Volume 49, pp. 132-142.
    7. Cappetta, H. (1987). Chondrichthyes II, Mesozoic and Cenozoic Elasmobranchii: Handbook of Paleoicthyology, Volume 3B, New York, NY, Gustav Fischer Verlag. 193 p.
    8. Cheetham, A.H. (1963). Gooseneck barnacles in the Gulf Coast Tertiary: Journal of Paleontology, Volume 37, no. 2, pp. 393-400.
    9. Dockery, D.T. (1977). Mollusca of the Moodys Branch Formation, Mississippi: Mississippi Geological Survey Bulletin 120. 212 p.
    10. Domning, D.P. (1969). A list, bibliography and index of the fossil vertebrates of Louisiana and Mississippi: GCAGS Transactions, Volume 19, pp. 395-422.
    11. Hall, J.L. (1976). Paleoecology and age of the Upper Eocene Basilosaurus cetoides beds of Louisiana, Mississippi and southwestern Alabama: unpublished M.S. thesis, Northeast Louisiana University, Monroe. 166 p.
    12. Harrel, J.B., and G. Stringer (1997). Feeding habits of the alligator snapping turtle (Macroclemys temminckii) as indicated by teleostean otoliths. Journal of Herpetological Review, Volume 28 (4), pp. 185-187.
    13. Kilmartin, K.C. (1982). Ostracoda systematics, in J.A. Schiebout and W.A. van den Bold, eds.: Paleontological Investigations in the vicinity of Montgomery Landing, Red River Waterway, Corp. of Engineers, New Orleans District, Report DACW 29-79-0282, pp. 111-145.
    14. Lancaster, W.C. (1982). A morphological and paleoecological analysis of Archeoceti of Montgomery Landing, Louisiana: unpublished M.S. thesis, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge. 148 p.
    15. Lipps, J.H. (1979). Ecology and paleoecology of planktonic foraminifera, in Foraminiferal Ecology and Paleoecology: SEPM Short Course no. 6, Houston, Texas, pp. 62-104.
    16. Manning, E.M. (1990). The late early Miocene Sabine River: GCAGS Transactions, Volume 40, pp. 531-549.
    17. Manning, E.M. and B.R. Standhardt (1986). Late Eocene sharks and rays of Montgomery Landing, Louisiana In J.A. Schiebout and W. A. van den Bold, eds., Montgomery Landing Site, Marine Eocene (Jackson) of Central Louisiana: Symposium Proceedings, Baton Rouge meeting, GCAGS, pp. 197-202.
    18. Nolf, D., and R. Brzobohaty (1992). Fish otoliths as paleobathymetric indicators: Paleontologica and Evolucio, Volume 24-25, pp. 255-264.
    19. Nolf, D., and G. Stringer (1996). Cretaceous fish otoliths: a synthesis of the North American record. In Mesozoic Fishes—Systematics and Paleoecology. G. Arratia and G. Viohl (Editors): pp. 433-459. Verlag Dr. Friedrich Pfeil, Munchen, Germany. 576 p.
    20. Nolf, D., and G. Stringer (1992). Neogene paleontology in the northern Dominican Republic—otoliths of teleostean fishes. Bulletins of American Paleontology, Volume 102, pp. 45-81.
    21. Stringer, G. (1992). Late Pleistocene-Early Holocene teleostean otoliths from a Mississippi River mudlump. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, Volume 12, pp. 33-41.
    22. Stringer, G. (1998). Otolith-based fishes from the Bowden shell bed (Pliocene) of Jamaica: Systematics and Palaeoecology. Contributions to Tertiary and Quaternary Geology, Volume 35 (1-4), pp. 147-160.
    23. Stringer, G.L. (1986). Teleostean otoliths and their paleoecological implications at the Montgomery Landing locality, in J.A. Schiebout and W.A. van den Bold, eds., Montgomery Landing Site, Marine Eocene (Jackson) of Central Louisiana: Symposium Proceedings, Baton Rouge meeting, GCAGS, pp. 209-222.
    24. Van Morkhoven, F.P.C.M. (1972). Bathymetry of Recent Ostracoda in the northwest Gulf of Mexico: Gulf Coast Association of Geological Societies Transactions, Volume 26, pp. 241-252.
    25. Walton, W.R. (1964). Recent foraminiferal ecology and paleoecology in J. Imbrie and N.D. Newell, eds., Approaches to Paleoecology: New York, New York, John Wiley and Sons, Inc., pp. 151-237.
    26. Welton, B.J. and R. F. Farish (1993). The collector's guide to fossil sharks and rays from the Cretaceous of Texas: Lewisville, TX, Before Time Publishers. 204 p.
    27. Westgate, J.W. (1984). Lower vertebrates from the Late Eocene Crow Creek Local Fauna, St. Francis County, Arkansas: Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, Volume 4, no. 4, pp. 536-546.
    28. Zullo, V.A. and R.T. Perreault (1986). Biostratigraphy and paleoecology of Eocene barnacles (Cirripedia) from Montgomery Landing, Louisiana, central Louisiana, in J.A. Schiebout and W.A. van den Bold, eds., Montgomery Landing Site, Marine Eocene (Jackson) of Central Louisiana: Symposium Proceedings, Baton Rouge meeting, GCAGS, pp. 231-238.
    29. Zumwalt, G., J. Pratt, and J. Moncrief (1995). Marine macroinvertebrate paleoenvironmental interpretation of the Harvey Site (Cook Mountain, Eocene) in north-central Louisiana: Mississippi Geology, Volume 16 (1), pp. 12-21.

X. Course Schedule (tentative order of topics and examinations)

  1. 1/13
    1. Discuss course syllabus.
    2. Make note of extensive references provided in syllabus.
    3. Overview and requirements of course.
    4. Activity on modern environment for 1/15 class meeting.
  2. 1/15
    1. Discuss activity on modern environment.
    2. Define paleoecology and its relationship to ecology.
    3. Explore relationship of uniformitarianism to paleoecology.
  3. 1/20 ULM Holiday. No classes at ULM.
  4. 1/22
    1. Investigate the historical development of paleoecology.
    2. Requirements for paleoenvironmental reconstructions (Dodd and Stanton).
  5. 1/27 Ecological relationships in the biosphere (lithosphere, atmosphere, and hydrosphere).
  6. 1/29
    1. Exploring the major biomes present in the biosphere.
    2. Assignment for biomes.
  7. 2/3
    1. The concept of ecosystems.
    2. Distinguishing abiotic and biotic factors in ecosystems.
  8. 2/5
    1. Food chains and food webs (modern and in the fossil record).
    2. Activity on Ordovician food webs (handouts).
  9. 2/10
    1. Delineating the major marine environments (features and characteristics).
    2. Importance in interpreting ancient environments.
  10. 2/12
    1. The effect of environmental limiting factors on biological populations (several class periods).
    2. The effect of temperature on organisms.
    3. Examples of paleotemperature indicators.
  11. 2/17
    1. Oxygen in the terrestrial and marine environments.
    2. Understanding oxygen distribution in the marine environment.
    3. Fossil indicators of oxygen levels.
  12. 2/19
    1. Salinity and its effect on organisms as a limiting factor.
    2. Fossil indicators of salinity.
  13. 2/24
    1. The effect of depth on organisms (the limiting effects of water depth in the marine environment).
    2. The CCD (what is it and how does it affect the fossil record?)
  14. 2/26 Exploring the effects of substrate on organisms in the marine environment.
  15. 3/3 Mardi Gras Holiday. No classes at ULM.
  16. 3/5 Mardi Gras Holiday. No classes at ULM.
  17. 3/10
    1. Complete discussion of limiting factors in the environment.
    2. Impact on paleoecology.
  18. 3/12
    1. Exploring the concept of evolutionary paleoecology.
    2. Evolutionary faunas in the paleontologic record.
  19. 3/17
    1. Announce Mid-term Examination.
    2. Review concepts for Mid-term Examination.
  20. 3/19
    1. Tracing the development of taphonomy.
    2. Importance in paleoecology.
  21. 3/24
    1. Tracing the development of taphonomy.
    2. Importance in paleoecology.

3/26 EXAMINATION #1 (Mid-term)

  1. 3/31
    1. Return examinations and discuss.
    2. Continue discussion of taphonomy.
    3. Major areas of taphonomy.
  2. 4/2
    1. Discuss the taphonomic processes and approaches.
    2. Investigate limiting factors in paleontology.
    3. Review and discuss handout on taphonomy references.
  3. 4/7
    1. Introduce the concept of biostratigraphy.
    2. Importance in paleoecology.
  4. 4/9 Paleozoic and Mesozoic biostratigraphy: an overview.
  5. 4/14 Cenozoic biostratigraphy
    1. Overview.
    2. Investigation of fossil groups utilized.
  6. 4/16 Introduce the use of planktonic and benthonic foraminifera in paleoecology (one of most important groups for paleoenvironmental reconstructions.
  7. 4/21 Easter Holiday. No classes at ULM.
  8. 4/23 Planktonic foraminifera ecology.
  9. 4/28 The use of planktonic foraminifera to determine latitude, temperature, and depth of water.
  10. 4/30
    1. Continue investigation of foraminifera.
    2. Use in paleoecology.
  11. 5/5
    1. Investigating the use of living foraminifera.
    2. Application in paleoecological interpretation.
  12. 5/7
    1. Complete notes for paleoecology.
    2. Review for final examination.

FINAL EXAMINATION Thursday, May 8, 1:00 PM - 2:50 PM

 

 

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