01712 - PALEONTOLOGY

courses

ID:

01712

Duration (hours):

60

CFU:

SSD:

PALEONTOLOGIA E PALEOECOLOGIA

Located in:

CHIETI

Url:

Course Details:

GEOLOGICAL SCIENCES/CORSO GENERICO Year: 1

Year:

2025

Course Catalogue:

https://unich.coursecatalogue.cineca.it/af/2025?co...

Date/time interval

Primo Semestre (22/09/2025 - 23/12/2025)

Course Objectives

Learning of the following concepts: fossil, fossilization, taphonomy (through its numerous faces), biological evolution, paleoecology, biostratigraphy, functional morphology, extinction. Learning of concepts related to terrestrialization, origin of life, evolution of the oldest life forms on Earth, origin of extant phyla. Learning of conceptual instruments useful in the field work of the geologist like mollusk taphonomy, marine paleoecology, facies concept as applied to Paleontology.

Course Prerequisites

High school degree.

Teaching Methods

Lessons using Powerpoint presentations; seminars of external specialists realized ad hoc; laboratory activities including observations of fossils by optical microscopes, study of paleontological specimens (molluscs, arthropods, echinoids, corals); educational visits to paleontological museums and sites.

Assessment Methods

final oral examination

Texts

1) AAVV (2022). Manuale di Paleontologia a cura della Società Paleontologica Italiana, Idelson-Gnocchi, 500 pp. 2) Raffi, Serpagli (2003). Introduzione alla Paleontologia, UTET, 600 pp.

This course is articulated into different modules that include a variety of subjects related to: history of Paleontology, Taphonomy and fossilization processes; Biostratigraphy, biological evolution, Paleoecology, origin of life and biological evolution in the latest Precambrian and in the Paleozoic. Key events of the history of life are treated (insularity, biotic responses to paleoenvironmental changes, European glacial faunas, terrestrialization processes of animals and plants); methods for phylogenetic inference are illustrated and a special focus is dedicated to Systematic Paleontology. Methods of paleontological excavation and preparation; the Italian law regulating paleontological activities. Some key-sites are analyzed (Bolca, Holzmaden, Sterkfontein, Pisco Formation etc.) and it is treated the development of large-scale paleontological projects related to fossil conservation as part of our cultural heritage.

Course Language

Italian

More information

If possibile, visits to paleontological museums in Abruzzo and elsewhere will be planned.

The course is delivered in blended mode (type B) with 20% of the teaching hours completed online.