Taphonomy and Paleoecology
Objectives
Available soon
General characterization
Code
10936
Credits
6.0
Responsible teacher
Miguel Moreno-Azanza, Octávio João Madeira Mateus
Hours
Weekly - 2
Total - 44
Teaching language
Português
Prerequisites
Available soon
Bibliography
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Fernández-Jalvo, Y. and Andrews, P., 2016. Atlas of taphonomic identifications: 1001+ images of fossil and recent mammal bone modification. Springer.
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Behrensmeyer, A. K., Kidwell, S. M., & Gastaldo, R. A. (2000). Taphonomy and paleobiology. Paleobiology, 26(S4), 103-147.
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Fernández López, S. R. (2000). Temas de tafonomía. (In Spanish)
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Martin, R. E. (1999) Taphonomy: A Process Approach. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, xvi+ 508 pp.
- Rogers, R. R., Eberth, D. A., & Fiorillo, A. R. (Eds.). (2010). Bonebeds: genesis, analysis, and paleobiological significance. University of Chicago Press.
Teaching method
Theoretical classes and practices concerning analyses and discussion about presented case studies. Field trip.
Evaluation method
Continuous assessment through presentation and discussion of reports and / or topics for discussion.
Assessment / Evaluation:
40% Tests in Moodle and/or in person
30% Classroom exercises. Reports based on in-class and field taphonomic experiments. All classes may have evaluation exercises.
30% Essay and presentation.
Subject matter
Theoretical
1 - Taphonomy. Definition and parts. Skeletal composition of fossils. Preservation of microstructures.
2 - Biostratinomy: processes: dissociation, fragmentation, sorting, shell orientation, reworking, shell concentrations. Field questionaries. Fossil assemblages.
3 - Fossildiagenesis: preservative processes: silicification, piritized and phosphated fossils, carbonate dissolution.
4 - Taphonomic feedback. Time averaging. Taphofacies.
5 - Palaeoecology: general concepts. Diversity, equitability, dominance. Main changes in diversity of the fossil record. Massive extinctions: causes and consequences. The K/T boundary.
6 - Trophic structure of ecosystems. Trophic webs. Models in ancient communitties.
7 - Sediment-organism relations. Bioturbation and bioerosion: morphology, classifications. Neoichnology and Palaeoichnology.
8 - Well preserved old ecosystems: Ediacara, Burgess shale, Hunrückschiefer, Mazon Creek, Holzmaden, Solnhofen, Montsec, Santana, Ambar of Balthic.
9 - Ecobiostratigraphy.
10 - Stable isotope technicals applied to palaeoecology.
Labs
1 - Labeled samples of several types of preservation, transportation effects and endogenous biological destruction.
2 - Taphonomical studies in the laboratory: counting shell remains, fragmentation, abrasion, bioerosion, bioencrustation, sorting.
3 - Diversity index, equitability and dominance histograms of samples.
4 - Description of several trace fossils, determination of their behavioral category and palaeoenvironment.
5 - Interpretation of sets of isotopic data from Mollusks.
6 - Field work: taphonomy in shell concentrations of Lisboa marine Upper Miocene.