sign in sign up
<<
Home , Paleozoology

Texas A&M University-Texarkana - Course Syllabus BIOL 443/543 Paleozoology, Fall 2018

Instructor: Dr. Ben Neuman Office Location: SCIT 318G Phone: (903) 334 6654 Email: [email protected] Course Description: This course looks at the evolution of modern by bringing together recent advances in genetics with the record. This course will provide an evolutionary perspective on the origins of important groups of animals from single-celled organisms to modern humans through lectures, discussions and hands-on workshops with .

Prerequisites: or permission from instructor. Course Delivery Method: Face to Face Textbooks/Resources: This course will also draw on papers available through the Texas A&M- Texarkana Library, which will be made available to students through Blackboard. You will also need some blank paper and pencils for lab work. If you are able, please bring a laptop or device capable of searching the internet and recording notes to class. If you do, please remember to bring a power supply.

Student Learning Outcomes: 1. Learn to identify important groups of animals in the fossil record by synthesizing information about comparative anatomy and 2. Analyze data to better understand the behavior and ecology of extinct animals 3. Synthesize genetic, ecological and fossil information to reach a deeper understanding of modern biology 4. Argue persuasively about the evolutionary affinities of modern and fossil organisms using molecular and fossil data 5. Evaluate competing explanations for animal evolution in terms of the available molecular and fossil data

Methods of Evaluation: The course is arranged in seven 2-3 week sessions, and most days will contain a mix of lecture, analysis and practical training. Each section will include a short project that is due by the end of the last class of each section. Section projects will help build a deeper understanding of concepts such as extinction, functional anatomy, evolution, development, self- defense mechanisms and ecology while building a involve hands-on examination, analysis and dissection of fossils.

Graduate students will complete an additional term paper of 3000-6000 words that discusses the evolution of a particular animal or trait in terms of both fossil data and genetic data. Term papers should properly reference at least 10 sources, and will be worth an additional 200 points.

Field Trips: There are two OPTIONAL but recommended field trips planned for this class. Each will take a full day scheduled outside of the normal class period. Transportation will be provided. Details and safety requirements will be given the week before each trip.

Grading Scale: A = 90-100%, B = 80-89%, C = 70-79%, D = 60-69%, F = 0-59% Texas A&M University-Texarkana Course Syllabus 1

Undergraduate: i. Section projects (7 x 100 points) 700 points ii. Comprehensive final fossil ID exam 300 points Total 1000 points Graduate: i. Section projects (7 x 100 points) 700 points ii. Term paper 200 points iii. Comprehensive final fossil ID exam 300 points Total 1200 points Course Outline: Week In-class topic Monday (Practical)______Wednesday (Practical)______Section 1 - Extinctions and Explosions 1. Taphonomy, Snowball Earth (Taphonomy) Chengjiang (Chengjiang) 2. Labor Day – no class Porifera/Chancelloriida (Spicules)* Section 2 – Functional Anatomy 3. Functional anatomy (Modern ) Mollusca origins (Bellerophontids) 4. Cephalopoda (Ammonoids) Cephalopoda (Nautiloids)* Fossil Trip 1 – Jacksboro, TX Section 3 - Evolution 5. origins (Jacksboro Brachs) Brachiopod evolution () 6. Brachiopod terminology (Brachiopods) Brachiopod interiors (Brachiopods)* Section 4 – Growth & Development 7. Cnidaria origins (Cnidarian evolution) Rugosa & Tabulata (Rugosa) 8. Rugosa & Tabulata II (Tabulata) Predation (Damage & Repair)* Section 5 – Biomineralization and self-defense 9. Biomineralization (Bryozoa) Arthropod origins (Chengjiang II) 10. ( eyes and ecology) Ichnofossils (Ichnofossils)* Fossil Trip 2 – Mineral Wells, TX Section 6 – Ecology and the forces that shape it 11. origins (Mineral Wells fossils) Holothuria/Ophiuroidea (Micro) 12. Snails and crinoids (Crinoids) Cyclothems (Mineral Wells Ecology)* Section 7 – Chordate Evolution 13. Chordata (Eocene turtles) Thanksgiving – no class 14. Fish to tetrapods (Final practice I) and Birds (Final practice II) 15. Human evolution (Final practice III)* In-class Practical Final

For University policies on Academic Integrity, A&M-Texarkana Email Address, and the Drop Policy, please refer to Syllabus Policies http://bit.ly/TAMUT_SyllabusPolicies For policies governing all web-enhanced and online courses, please refer to Online Education http://bit.ly/TAMUT_OnlineEducation Disability Accommodations: The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a federal non- discrimination statute that provides comprehensive civil rights protection for persons with disabilities. Among other things, this law requires that all students with disabilities be guaranteed a learning environment that provides for reasonable accommodation of their disabilities. If you believe you have a disability requiring an accommodation, please contact the Office of Student Life in UC room 126, or call (903)223-3116. For additional information visit Disability Services http://bit.ly/TAMUT_DisabilityServices

Texas A&M University-Texarkana Course Syllabus 2