Eastern Illinois University New Course Proposal GEL 3085 3090, Vertebrate Paleoenvironments and Paleoecology

Agenda Item #10-74 Effective Spring 2011

Please check one: New course Revised course

PART I: CATALOG DESCRIPTION

1. Course prefix and number, such as ART 1000: GEL 3085 3090 2. Title (may not exceed 30 characters, including spaces): Vertebrate Paleoenvironments title, if any (may not exceed 100 characters, including spaces): Vertebrate paleoenvironments and paleoecology 3. Class hours per week, lab hours per week, and credit [e.g., (3-0-3)]: 3-0-3 4. Term(s) to be offered: Fall Spring Summer On demand 5. Initial term of offering: Fall Spring Summer Year: 2011 6. Course description (not to exceed four lines): This course will investigate principles of vertebrate paleontology, paleoenvironmental and paleoecological reconstructions and analyses. The focus will be on the fossil record of vertebrate organisms from their origins through the Pleistocene. 7. Registration restrictions: a. Identify any equivalent courses (e.g., cross-listed course, non-honors version of an honors course). None b. Prerequisite(s), including required test scores, courses, grades in courses, and technical skills. Indicate whether any prerequisite course(s) MAY be taken concurrently with the proposed/revised course. GEL 1430 Historical Geology or permission of the instructor; may not be taken concurrently c. Who can waive the prerequisite(s)? No one Chair Instructor Advisor Other (Please specify) d. Co-requisites (course(s) which MUST be taken concurrently with this one): e. Repeat status: Course may not be repeated. Course may be repeated to a maximum of hours or times. f. Degree, college, major(s), level, or class to which registration in the course is restricted, if any: Sophomore, Junior, or Senior status g. Degree, college, major(s), level, or class to be excluded from the course, if any: None 8. Special course attributes [cultural diversity, general education (indicate component), honors, remedial, writing centered or writing intensive] None

9. Grading methods (check all that apply): Standard letter C/NC Audit ABC/NC (“Standard letter”—i.e., ABCDF--is assumed to be the default grading method unless the course description indicates otherwise.) 10. Instructional delivery method: lecture lab lecture/lab combined independent study/research internship performance practicum or clinical study abroad other

PART II: ASSURANCE OF STUDENT LEARNING

1. Objectives- Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to : • Make connections between Earth history events, and evolutionary events of vertebrates. • Understand and discuss evolutionary theory with respect to vertebrates • Discuss the impacts of Extinction Events on vertebrate fauna • Assess paleoecological and paleoenvironmental studies of vertebrate deposits • Understand and discuss the origin, evolution, and diversification of vertebrates over geologic time.

2. Assignments/activities the instructor will use to assess student learning: • Mid-term examination 20 % • Presentation of primary source literature 20 % • Quizzes 15 % • Term Paper 20 % • Final Examination 25 %

3. Explain how instructor will determine students’ grades:

Learning 20 % 20 % 15 % 20 % 25 % Objectives Mid-term Presentations Quizzes Term Final Exam Exam Paper Make connections X X X X X between Earth history events and evolutionary events of vertebrates. Understand and X X X X X discuss evolutionary theory with respect to vertebrates. Discuss the impacts X X X X X of Extinction Events on vertebrate fauna

Learning 20 % 25 % 10 % 20 % 25 % Objectives Mid-term Homework Quizzes Term Final Exam Exam Assignments Paper Assess X X X X X paleoecological and paleoenvironmental studies of vertebrate deposits

Have a basic X X X X X understanding of the origin, evolution and diversification of vertebrates over geologic time.

4. Not technology delivered 5. Not graduate level course. 6. This course is writing-active. Students will be required to write up summaries of primary source reading, as part of homework assignments. Examinations will require some responses in essay format. The term paper will require a 10 page research paper focusing on some aspect of vertebrate paleontology.

PART III: OUTLINE OF THE COURSE

Week Topic 1 Geologic Time and Paleontology Geologic Time (relative and numerical dating) Paleontology, paleoclimate and paleoecology Tectonics Classification The Fossil Record and Taphonomy Supplemental Readings (for example): Sepkoski, J., Bambach, R., Raup, D., Valentine, J, 1981. Phanerozoic marine diversity and the fossil record. Nature, v. 293, p. 435-437. Behrensmeyer, K., Kidwell, S., and Gastaldo, R., 2000. Taphonomy and Paleobiology. Paleobiology, v. 26 (4), p. 103-147. Vermeij, G., 1977. The Mesozoic marine revolution: evidence from snails, predators, and grazers. Paleobiology v. 3, p. 245-258.

2 Evolutionary Theory Darwinian Evolution Punctuated Equilibrium Evolutionary relationships and phylogenetics Readings from: Eldredge, N. and Gould, S., 1972. Punctuated equilibria: An alternative to phyletic gradualism. In Schopf, T. (Ed.) Models in Paleobiology. Freeman, Cooper and Company, San Francisco, p. 82-115 Darwin, C., 1859. Chapter 4: Natural Selection. In The Origin of Species. Weiner, J., 1994. The Beak of the Finch. (selected readings)

3 Origins of vertebrates Basal chordates Hemichordates Conodonts and early chordates End Ordovician Extinction Event Readings from (for example): Xingliang, X., Degan, S., Yong, L., and Jian, H., 2001. New sites of the Chengjiang fossils: crucial windows on the Cambrian explosion. Journal of the Geological Society of London, v. 158(2), p. 211-218. Sweet, W.C., Donoghue, P., 2001. Conodonts: past, present, future. Journal of Paleontology, v. 75(6), p.1174-1184. Sweet, W.C., 1985. Conodonts: Those fascinating little whatzits. Journal of Paleontology, v. 59 (3), p. 485-494. Young, S.A., Saltzman, M.R., Foland, K.A., Linder, J.S., Kump, L.R., 2009. A major drop in seawater 87Sr/86Sr during the Middle Ordovician (Darriwilian); links to volcanism and climate? Geology, v. 37(10), p. 951-954. Eriksson, M.E., Nilsson, E.K., Jeppsson, L., 2009. Vertebrate extinctions and reorganizations during the Late Silurian Lau Event. Geology, v. 37(8), p. 739-742.

4&5 Early Paleozoic Fishes and Environments Jawless Fishes Placoderms Early Sharks and Bony Fishes Supplemental Readings (for example): Schultze, H-P, 2001. Melanognathus, a primitive dipnoan from the Lower Devonian of the Canadian Arctic and the interrelationships of Devonian dipnoans. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, v. 21(4), p. 781-794. Campbell, K.S.W., and Barwick, R.E., 1990. Dipnoan phylogeny: functional complexes and evolution without parsimony. Paleobiology, v. 16(2), p. 143-169.

Campbell, K.S.W. and Barwick, R.E., 1986. Paleozoic lungfishes: a review. Journal of Morphology, volume supplement, issue 1, p. 93-131. Zakharenko, G.V., 2008. Possible evidence of predation in placoderms (Pisces) of the Evlanovo Basin of Central Russia. Palaeontological Journal, v. 42 (5), p. 522-525. Burrow, C.J., and Turner, S., 1998. Devonian placoderm scales from Australia. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology,v. 18(4), p. 677-695.

6&7 Invasion of land adapting to land Devonian tetrapods Devonian-Permian paleoenvironments Carboniferous tetrapods anapsids, diapsids, synapsids, therapsids Permian-Triassic Extinction Event Case Studies: Pennsylvanian pelycosaurs, Permian of South Africa, Permian-Triassic Extinction Event

Readings from (for example): Piñeiro, G., Verde, M., Ubilla, M., Ferigolo, J., 2003. First basal synapsids (“Pelycosaurs”) from the Upper Permian-?Lower Triassic of Uruguay, South America. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology Brand, L., 1979. Field and laboratory studies on the Coconino Sandstone (Permian) vertebrate footprints and their paleoecological implications. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology, v. 28, p. 25-28. Tverdokhlebov, V., Tverdoklebov, G., Minikh, A., Surkov, M., Benton, M., 2005. Upper Permian vertebrates and their sedimentological context in the South Urals, Russia. Earth- Science Reviews, v. 69 (1-2), p. 27-77. Swanson, B., Carlson, K., 2002. Walk, wade or swim? Vertebrate traces on an Early Permian lakeshore. Palaios, v. 17(2), p. 123-133. Reisz, R., 1975. Pennsylvanian pelycosaurs from Linton, OH and Nýřany, Czechoslovakia. Journal of Paleontology, v. 49(3), p. 522-527.

8&9 Dinosaurs, Mesozoic Marine Revolution, and Birds archosauromorphs Triassic paleoenvironments marine reptiles dinosaurs Flight Pterosaurs

Birds Cretaceous-Paleocene Extinction Event Readings from (for example): Patrick, D., Martin, J., Parris, D., and Grandstaff, D., 2004. Paleoenvironmental interpretations of rare earth element signatures in mosasaurs (reptilian) from the Upper Cretaceous Pierre Shale, Central South Dakota, USA. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology, v. 212 (3-4), p. 277-294. Sheehan, P., Fastovsky, D., Hoffman, R., Berghaus, C., and Gabriel, D., 1991. Sudden extinction of the dinosaurs, latest Cretaceous, Upper Great Plains, USA. Science v. 254, p. 835-839. Pearson, D., Schaefer, T., Johnson, K., Nichols, D., Hunter, J., 2002. Vertebrate biostraigraphy of the Hell Creek Formation in southwestern North Dakota and northwestern South Dakota. In Hartman, J., Johnson, K., Nichols, D. (Eds.), An Integrated Continental Record of the End of the Cretaceous, Geological Society of America Special Paper 361, p. 145-168. Alvarez, L., Alvarez, W., Asaro, R., Michel, H., 1980. Extraterrestrial causes for the Cretaceous-Tertiary Extinction. Science v. 208, p. 1095-1108. Sheehan, P., and Fastovsky, D., 1992. Major extinction of land-dwelling vertebrates at the Cretaceous-Tertiary boundary, eastern Montana. Geology v. 20(6), p. 556-560.

10 & 11 Into the Cenozoic World Paleocene-Eocene Teleost Fishes Paleogene Mammalian Fauna Biogeography, paleoclimate and tectonics of the Paleocene and Eocene Paleocene Eocene Thermal Maximum

Readings from (for example): Pascual, R., Jaureguizar, E., 1990. Evolving climates and mammal faunas in Cenozoic South America. Journal of Human Evolution, v. 19(1-2), p. 23-60. Grande, L., 1999. The first Esox (Esocidae: Teleostei) from the Eocene Green River Formation and a brief review of esocid fishes. Journal of Paleontology v. 19(2), p. 271-292. Carvalho, M., Maisey, and Grande, L., 2004. Freshwater stingrays of the Green River Formation of Wyoming (Early Eocene) with the description of a new genus and species and an analysis of its phylogenetic relationships (Chondrichthyes: Myliobatiformes). Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History, v. 284, p. 1-136. Gingerich, P., 2006. Environment and evolution through the Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum. Trends in Ecology and Evolution, v. 21(5), p. 246-253. Gingerich, P., 2000. Paleocene/Eocene boundary and continental vertebrate faunas of Europe and North America. GFF v. 122, p. 57-60.

Mayr, G., 1999. Caprimulgiform birds from the Middle Eocene of Messel (Hessen, Germany). Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, v. 19(3), p. 521-532.

12 Placental Mammals Reproductive strategy Cenozoic Mammalian diversification and radiation Paleogene Mammalian Fauna

Readings from (for example): Alroy, J., 1999. The Fossil Record of North American Mammals: Evidence for a Paleocene Evolutionary radiation. Systematic Biology v. 48 (1), p. 107-118. Gingerich, P., 1980. Evolutionary Patterns in early Cenozoic Mammals. Annual Review of Earth and Planetary Science, v. 8, p. 407-424. Bowen, G., Clyde, W., Koch, P., Ting, S., Alroy, J., Tsubamoto, T., Wang, Y, Wang, Y., 2002. Mammalian dispersal at the Paleocene/Eocene Boundary. Science v. 295, p. 2062-2065. Prothero, D., 1985. North American mammalian diversity and Eocene-Oligocene extinctions. Paleobiology, v. 11(4), p. 389-405. Prothero, D., 2004. Did impacts, volcanic eruptions or climate change affect mammalian diversity? Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology, v.214(3), p. 283-294.

13&14 Neogene Mammalian Fauna Biogeography and centers of evolution Evolution of horses Evolution of elephants (mammoths, mastodons, etc) Pleistocene Mammals and Extinctions La Brea Tar Pits Readings from (for example): McFadden, B.J., 2005. Fossil Horses: Evidence for Evolution. Science v.307, p.1728-1730 McFadden, B.J., 1986. Fossil Horses from “Eohippus” (Hyracotherium) to Equus: scaling, Cope’s law and the evolution of body size. Paleobiology v.12 (4), p.355-369. Garcés, M, Cabrera, L., Agusti, J., Parés, J., 1997. Old World First Appearance Datum of “Hipparion” horses: Late Miocene large mammal dispersal and global events. Geology v. 25(1), p. 19-22. Winkler, A., 2002. Neogene paleogeography and East African paleoenvironments: contributions for from the Tugen Hills rodents and lagomorphs. Journal of Human Evolution, v. 42(1-2), p. 237-256.

Leakey, M., Feibel, C., Bernor, R., Harris, J., Cerling, T., Stewart, K., Storrs, G., Walker, A., Werdelin, L., Winkler, A., 1996. Lothagam: a record of faunal change in the Late Miocene of East Africa. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, v. 16(3), p. 556-570. Binder, W., Van Valkenburgh, B., 2010. A comparison of tooth wear and breakage in Rancho La Brea sabertooth cats and dire wolves across time. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, v. 30(1), p. 255-261. Wake, T., Roeder, M., 2009. A diverse Rancholabrean vertebrate microfauna from Southern California includes the first fossil record of Ensatina (ensatina eschscholtzii: Pethodontidae). Quaternary Research v. 72(3), p. 364-370. Fox-Dobbs, K., Stidham, T., Bowen, G., Emslie, S., Koch, P., 2006. Dietary controls on extinction versus survival among avian megafauna in the late Pleistocene. Geology v. 34(8), p. 685-688.

15 Primates and Human Evolution Australopithecus Neaderthal Homo erectus Lucy Ardi Readings from (for example): Gingerich, P., 1984. Primate evolution: Evidence from the fossil record, comparative morphology, and molecular biology. American Journal of Physical Anthropology, v. 27(S5), p.57-72. White, T., Asfaw, B., Beyene, Y., Haile-Selassie, Y., Lovejoy, C., Gabriel, G., 2009. Ardipithecus ramidus and the paleobiology of early hominids. Science v. 326, p. 75-86.

PART IV: PURPOSE AND NEED 1. Explain the department’s rationale for developing and proposing this course.

This course will provide students with an interest in Paleontology the opportunity to take an elective course that complements Invertebrate Paleontology (GEL 4490), a required course for Geology majors. The focus of this course is to help students associate changing paleoenvironmental and paleoecological conditions with changing vertebrate fauna through geologic time. The course aims to help students integrate concepts of paleontology, stratigraphy, and historical geology through the perspective of vertebrate organisms. 2. Historical Geology (GEL 1430) is the prerequisite for this course and will prepare students for this course by giving them a basic understanding of the geological history

of the Earth. In special situations (i.e. Biology majors), the instructor may allow enrollment without GEL 1430.

2. BIO 3950 Vertebrate Natural History is not an equivalent course. Vertebrate Paleoenvironments aims to investigate the fossil record of vertebrates using specific examples from different stratigraphic units. Dr. Steve Mullin in Biology, who teaches BIO 3950, has seen the course proposal and offered suggestions which have been taken into account. He is supportive of GEL 3090.

BIO 4984 Organic Evolution is also not an equivalent course. While there may be some overlap in material at the beginning of the proposed Vertebrate Paleoenvironments course, the bulk of the course will be focused on the fossil record. Dr. Gary Fritz agrees that there is not substantial overlap with Organic Evolution.

4. This course will be offered as an elective within the B.S. Geology major program.

PART V: IMPLEMENTATION 1. Faculty member(s) to whom the course may be assigned: Dr. Katherine Johnson or qualified faculty members in the Geology or Geography Program.

2. Additional costs to students: Field Trip 3. Text: Vertebrate Palaeontology, third edition, 2005, Michael Benton, Blackwell Publishing, 455 pages. Supplemental Readings will be put on reserve at the library

PART VI: COMMUNITY COLLEGE TRANSFER A community college course will not be judged equivalent to this course.

PART VII: APPROVALS

Date approved by the Department of Geology/Geography: March 29, 2010

Date approved by the College of Sciences Curriculum Committee: April 9, 2010

Date approved by CAA: April 22, 2010

*In writing-active courses, frequent, brief writing activities and assignments are required. Such activities -- some of which are to be graded – might include five-minute in-class writing assignments, journal keeping, lab reports, essay examinations, short papers, longer papers, or a variety of other writing-to-learn activities of the instructor's invention. Writing assignments and activities in writing-active courses are designed primarily to assist students in mastering course content, secondarily to strengthen students' writing skills. In writing-intensive courses, several writing assignments and writing activities are required. These assignments and activities, which are to be spread over the course of the semester, serve the dual purpose of strengthening writing skills and deepening understanding of course content. At least one writing assignment is to be revised by the student after it has been read and commented on by the instructor. In writing-intensive courses, students’ writing should constitute no less than 35% of the final course grade. In writing-centered courses (English 1001G, English 1002G, and their honors equivalents), students learn the principles and the process of writing in all of its stages, from inception to completion. The quality of students' writing is the principal determinant of the course grade. The minimum writing requirement is 20 pages (5,000 words).