Topic:Paleontology
The Wikiversity Division of Paleontology is divided into various departments for the study of extinct species that once existed on the planet. A major part of the study is the process of fossilization and relationships of species to one another. Fossil specimens are assessed according to the geological structures they are preserved in. Preservation is based on corresponding geological processes; rock materials, climactic conditions, and the ecological processes present at the time the species was fossilized.
Paleontology is subsumed by the school of geology, the school of plant science, and the school of biology, as there are various topics in paleontology that relate to the aforementioned diciplines.
Learning Project Summary [edit]
- Project code:
- Suggested Prerequisites:
- None, but some knowledge of geology, taxonomy, anatomy, fossilization, evolution, ecology, and systematics would be of benefit.
External study requires a field of specialization as a prerequisite usually in geology.
- Time investment:
Not described as to date, but maybe 30 minutes a day!
- Assessment suggestions:
- Portal: Life sciences.
- School:Geology, Plant science and Biology.
- Departments:
- w:Ichnology - w:paleoichnology Study of tracks, burrows etc.
- w:Invertebrate paleontology
- w:Micropaleontology studies microfossils.
- Department of Molecular Paleontology - the recovery of DNA from ancient human, animal, and plant remains.
- w:Paleoanthropology - Human evolution.
- w:Paleoautecology - the study of an individual fossil in relation to its habitat found in.
- w:Paleobiology Biological functions.
- w:Paleobotany - Plants.
- w:Palaeoclimatology - Ancient climatic conditions.
- w:Paleoecology - Ecosystems.
- w:palaeoenvironment - Environs of fossil bearing rock strata.
- w:Paleosynecology - the study of fossil assemblages.
- w:Paleornithology - Aves.
- w:Palynology - study organic derived particle of a size between five and 500 micrometres
- w:Sedimentology - Sediment depositions.
- w:Taphonomy - Study of process of dying and what processes occur to organisms after their death)
- w:Vertebrate paleontology
- Stream
Not developed.
- Level:
Not developed.
Content summary [edit]
To learn how the process of preserving evidence of past life occurs, how it is used as evidence for evolutionary theory, the correlation of rock formations to fossilization, and the time periods of geologic structures.
Goals [edit]
This learning project offers learning activities to ____.
- Educate and pass on the knowledge of past events and their causes and consequences.
- Understand and develop hypothesis following the scientific principle of correct scholarly examination and to prove or disprove a theory on the basis of evidence provided.
- Also follow the THE PALEONTOLOGICAL SOCIETY CODE OF FOSSIL COLLECTING Undergraduate in development.
At the end of your studies your work should be produced in the following example, Maury, Carlotta Joaquina 1934, Fossil Invertebrata from northeastern Brazil. Bulletin of the AMNH ; v. 67, article 4 . Concepts to learn include: Geological concepts of fossilization/concepts, Process of fossilization, Anatomy of extinct and extant species.
Study guides [edit]
Learning Projects Undergraduate [edit]
Lessons [edit]
Each lesson to be done over a 6 month period.
Units at Monash University as a template. Other Universities' structures will be viewed, and an appropriate course structure will be developed.
- Cardiff Univertity School of Earth, Ocean and Planetary Sciences, Undergraduate streem.
- Syllabus for the Ohio State University.
Assignments [edit]
Assignment for Lesson 1. [edit]
Describe a period in the geologic record and the life that fossils have provided an exsistence of. The length of the time period can be 1-100 million years. 500 words long.
Activities [edit]
Learning Projects Postgraduate [edit]
Learning Projects Masters degree [edit]
Sample degrees offered at various Universities.
- University of Bristol Palaeobiology Masters degree
- Cardiff University School of Earth, Ocean and Planetary Sciences
Division news [edit]
Learning materials [edit]
Texts [edit]
- Beginner
- Intermediate
- Advanced
Wikibooks textbooks [edit]
- General Biology/Evolution of Life
- General Biology/Animal Evolution
- Human Physiology
- Cell Biology
- General Biology
- Evolutionary Biology
- Genetics
- Invertebrate Zoology
- Botany
Readings [edit]
Each activity has a suggested associated background reading selection.
In this reading it is advisable that you take these guide to university study seriously. They are designed to help you with what is required of you in your studies.
*Reading 1. [edit]
- Study guide:
*Reading 2. [edit]
This is the basic concept of what palaeontology is all about. It encoumpases these 3 areas in the study, along with a few others disiplines like geology, climatology, chemistry etc, though you are usually required to major in only one field.
- Wikipedia article: w:Fossil, w:Fossil birds w:Paleontology, w:Geologic time scale
- etc.
*Reading 3. [edit]
More specialised fields of study.
- w:Dinosaur-bird connection
- w:Category:Evolutionary biology, an index of palaeontological fields and relevant areas of biology.
Reading 4. [edit]
Paleopedia a wiki on the subject.
Reading 5. [edit]
- Elements of Geology, The Student's Series, Written by Sir Charles Lyell, Bart., F.R.S., (1871) at Geology.com a bit our of date but offers usefull insight on the subject.
References [edit]
Additional helpful readings include:
- w:Paleontology
- b:Purpose/2. Life/Endnotes
- s:The New Student's Reference Work/Fossil
- s:The Origin of Species
- Mikko's Phylogeny Archive. A good site for the taxonomy of vertebrate species.
- Palaeos.org A wiki on taxonomy.
- The first Palaeos site.
Fossils [edit]
Books [edit]
- General
Guide to Fossils 2003, by Philip's, Octopus Publishing Group Ltd, London. ISBN 0-540-08374-7.
- Geology
McGeary. D and Plummer.C.C (1994), Physical Geology Earthe revealed, Wm . C. Brown Publishers, Dubuque. ISBN 91-071196.
Active participants [edit]
Active participants in this Learning Group
Prospective teachers [edit]
- Enlil Ninlil 06:52, 19 December 2006 (UTC)
- AFriedman 19:36, 16 January 2009 (UTC)
Prospective students [edit]
- Enlil Ninlil 06:52, 19 December 2006 (UTC)
- Ishwar Sridharan
- Iddo Epstein
- AFriedman 19:36, 16 January 2009 (UTC)
Featured content [edit]
External news [edit]
Here will be external links to articles related to palaeontology.
- http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/5220784.stm Australian 'Nessie' fossils found .
- http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2006/09/060929-sea-monster.html New Species of Ancient Sea Creature Discovered -- Under Ping-Pong Table.
- http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/16215340.htm Bay Area scientist reveals rare fossil discovery in Antarctica.
- http://abc.net.au/science/news/stories/2007/1862805.htm?ancient Spiky oddball once prowled ocean by Will Dunham
External links to news and other information [edit]
- Bubl links on palaeontology
- The Palaeobiology and Biodiversity Research Group
- Berkeley University Introduction to Palaeontology
- ABC Science in Australia
- The palaeontology portal.
- Palaeontology Department Natural History Museum in the United Kingdom.
- Science daily information about new fossil species
Publications [edit]
- The Palaeontological Association
- Elements of Geology, The Student's Series, Written by Sir Charles Lyell, Bart., F.R.S., (1871) at Geology.com
