91402 - Palaeobiology

Learning outcomes

This course aims to provide to all students in-depth knowledge and critical skills to independently analyze the physical and chemical processes that led to the preservation of living beings in the geological record as well as the problems related to the study of the main paleobiological models. The course will also offer an overview of major tools used in paleoecological analysis including those applied to sedimentary successions to reconstruct (through fossils) paleo-environments and their variations through time with special emphasis on the Mediterranean basin during the last several million years.

Course contents

Tafonomy, diversity and concentrations in fossil deposits; reconstruction of pre-fossilization events; biostratigraphy, evolution and macroevolution, diversity in time and space; morphology, classification or morphospaces, mode and time of evolution; geochemistry and paleobiology; biological crises and recovery events; paleobiogeography; software for paleobiological analysis. Conservation paleobiology, molluscs and climate change.

Teaching methods

Student are strongly invited to attend classes in person.

Assessment methods

Oral test

Office hours

See the website of Federico Fanti