BIOEE 4795

Vertebrate Paleontology: Dinosaurs and Other Stories from Deep Time

Course Description

Course information provided by the Courses of Study 2023-2024.

Vertebrate paleontology is a dynamic and increasingly synthetic field, combining information from extinct and extant specimens with tools from geology, anatomy, development, climatology, ecology, behavior, and systematics. We trace the evolutionary history of vertebrates by considering hundreds of example fossils spanning the last 542 million years. We explore key stories, such as the evidence for vertebrate origins, the ever-growing literature on Mesozoic dinosaurs, extinctions, climate change, and how the evolution of land plants and insects impacted vertebrates. We consider human historical and cultural aspects of vertebrate paleontology and ask why people everywhere are so fascinated with dinosaurs. Designed to complement existing offerings in vertebrate biology (BIOEE 2740) and paleobiology (EAS 4790), this course offers a deeper exploration of the history of vertebrate life on Earth.

When Offered Fall.

Prerequisites/Corequisites Prerequisite: BIOEE 2740 or EAS 4790.

Distribution Category (BIO-AS, PBS-AS)

• Evaluate the types of data collected from fossil vertebrates using tradition and advanced preparation methods.
• Find, access, critically evaluate and ethically use information.
• Explain the importance of studying specimens of fossil and extant taxa side-by-side.
• Integrate quantitative and qualitative information to reach defensible and creative conclusions.
• Interpret advances in VP using anatomical, stratigraphic, and biogeographical information couple with molecular phylogenetic analyses.
• Prepare a matched photograph and interpretive line drawing of a fossil specimen.
• Communicate effectively through speech and visual information about a recent advance in vertebrate paleontology.

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