Geology & Geophysics
University of Utah
Brachiopod exercise for FossilPlot part of Cutting Edge:Paleontology:Activities
Uses FossilPlot to graph Phanerozoic histories of Articulata, introduce concepts on diversity and mass extinctions, and basic biostratigraphy.
Geobiology and the History of Life part of Cutting Edge:Paleontology:Courses
Principles of paleontology as applied to problems in geology and biology; a wide spectrum of fossil organisms will be covered in the course with an emphasis on invertebrate animals. Consideration is given to morphology, classification, evolution, paleoecology, taphonomy, and biostratigraphy.
Take home final, using FossilPlot part of Cutting Edge:Paleontology:Activities
Final exam take-home assignment uses FossilPlot to access the Sepkoski Database to identify patterns of extinction and survival that allow the student to develop an argument for a naturalistic cause of a mass extinction event. Framed as an 'open question', students can delve into as much detail as they wish, and their solution is evaluated on the merit of consistency of observation with interpretation.
