Creature Features - Showcase of Living Fossils

David Sunderlin
,
Lafayette College
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Summary

This activity connects the fossil record to biodiversity in the Recent by having students present on a "living fossil" group. The exercise is useful in demonstrating evolutionary stasis, reminding students of the differential preservation of soft and hard parts, and developing presentation skills.

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Context

Audience

undergraduate upper-level elective in geology or biology major programs

Skills and concepts that students must have mastered

How the activity is situated in the course

As a side project that is incorporated into the discussion of fossil groups

Goals

Content/concepts goals for this activity

  • anatomy of fossil & modern groups of organisms
  • evolutionary trends/stasis

Higher order thinking skills goals for this activity

  • synthesis of research

Other skills goals for this activity

  • oral presentation
  • written presentation
  • teaching the class

Description of the activity/assignment

This activity is a side project that students work on through the organismal portion of a course in paleobiology/paleontology. Students present on the lifestyle, habitat, and behavior of "living fossil" groups. The activity ties the fossil record to the modern living world and allows students to engage with ideas of evolutionary stasis, taphonomy, and functional morphology.

Determining whether students have met the goals

I use a rubric assessment system and peer evaluations. The rubric is provided to the students at the time the assignment is given and serves as a guide for the students as well as a grading tool.

More information about assessment tools and techniques.

Teaching materials and tips

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