Unit details
SLE395 - Palaeobiology
| Offered at: | (B, X) |
|---|---|
| Credit point(s): | 1 |
| Offerings: | Trimester 1 |
| EFTSL value: | 0.125 |
| Previously coded as: | SBB395 |
| Unit chair: | M Warne |
| Prerequisite: | One of SLE102, SLE136, SLE103 or plus two level 2 units |
| Contact hours: | 1 x 2 hour lectures per week, 6 x 3 hour practicals per trimester, 1 x half day field trip (weather dependant) |
| Note: Online teaching methods require internet access. Please refer to the most current computer specifications. | |
Content
This unit provides students with an opportunity to study deep-time aspects of the biological and environmental sciences. Lecture include:
- Fossils of the terrestrial realm and their environments of preservation;
- Fossils of the marine realm and their environments of preservation;
- relative and absolute dating of fossils;
- biological evolution and the fossil record, including discussions on radiation, convergence, rates of extinction and evolutionary trends;
- Precambrian, Palaeozoic, Mesozoic and Cenozoic life;
- Quaternary physical evolution of the earth and associated anthropological change;
- Microfossils as proxies of past oceanographic and climate change. Practical work will involve 2 projects. The first project will involve the description and biostratigraphical or palaeoecological evaluation of invertebrate fossils from a limestone, sandstone or mudstone exposure in SE Australia. The second project will involve the use of invertebrate microfossils or macrofossils as proxies of past environmental change within a human occupation historical timescale. This project will involve the examination of fossils from sediment cores gathered within a modern aquatic setting.
This unit will also include a half day field trip (or online virtual field tour), or tour of museum fossil preparatory laboratories.
Assessment
Practical report 1 40%, practical report 2 40%, class test 20%
Unit Fee Information
| Student Contribution Rate* | Student Contribution Rate** | Fee rate - Domestic Students | Fee rate - International students |
| $1076 | $1076 | $3750 | $3503 |
* Rate for all CSP students, except for those who commenced Education and Nursing units pre 2010
** Rate for CSP students who commenced Education and Nursing units pre 2010
Please note: Unit fees listed do not apply to Deakin Prime students.
