GEOL30330 Geobiology

Academic Year 2022/2023

The origin of life and its subsequent evolution (the biosphere) has had profound impacts on the physical and chemical processes that have shaped the geosphere through time (and continue do so today in the Anthropocene), and vice versa. The geological record is the primary source of data on this co-evolution of life and the planet. In this module we will explore two specific aspects of the geobiological history of life on Earth: (a) What is the context and processes responsible for the presentation of microfossils in the geological record and what environmental contexts does this occur in? How do we identify candidate examples of microfossils and distinguish these from artefacts produced by purely abiological processes? (b) There is a major episode of evolutionary innovation in the latest part of the Neoproterozoic and early Phanerozoic: i.e. across the Ediacaran / Cambrian boundary. We will explore how this event is captured in the geological record, with a focus on the data provided by exceptional biotas, and assess how well we understand why this event occurred when it did. An understanding of the processes that are responsible for the preservation of fossils in the geological record underpins any attempt to reconstruct the geobiological history of life on Earth. The first part of the module investigates, in detail, the processes responsible for the preservation of non-biomineralized tissues in the geological record (exceptional preservation).

Show/hide contentOpenClose All

Curricular information is subject to change

Learning Outcomes:

At the end of this module students will have acquired, via lectures, student-led classroom presentations, and a laboratory project an understanding of:
(a) the processes responsible for ‘exceptional preservation’,
(b) geobiological events at the Neoproterozoic/Phanerozoic boundary, and how the quality of the fossil record impacts on our understanding of these
(c) the common mechanisms by which microbial fossils are preserved in the fossil record, and how abiological structures may mimic organic remains, data critical to our understanding better the origin of life and the geological setting in which this occurred
In addition, students will have enhanced transferrable skills in the following
(d) oral and poster-based communications
(e) technical report writing

Indicative Module Content:

(a) the processes responsible for ‘exceptional preservation’,
(b) geobiological events at the Neoproterozoic/Phanerozoic boundary
(c) how microbial fossils are preserved in the fossil record.

Student Effort Hours: 
Student Effort Type Hours
Lectures

20

Laboratories

30

Autonomous Student Learning

50

Total

100

Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
This module includes:
• Lectures
• Peer and group work (presentation and debate)
• Critical writing
• Active/task-based learning
• Completion of an individual project
• Student presentations

 
Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations

Not applicable to this module.


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Incompatibles:
GEOL40240 - Palaeobiology


 
Assessment Strategy  
Description Timing Open Book Exam Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade
Presentation: Poster Presentation 2 Unspecified n/a Standard conversion grade scale 40% No

5

Presentation: Poster Presentation 1 Unspecified n/a Standard conversion grade scale 40% No

5

Lab Report: State-of-the-art report on experimental results Unspecified n/a Standard conversion grade scale 40% No

25

Examination: Written Examination: essay style answers 2 hour End of Trimester Exam No Standard conversion grade scale 40% No

50

Presentation: Oral presentation Unspecified n/a Standard conversion grade scale 40% No

5

Continuous Assessment: Laboratory note books from independent project Unspecified n/a Standard conversion grade scale 40% No

10


Carry forward of passed components
Yes
 
Resit In Terminal Exam
Autumn Yes - 2 Hour
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 
Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Feedback individually to students, post-assessment

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

Not yet recorded.