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Academic Year 2003/2004

Macroevolution
E&ES 250 SP

Is long-term, large-scale evolution, including the evolutionary developement of novel features (e.g., eyes, flight, adaptation to life on land), dominantly determined by biological processes or by geological processes? Biological processes include competition between species, individuals, or even genes. Geological processes include global environmental changes, such as cooling or warming, and concentrations of oxygen and CO2 in the atmosphere. Both processes play a role in long-term evolution, but there is serious debate regarding their relative importance. In this course we will study the development of biological diversity over geological time, with emphasis on the origin of the various Phyla (groups of organisms with fundamentally different body-plans) and their familial relations. We will pay particular attention to the integration of research by paleontologists and molecular biologists and the influence of these ideas and cladistic analysis on the understanding of evolution on long time scales.

MAJOR READINGS

Textbook: D.R. Prothero: BRINGING FOSSILS TO LIFE (WCB McGraw Hill; 1998)
Additional readings will be selected from D.E.G. Briggs and P.R. Crowther, eds., PALAEOBIOLOGY
J. Scotchmoore and D.A. Springer, Eds., EVOLUTION: INVESTIGATING THE EVIDENCE.
Paleontological Society, Spec. Publ. Vol. 9;
C. Zimmer. AT THE WATER'S EDGE
Papers from various scientific journals and material from various web sites.

EXAMINATIONS AND ASSIGNMENTS

There will be an in-class mid-term exam, a term paper and a comprehensive final exam.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS and/or COMMENTS

Problem sets: eight in-class assignments using fossils.

COURSE FORMAT: Lecture/Discussion

REGISTRATION INFORMATION

Level: UGRD    Credit: 1    Gen Ed Area Dept: NSM E&ES    Grading Mode: Graded   

Prerequisites: E&ES101 OR E&ES199 Links to Web Resources For This Course.

Last Updated on MAR-19-2004

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