Geology 251 - Paleontology

This course focuses on the history of life as preserved in the sedimentary rock record.  Students will learn how paleontologists and geobiologists use skeletal fossils, molecular fossils, and geochemical signatures to ask and answer questions about the evolution of ancient life and Earth history.  Students will study the origination, radiation, and extinction of major groups of organisms in the context of global environmental change, with an emphasis on invertebrate and microbial life.  Laboratories include the systematic description, identification, and interpretation of fossils in the field, in hand specimen, and in thin section. Three hours of lectures and three hours of laboratory.  One weekend field trip required.

Requisite:  GEOL 111.  Spring semester.  Professor Jones.