GEOL328L

This is an interdisciplinary course in which students use paleontology and sedimentology to interpret ancient environments and the ecosystems they supported. Students begin with a brief review of aspects of geology required for paleontological studies: geologic time, plate tectonics, and sedimentary rocks and their depositional environments. There is also a review of evolutionary theory and ecological and paleoecological principles. Following this, the course is split into two sections. First, there is an overview of the major depositional environments, the typical fossil organisms that are found preserved in them, the processes of fossilization, and how the ecosystems of particular environments have changed through time. This is followed by a survey of the history of life, with case studies in which we examine several important fossiliferous units in both marine and terrestrial settings, and use paleontological (biological) and sedimentological (geological) data to reconstruct the paleoecology and ancient physical environment. Lab sessions include fossil identification and analysis and several field visits to sites in New Jersey and Pennsylvania. This course is a core (required) course for the Earth Science minor. It may also be used as an elective in the Biology and Sustainability (Earth Science track) majors and the Environmental Science minor. lt counts towards the Earth Science teaching certificate. The (required) Lecture section is a Writing Intensive course. This course is cross—listed (GEOL 328L / BIOL 328L). Course fee required.

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