The course is designed to 1) advance the knowledge on the identification of major microfossil groups, 2) provide an overview of the potential application of Micropaleontology to Earth Sciences, 3) provide the information necessary for the stratigraphical interpretation of sedimentary sequence and events’ dating, 4) offer useful insights for addressing environmental issues and for the development of georesources. 

Systematic Micropaleontology: foraminifera, calcareous nannoplankton, ostracodes, pteropods, calpionellids, calcareous algae, bryozoa, radiolaria, diatoms, and silicoflagellates, ebridians, conodonts, dinoflagellates, acritarchs, tasmanitids, chitinozoa, spores and pollen. Microfossils’ guide. Assemblages. Biostratigraphic units. Biostratigraphic scales and correlations. Paleoecological, paleogeographic, paleoclimatic and paleoceanographic interpretations. Environmental and georesources applications of Micropaleontology. Field and lab methodological procedures in Micropaleontology. Recognition of the main microfossil microscope.

Knowledge and understanding. At the end of the course, the student is expected to have advanced the basic knowledge in the field of micropaleontology, stratigraphy, paleoecology and paleoceanography. Indeed, the student is expected to recognize the main microfossils’ groups and to identify suitable micropaleontological methodologies in relation to the considered stratigraphical intervals and geological contexts. This knowledge and understanding will be tested through written questions.

Applying knowledge and understanding. The student would be able to correctly apply the terminology related to micropaleontology and selected microfossils’ groups. The student would also correctly use the main microfossils’ groups for relative dating and for paleoenvironmental reconstructions (i.e., bathymetry, oxygenation, nutrient availability etc.). These skills will be evaluated through written questions and practical exercise.

Making judgements. The student would be able to choose and applied the most appropriate methodologies of micropaleontological analyses in relation to the considered stratigraphical intervals and geological contexts.

Communication skills. The student is expected to correctly describe the methodological procedures of micropaleontological analyses, synthetize and present a scientific paper.

The teaching material prepared by the lecturer in addition to recommended textbooks (such as for instance slides, lecture notes, exercises, bibliography) and communications from the lecturer specific to the course can be found inside the Moodle platform › blended.uniurb.it

The teaching material and specific communications from the lecturer can be found, together with other supporting activities, inside the Moodle platform › blended.uniurb.it

Field and laboratory exercises.

Teaching

The course will take place through a continuous interaction between lectures, field and laboratory exercises and microscopic sessions.

Course books

Hag, B.U. and Boersma, A., 1978. Introduction to Marine Micropaleontology, Elsevier.

Lipps, J.H., 1993. Fossil Prokaryotes and Protists. Blackwell Scientific Publications.

Martin, R., 2000. Environmental Micropaleontology: The Application of Microfossils to Environmental Geology. Kluwer Academic/Plenum Publishers.

Armstrong, H.A. and Brasier, M.D., 2006. Microfossils, Blackwell Publishing.

Saraswati, P.K. and Srinivasan, M.S., 2016. Micropaleontology: Principles and Applications.

Assessment

The assessment is based on a written test with ten open questions with the aid of graphs and figures to verify the student's knowledge on main microfossils’ groups and their applications. The exam is of a three-hour duration. The student is also expected to characterize rock/sediment samples by identifying the most appropriate procedure in relation to the considered stratigraphical intervals and geological contexts. The assessment is based on a 30-point scale according to Italian grade system and accounts the knowledge of topics, their presentation and the appropriate use of scientific terminology, the reasoning, and the ability of connecting topics.

Disability and Specific Learning Disorders (SLD)

Students who have registered their disability certification or SLD certification with the Inclusion and Right to Study Office can request to use conceptual maps (for keywords) during exams.

To this end, it is necessary to send the maps, two weeks before the exam date, to the course instructor, who will verify their compliance with the university guidelines and may request modifications.

Teaching

The course will take place through a continuous interaction between lectures, field and laboratory exercises and microscopic sessions.

Course books

Hag, B.U. and Boersma, A., 1978. Introduction to Marine Micropaleontology, Elsevier.

Lipps, J.H., 1993. Fossil Prokaryotes and Protists. Blackwell Scientific Publications.

Martin, R., 2000. Environmental Micropaleontology: The Application of Microfossils to Environmental Geology. Kluwer Academic/Plenum Publishers.

Armstrong, H.A. and Brasier, M.D., 2006. Microfossils, Blackwell Publishing.

Saraswati, P.K. and Srinivasan, M.S., 2016. Micropaleontology: Principles and Applications.

Assessment

The assessment is based on a written test with ten open questions with the aid of graphs and figures to verify the student's knowledge on main microfossils’ groups and their applications. The exam is of a three-hour duration. The student is also expected to characterize rock/sediment samples by identifying the most appropriate procedure in relation to the considered stratigraphical intervals and geological contexts. The assessment is based on a 30-point scale according to Italian grade system and accounts the knowledge of topics, their presentation and the appropriate use of scientific terminology, the reasoning, and the ability of connecting topics.

Disability and Specific Learning Disorders (SLD)

Students who have registered their disability certification or SLD certification with the Inclusion and Right to Study Office can request to use conceptual maps (for keywords) during exams.

To this end, it is necessary to send the maps, two weeks before the exam date, to the course instructor, who will verify their compliance with the university guidelines and may request modifications.