Paleontology Spain, 6. Reefs of the Devonian Period

Andreas May

Course name: Introduction to the Paleontology and Paleoanthropology of Spain Saint Louis University, Madrid Campus, Faculty: Science and Engineering Semester: Spring 2005. Course description: This course gives an introduction into the Paleontology and Paleoanthropology of Spain. Basic principles and methods of Paleontology and Paleoanthropology will be outlined. Especially presented will be the origins of life and human beings, evolution, and extinctions. The paleontological part will concentrate on some interesting Spanish case studies (reefs of the Devonian period, swamp forests of the Carboniferous period, shallow sea of the Jurassic period, dinosaurs from the Upper Jurassic and Lower Cretaceous, and mammals and insects of the Tertiary period). In the center of the paleoanthropological part will be the famous findings of Homo antecessor and Homo heidelbergensis in the caves of Atapuerca and their importance for our knowledge about Human evolution. Course Calendar: Monday, Jan. 17: 1. Introduction – What are Fossils? Wednesday, Jan. 19: 2. The Geologic Time Scale Monday, Jan. 24, & Wednesday, Jan. 26: 3. Evolution and Taxonomy – Biology and Paleontology in Dialogue (I) Thursday, Jan. 27: End of DROP/ADD period Monday, Jan. 31, & Wednesday, Feb. 2: 3. Evolution and Taxonomy – Biology and Paleontology in Dialogue (II) & 4. Biogeography and Mass Extinctions (I) Monday, Feb. 7: 4. Biogeography and Mass Extinctions (II) Wednesday, Feb. 9: 5. From the Origins of Life to the Silurian Monday, Feb. 14: Review & Preparation of first mid-term exam Monday, Feb. 14: Deadline for the submission of the title of the paper Wednesday, Feb. 16: First mid-term exam. Monday, Feb. 21: 6. Reefs of the Devonian Period Wednesday, Feb. 23: 7. Swamp Forests of the Carboniferous Period (I) Monday, Feb. 28: 7. Swamp Forests of the Carboniferous Period (II) & 8. Reptiles of the Triassic Period Wednesday, Mar. 2: 9. Life of the Shallow Sea of the Jurassic Period (I) Saturday, Mar. 5, to Sunday, Mar. 13: SPRING BREAK Monday, Mar. 14: 9. Life of the Shallow Sea of the Jurassic Period (II) Wednesday, Mar. 16: 10. Dinosaurs from the Upper Jurassic and Cretaceous (I) Monday, Mar. 21: 10. Dinosaurs from the Upper Jurassic and Cretaceous (II) Wednesday, Mar. 23: 11. Fossils of the Tertiary Period Thursday, Mar. 24, to Sunday, Mar. 27: Easter Monday, Mar. 28: Review & Preparation of second mid-term exam Wednesday, Mar. 30: Second mid-term exam Monday, Apr. 4: Deadline for the submission of papers and PowerPoint presentations Monday, Apr. 4, & Wednesday, Apr. 6: 12. Outline of Human evolution. Friday, Apr. 8: Last day to drop a class and receive a grade of "W" Monday, Apr. 11, & Wednesday, Apr. 13: 13. The Earliest Man in Spain – the Homo from Orce. & 14. Homo antecessor and Homo heidelbergensis from the Caves of Atapuerca (Prov. Burgos) (I) Saturday, Apr. 16: Field trip to Guadalajara Monday, Apr. 18: 14. Homo antecessor and Homo heidelbergensis from the Caves of Atapuerca (Prov. Burgos) (II) Wednesday, Apr. 20: 15. The Humans after Homo heidelbergensis in Spain. Monday, Apr. 25, & Wednesday, Apr. 27: Presentation of papers