group photo of students next to a pick-up truck in the field

Vertebrate Palaeontology

Description


BIOL 573 - June 1 - 20, 2024

This course is intended for advanced undergraduate and graduate students.

The primary objective for the course is to train students in collecting and analysis methods in vertebrate palaeontology.

The course will be given at a selected Late Cretaceous (~70 million years old) locality in Alberta and/or Saskatchewan. There, fieldwork will be conducted for approximately 18 days. During that time, students will have practical training with fossil identification, mapping, collecting, and stratigraphic interpretation. An emphasis will be placed on terrestrial vertebrate fossils (i.e. dinosaurs, crocodiles, and other reptiles) and palaeocommunity analysis.


Prerequisites

BIOL 304, BIOL 352, or permission of instructor.


Readings

Recent research articles and reviews. No textbook will be used.


Evaluation

Based on results of an examination before the start of the course that tests understanding of preliminary readings, participation in field work, and discussions in the field.