05-BMG-PA3 Paleontological Methods

Working in small groups, the students will obtain hands-on training in the application of methods needed to document paleontological findings, including sample preparation, visual documentation, description and identification of fossils. In the second part of the module, the students will obtain theoretical knowledge and practical training in key approaches to analysis of paleontological data, including univariate and multivariate analysis of population structure, morphometry and image analysis, analysis of spatial and oriented data, quantitative biostratigraphy and phylogenetic analysis.

1) learn methods for preparation and visualisation of fossils and can apply them in practice
2) are able to identify, describe, and formally taxonomically treat fossil material
3) can apply quantitative approaches to paleontological research and identify methods appropriate to different types of data
4) can acquire and analyse paleontological data independently and are able to critically evaluate the results of such analyses

Basic Mathematics

Course Type 1: Practical Laboratory (LP) 3.0 SWS ( 42.0 h)

Course Type 2: Lecture, Exercise (L+E) 2.0 SWS ( 28.0 h)

Tutorial(s): -

70.0 h presence time
64.0 h self-study
46.0 h exam workload

180 h total workload

combination exam

exam elements: 2
SL: 0

50 % internship report
50 % assignment

1) Hammer, Ø. & Harper, D. (2006): Paleontological data analysis. – Blackwell Publishing.
2) MacLeod, N. (2011): Paleomath. http://www.morpho-tools.net/paleomath.html