Digging Up the Past: Finding out about past ecosystems Course

Program Overview

This program provides a comprehensive overview of paleontology, covering topics such as fossil formation, dinosaur anatomy, behavior, and ecology. It also explores paleoecology and climate change, examining the evidence for past climate events and their potential impact on modern ecosystems. The program is designed to provide students with a solid foundation in paleontology and prepare them for careers in the field.

Program Outline

Outline:

• Module 1: Introduction to Paleontology
• Explore the field of paleontology and its history.
• Learn about the different types of fossils and how they are formed.
• Discuss the basic principles of stratigraphy and how it can be used to interpret the past.
• Module 2: Dinosaur Anatomy and Physiology
• Examine the anatomy of dinosaurs, including their skeletons, muscles, and internal organs.
• Discuss how dinosaurs moved, ate, and breathed.
• Learn about the different types of dinosaur teeth and their function.
• Module 3: Dinosaur Behavior and Ecology
• Explore the social behavior of dinosaurs, including their mating habits, parental care, and communication.
• Discuss the different types of dinosaur diets and how they adapted to their environments.
• Learn about the evidence for dinosaur extinction and the different theories about what caused it.
• Module 4: Paleoecology and Climate Change
• Discuss the different types of paleoenvironmental data that can be used to reconstruct past climates.