Objetives:

-To know the conceptual bases of Micropalaeontology.

-To know the morphological and palaeoenvironmental characteristics as well as the evolutionary history of the main microfossil groups and to use them in the resolution of geological problems.



Specific competences:

M04GM4.1- To know the main sedimentary processes and environments and identify their products.

M04GM4.2- To develop the stratigraphic methodology necessary for the temporal and spatial arrangement of the rock units.

M04GM4.4- To understand the fossil record and its biostratigraphic and palaeoecological implications.

M04GM4.5- To identify the main fossil groups and their context in a hand sample and under a microscope.

M04GM4.8- To observe the most common fossils and exogenous rocks in the field and complete the field notebook.



Transversal competences:

G001- Capacity for analysis and synthesis.

G003- Search capacity and information management.

G004- Ability to apply knowledge to practice.

G007- Ability to organize, plan and manage time.

G009- Oral and written communication in the native language.

G010- Motivation for quality and a well-done job.

1.Introduction to Micropalaeontology: Concept and current status. Historical development and importance. Fundamentals and Applications. Methodology of the samples in Micropalaeontology. Preparation techniques and study methods. Taphonomy in Micropalaeontology. Main groups of microfossils: criteria used and classification.



2. Kingdom Protista. Dinoflagellates: Introduction. Morphology of dinoflagellates. Classification of dinoflagellates. Biology of dinoflagellates. Palaeoenvironmental applications. Biostratigraphic applications. Evolutionary history.



3.Diatoms: Introduction. Morphology and Systematics. Biology of diatoms. Palaeoenvironmental applications. Biostratigraphic applications. Evolutionary history.



4. Calcareous nannoplankton: Introduction. Morphology and Systematics. Biology of calcareous nannoplankton. Palaeoenvironmental applications. Biostratigraphic applications. Evolutionary history.



5.Radiolaria: Introduction. Morphology and Systematics. Biology. Taphonomy of radiolarians. Palaeoenvironmental applications. Biostratigraphic applications. Evolutionary history.



6. Foraminifera: Introduction. Morphology and Systematics. Biology and Ecology Palaeoenvironmental applications. Biostratigraphic applications. Evolutionary history.



7. Kingdom Plantae. Spores and Pollen: Introduction. Morphology and Systematics. Distribution and Ecology. Applications in continental settings. Applications in marine environments.



8. Kingdom Animalia. Ostracoda: Introduction. Biology. Ecology and Palaeoecology. Classification. Applications in palaeoenvironmental interpretation. Origin and evolutionary tendencies.



9. Microvertebrates: Conodonts. Introduction. Characteristics of the conodontal elements. General history of the conodonts: palaeoecology and biostratigraphy. Other vertebrate microfossils: micromammals. Introduction. Morphology and Systematics. Biology and Ecology. Palaeoenvironmental and biostratigraphic applications. Origin and evolutionary history.

PRACTICAL CONTENTS:

-Field trip: collection of samples in an area of geological interest.

-Laboratory work: preparation of samples collected in the field and microfossil analysis in order to perform a palaeoenvironmental and biostratigraphic interpretation of the sedimentary record.

-Bibliographic or practical guided work: development of theoretical or practical works on a subject of micropalaeontological interest that will be presented orally later in class.

A. Evaluation during the academic course:

-Laboratory practices and field trip: evaluation of the notebook of practices carried out along the academic course and of the exercises for the resolution of associated geological problems, as well as of the annotations made in the field notebook (5%).

-Oral presentation: evaluation of the scientific level, structure and presentation of a bibliographic work carried out in relation to some aspects of the contents (5%).



B. Final examination of theoretical contents (70%) and laboratory practices (20%).



These evaluation criteria will be applicable for both the ordinary and the extraordinary calls.



During the examination the "Protocol on academic ethics and prevention of dishonest or fraudulent practices in assessment tests and in academic work at the UPV/EHU" will be applied.

-Laboratory for treatment of samples collected during the field trip.
-Laboratory (chemical products: methylene blue, rose bengal, trichlorethylene, hydrogen peroxide, multiple slides, needles, brushes, picking trays, etc.) and field (sampling bags, labels, permanent markers, etc.) consumables.
-Optics laboratory (binocular microscopes).

Basic bibliography

-ARMSTRONG, H.A. and BRASIER, M.D. (2005). Microfossils. 2nd edition, Blackwell Publishing, 296 p., Oxford.

-GEORGESCU, M.D. (2018). Microfossils through time: an introduction. Schweizerbart Science Publishers, 400 p., Stuttgart.

-HAQ, B.U. and BOERSMA, A. (1998). Introduction to Marine Micropaleontology. Elsevier, 376 p., Singapore.

-JONES, R.W. (2011). Applications of Palaeontology. Techniques and case studies. Cambridge University Press, 406 p., Cambridge.

-LIPPS J.H. (Ed.) 1993. Fossil prokaryotes and protists. Blackwell Scientific Publications. 342 p., Boston.

-MOLINA, E (Ed.) 2017. Micropaleontología. 3rd edition, Prensas de la Universidad de Zaragoza. 686 p., Zaragoza.

-SARASWATI, P.K and SRINIVADSAN, M.S. (2016). Micropaleontology: Principles and Applications. Springer, 224 p., Berlin.

In-depth bibliography

-ALFÉREZ, F. (1990). Mamíferos. In: Meléndez, B. (Ed.) Paleontología 3: Mamíferos (1st part). Editorial Paraninfo, 1-24, Madrid.
-ATHERSUCH, J.; HORNE, D.J. and WHITTAKER, J.E. (1989). Marine and Brackish Water Ostracods. Linnean Society of London and the Estuarine and Brackish-Water Sciences Association, 1-343, Leiden.
-BOLLI, H.M., SAUNDERS, J.B. and PERCH-NIELSEN K. (Eds.) 1985. Plankton Stratigraphy. Cambridge University Press. Volume 1 and 2.
-BOUDAGHER-FADEL, M.K., BANNER, F.T. and WHITTAKER, J.E. (1997). The early evolutionary history of plakntonic foraminifera. Chapman & Hall. London.
-BOWN, P.R. (ed.) 1998. Calcareous nannofossil biostratigraphy. Kluwer Academia Publishing.
-DUPRÉ, M. (1992). Palinología. Cuadernos Técnicos de la Sociedad Española de Geomorfología, 5, 1-30. Geoforma Ediciones, Logroño.
-HAYNES, J.R. 1981. Foraminifera. MacMillan Publishers LTD, London.
-HASLETT, S.K. (2002). Quaternary Environmental Micropalaeontology. Arnold, 1-340, London.
-MARTIN, R.E. (2000). Environmental Micropaleontology. The application of Microfossils to Environmental Geology. Kluwer Academic, 1-481, New York.

Journals

Journal of Foraminiferal Research
Journal of Micropalaeontology
Marine Micropalaeontology
Micropaleontology
Palaeogeography Palaeoclimatology Palaeoecology
Paleoceanography
Palynology
Review of Palaeobotany and Palynology
Revista Española de Micropaleontología