Paleobotany

Duration

20h Th, 20h Pr, 1d FW

Number of credits

Lecturer

Cyrille Prestianni

Language(s) of instruction

French language

Organisation and examination

Teaching in the second semester

Schedule

Schedule online

Units courses prerequisite and corequisite

Prerequisite or corequisite units are presented within each program

Learning unit contents

The course of Paleobotany broadly explores the plant evolutionary tree and illustrates the dynamics specific to the various lineages of embryophytes (land plants). This cours offers keys to understand the plant diversity both fossil and actual. A special focus is made on the main transitions of the evolution of plants.

• Introduction. A brief overview of the prerequisite botanical knowledge. A condensed history of paleobotany as a scientific disciplin. The main steps of the evolution of plants.
• The origin of plants.
• The evolution of plants. Bryophytes, Protracheophytes, Paratracheophytes, Basal Eutracheophytes, Lycophytes, Trimerophytes, Monilophytes (Cladoxylopsids, Sphenopsids, Filicopsids), Non spermatyophytic Lignophytes (Aneurophytales, Archaeopteridales), Non angispermian Spermatophytes, Angiosperms. 

Learning outcomes of the learning unit

• Detailed knowledge of the evolutionary history, anatomy and morphology of the main embryophyte groups having an adequate fossil record.
• Recognition and identification at low taxonomic rank of common Wallonian fossils and at high taxonomic rank of all fossil groups (with a focus on palaeozoic groups).
• Detailed knowledge of the stratigraphic arrangement and associations of fossil floras.
• Notions of ecology and physiology to understand lifestyle and the preservation of the fossil groups addressed in the course.

Prerequisite knowledge and skills

• Fundamentals of geology (dating methods, stratigraphy, deposition and formation of sedimentary rocks).
• Phylogeny of extant embryophyte lineages.
• Extant plant anatomy.

Planned learning activities and teaching methods

The course follows an inverted class model, where the practical sessions are followed by a face to face lecture.
The practical session focus on the morphology and identification of major fossil groups of embryophytes and the illustration of the main evolutionary trends that have affected them. Particular emphasis is placed on fossils that are common in Belgium and surrounding areas.
The face to face sessions are used to give the theoretical context and to discuss concepts and difficults parts of the course.
Field work (1 x 8h) teaches the student to collect and identify fossil plantss and analyze how fossils are integrated in sedimentary deposits.

Mode of delivery (face-to-face ; distance-learning)

Face-to-face, inverted class, lecture delivered in French.

Recommended or required readings

Lecture notes in pdf format and all PowerPoint presentations are available on the student portal.

Assessment methods and criteria

Out of session evaluations. Accounts for 1/4 of the final grade.

• An evaluation of the pratical reports to hand over at the end of each practicals.
• The evaluation of a personal written report (more or less 1500 words), to give before the 25 of may 2020 at the latest. 

• An oral examination based on broad questions on the theoretical courses. Accounts for 2/4 of the final grade.
• A practical part, oral as well, which consists of the argued determination, without any notes, of a series of fossils (5, generally). Accounts for 1/4 of the final grade.

Work placement(s)

Organizational remarks

Attendance at theoretical courses, praticals and field trips is mandatory.

Contacts

Cyrille Prestianni c.prestianni@uliege.be

Adaptation of teaching commitments following the COVID-19 pandemic for the May-June 2020 session

Teaching methods implemented : distance-learning

Assessment subjects

Assessment methods

Written exam (2-3 open questions) during 3 hours (see Calendar for the date ; see e-mail for instructions).

Contacts

Adaptation of teaching commitments following the COVID-19 pandemic for the Aug-Sept 2020 session

Assessment subjects

Assessment methods

Contacts

Items online