Practical work (30%)

Practical work constitutes a large proportion of the unit, and the weekly prac sessions are intended to lead on from the lecture. All prac sessions will be up to 3 hours in duration. The prac sessions will held in E5A 220 on Wednesdays from 12.00 - 3.00 pm each week. Students are expected to attend the prac session every single week and you must attend at least nine pracs to pass the unit. If you attend fewer, you will automatically be failed.

Assessment of the prac sessions will be based on completion of an online quiz available after the end of each prac session. The quizzes also cover much information only to be found in the lectures. Therefore, if you do not attend the lectures you will likely not perform well on the quizzes.

The weekly pracs will alternate between hands-on surveys of fossils and more paper- and computer-based exercises that introduce the core methods of analytical palaeobiology. All students of palaeontology should have a basic understanding of these concepts and techniques. You will be provided with the skills to not only conduct your own analyses but to also critically assess those in the literature.

The week 1 prac involves quantifying rates of taxonomic description of dinosaurs through historical time. The lecture includes an introduction to the unit and a discussion of the history of palaeobiology.

Week 2's lecture and prac will detail a key method of producing time scales based on occurrences of fossils within stratigraphic sections.

Week 3 will involve surveying disparate marine invertebrate fossils in order to understand the timing and origins of multicellular animals during the Ediacaran, the development of animal body plans, and the dramatic radiation of phyla during the Cambrian Explosion. The lecture will concern the major approaches used to study large-scale patterns of morphological evolution.

Week 4 will introduce the form and functional morphology of the group that dominated the ocean floor during the Palaeozoic: the brachiopods. The accompanying lecture will describe large-scale patterns of diversification in the marine fossil record and explain how these patterns are interpreted in an analytical framework.

Data similar to those used in the biostratigraphy prac will be used in week 5 to compute extinction rates using several simple equations. In addition to explaining how extinction rates are computed and interpreted, the lecture will survey the Big Five major mass extinctions.

Week 6 will involve reconstructing climate variables by studying tree leaves. The accompanying lecture will introduce plants and insects.

Weeks 7 and 8 will introduce cladistics, the primary means of elucidating evolutionary relationships amongst fossil organisms. Cladistics works by grouping organisms together based on the number of derived characters they share (i.e., synapomorphies). It has the advantage of allowing numerous characters to be analysed simultaneously and objectively. The lectures will introduce vertebrates in general (week 7) and then dinosaurs and other Mesozoic tetrapods (week 8).

In the week 9 prac you will use quantitative analyses of community data to infer water depth. The lecture will discuss general concepts in palaeoecology.

The week 10 prac involves the exciting new area of conservation palaeobiology. In this prac you will synthesize multiple environmental proxies to tackle the question of what has caused recent change in a major estuarine system. The lecture will also be on conservation palaeobiology.

The prac for week 11 will involve taking linear measurements of a set of specimens in order to figure out the number of species. The lecture will survey the early evolution of mammals.

Week 12 will focus on using the morphology of fossil horse teeth to infer precipitation and will complement the accompanying lecture on Cenozoic mammals.

Week 13 will explore key methods used by palaeoecologists to reconstruct climates and environments in ways that go beyond geochemistry, including pollen counts and annual growth rings of trees and corals. The lecture this week will concern human evolution and Quaternary extinctions, both of which have been discussed very often in relation to paleoclimate.

Minor Assignment (15%)

The Minor Assignment will provide an opportunity to read and evaluate recently published scientific papers. Your task will be to carefully read and evaluate the papers. You will have to discuss their strengths and weaknesses in a relatively short and succinct manner. Most journals only allow a maximum of 800 words for a technical comment or written opinion piece, so you need to marshall your arguments carefully and clearly. This task will allow you to become familiar with the way scientists communicate their ideas in published papers.

Policies that apply to the Major Assignment regarding attribution and use of your own words also apply to this one (see below). In brief, you will not receive credit for anything copied without attribution.

See the Minor Assignment link on the iLearn page for details of the papers you need to read.

Assignment marking criteria

Marks for the Minor Assignment will be allotted for the following:

Scientific evaluation, meaning how well you have organised and presented your own arguments concerning the references in your own words. Credit for discussing specific issues will also be given. 65%

Presentation, meaning spelling, grammar, and conciseness. 25%

Formatting of the references. 10%

Major Assignment (25%)

Each BIOL381 student must submit one major assignment on one of three offered topics concerning current and controversial palaeobiological research. Detailed information on the assignment topics will be provided on iLearn.

Important note: you must hand in the Major Assignment in order to pass the unit. If you do not hand in the assignment you will automatically fail. You can still pass the unit if you hand the assigment in late, so don't give up just because you have missed the deadline.

Assignment format

For this assignment you are required to formulate your own ideas and conclusions regarding the strengths and weaknesses of the data presented in a series of published papers. Do not simply summarise each paper. For this assignment it is essential that you read a wide array of primary literature. It is not sufficient to refer to Web material.

The assignments also must be written in your own words. You must not copy material from any source without attribution. Any copied words, no matter how few, must be placed in quotation marks. If you copy anything without attribution or without using quotation marks you will not receive credit for the relevant part of the assignment. If you have copied without attribution, then depending on the severity of the case you may be reported to the Faculty Student Administration Manager, in accord with the Academic Honesty Procedure (see the Policies and Procedures section).

Please write in a concise, well-organised manner. If you are not feeling very confident in your ability to do so you may want to purchase the short, simple volume by W. Strunk and E.B. White, The Elements of Style, Macmillan (normally available in the Co-op bookshop).

Important points to note regarding the format and structure of the Major Assignment:

• Word limit is 2500 words ± 10%. Include an accurate word count on the front of the assignment.
• Assignments must be word processed using 12 pt font and double spaced – hand written assignments will not be accepted.

• The assignment must include at least one additional supporting figure, graph, or table and preferably more.
• The assignment should be written in the succinct, tight style of a scientific paper following the format of a mainstream science journal such as Paleobiology (see http://www.paleosoc.org/content/AuthorContribInstr.html).
• Make sure all primary information sources used are cited in the text in the appropriate manner. A full reference list in alphabetical order should be included at the end of the assignment. Only sources cited in the main text of the assignment should be listed in the reference list.
• Regardless of the details, you must use the Harvard Referencing Style when writing your assignments. This means use of footnotes or numbered reference citation (Oxford referencing style) should be completely avoided.

The Library Web page (http://www.library.mq.edu.au/) has a number of very useful databases for searching out relevant primary sources. Use databases such as Web of Knowledge or Scopus or publisher websites such as BioOne, JSTOR, ScienceDirect, Springer Link or Wiley Online Library when searching for information.

Note that a primary source is a paper published in a peer reviewed international scientific journal that presents new scientific data and is not simply a review of existing research. A secondary source is a review or compilation of the research work performed by other workers. Examples of secondary sources include Wikipedia, textbooks, popular science magazines (e.g. New Scientist), newspapers, and most other websites (though there are exceptions such as the online journal Palaeontologica Electronica).

Assignment marking criteria

Marks for the Major Assignment will be allotted for the following:

1. Scientific content, meaning how well you have researched and evaluated the evidence to support your answer written in your own words. 50%
2. Logical organisation, spelling, grammar, and conciseness. Use sub-headings. 20%
3. Comprehensiveness, relevance, and formatting of the references you have consulted in researching your topic and cited in the text (see Harvard Referencing Style Guide). 20%
4. Relevance, effectiveness, and referencing of figures, graphs and/or tables. At least one figure, graph, or table must be included. 10%.

Important note: anything not in your own words does not demonstrate researching the topic; evaluating the evidence; writing logically and grammatically; or finding references on your own. Therefore, if you copy extensively you may receive little or no credit in any or all of these areas.

Final Examination (30%)

The Final Examination will cover important concepts introduced in lectures and further developed during the practical activities. More information will be provided later in the semester.

Unit webpage and technology used and required

iLearn. BIOL381 has an online presence on iLearn. To access this site go to https://ilearn.mq.edu.au/login/MQ/. You will need your MQ ID and password to log in. You are expected to use iLearn to access the unit outline, resources, lectures, and other useful information and links for the unit. Any updates, announcements, or changes to the unit will be posted on iLearn. As such, it is strongly recommended that all students log into the BIOL381 iLearn site at least twice a week throughout the entire semester.

UniWISE. Everyone can enrol in this iLearn unit. It provides a number of resources for undergraduate students including what is expected of you as a student, how to succeed in learning, and what resources have been developed and compiled by the Learning Skills unit to enhance your academic performance and writing.

Turnitin. Macquarie University uses an online anti-plagiarism detection tool called Turnitin. All students enrolled in BIOL381 must submit the Minor Assignment and Major Assignment to Turnitin. This program works by comparing each student’s work with the work of other students enrolled in the unit (both past and present) and with material found online (e.g. websites and scientific papers). Instructions for using Turnitin, including quickstart and step-by-step user manuals, can be found at http://mq.edu.au/iLearn/resources/turnitin.htm

Feedback and unit evaluation

In this unit you will receive a range of verbal and written feedback on your assessment tasks and work. This unit is offered every year, and the curriculum has been greatly revamped and revised to reflect a more evolutionary focus to the unit in line with recent changes in the palaeobiology staff.

To monitor how successful we are in providing quality teaching and learning, the Department of Biological Sciences also seeks feedback from students. One of the key formal ways students have to provide feedback is through unit and teacher evaluation surveys. This feedback is anonymous and provides the Department with evidence of aspects that students are satisfied with and areas that require improvement.

Extensions and penalties

If you require an extension for any work please discuss this with the convenor as soon as possible. Unless accompanied by a doctor’s certificate (or direct approval from the convenor) late work will be penalised at the rate of 10% per day.

Queries, appeals, special consideration

In the first instance contact the convenor if there are any questions about the assessment tasks themselves, or about the feedback and grades that you received for your various assessment tasks. You are permitted to appeal against your final grade in any of your units. Before initiating an appeal, discuss your unit grade fully with the convenor. More details of the Faculty of Science appeals procedures are available from the Science Centre – E7A Level 1 (e-mail: enquiries@science.mq.edu.au; ph: 9850 6000).

Special consideration requests

During semester. All requests for special consideration should be submitted through the Student Enquiry Service, Registrar and Vice-Principal's Office. You must also provide your Lecturer with a copy of the documentation lodged at the Student Enquiry Service when submitting assignments. We strongly recommend that you see your Lecturer or Tutor on all such occasions to discuss the matter with her/him.

During examination period. During the examination period, original requests for special consideration plus one copy must be submitted to the Registrar and Vice-Principal, through the Academic Program Section, Level 4, Lincoln Building. The copy will be forwarded to your Division of Registration which will in turn forward it to the Department. Full details, and forms, are available at http://www.reg.mq.edu.au/Forms/APSCons.pdf. As well as submitting the appropriate documentation through the Registrar and Vice-Principal's Office, if you miss an examination, YOU MUST CONTACT YOUR LECTURER WITHIN 72 HOURS OF THE DATE OF THE EXAMINATION so that alternative examination arrangements may be made without delay. Failure to do so will result in the award of an ‘F’ grade.

Please note that the submission of requests for special consideration is monitored by the Department. Repeated requests will result in referral of the student to the Dean of Students for discussion and advice.

Important information, including Undergraduate Student Forms and deadlines for submission, is available at: http://www.student.mq.edu.au/.

UNIT DELIVERY AND ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS

Workload. Since BIOL381 is a 3 cp unit, you are expected to spend ~9 hours per week (including face-to-face teaching time) working on this unit for the duration of the semester. Please note that Macquarie University defines a semester as being 15 weeks in duration – 13 weeks of face-to-face teaching plus the two week mid-semester break.

Lectures. There will be two hour lecture to be held in E8A 386 every Wednesday at 9 am. These will be recorded live and posted on Echo360 (access via the BIOL381 iLearn site). The weekly quizzes will include material from the lectures. Because there is only a one-hour gap between the lectures and pracs, this means that if you do not attend the lectures you may receive poor grades on the quizzes.

Weekly practical laboratory sessions: Each student must attend the 3 hour prac session each week. Sessions will be held in E5A 220 and will run from 12 – 3.00pm.

See the Unit Schedule for the topics to be covered each week. It is in your best interests to attend the lectures each week. It has been my observation that students who regularly attend lectures tend to perform better than those students who attend lectures infrequently.

Occupational health and safety. Due to OH&S regulations, all students must wear fully enclosed footwear (i.e. no thongs) at all times during practical laboratory sessions in E5A 220. Students without proper footwear will be unable to enter the lab. Food and drink may not be consumed in the lab at any time either.

RECOMMENDED READING

Unfortunately there is no up-to-date textbook on palaebiology that covers the curriculum in this unit. The textbook M. J. Benton and D. A. T. Harper (2009), Introduction to Palaeobiology and the Fossil Recor,d is employed during BIOL263 History of Life and is also useful in this unit. I will provide relevant readings in the Unit Schedule where appropriate. Readings from the more advanced textbook Principles of Paleontology by M. Foote and A. I. Miller (2007) are also recommended. Complementary reading will be available in the Library in E-reserve.

If you want to do some background reading outside the nominated textbook check out some of the following items in the Special Reserve Section of the Library. Various introductory sources can be found in QE sections such as QE711 and QE770.

Adrain, J.M., Edgecombe, G.D. & Lieberman., B.S. (eds) 2001. Fossils, Phylogeny, and Form: An Analytical Approach. New York, Kluwer Academic. [QE719.8.F68]

Albert, V.A. (ed.) 2005. Parsimony, Phylogeny, and Genomics. Oxford, Oxford University Press. [QH441 .P37 2005]

Benton, M.E. (ed.) 1993. The Fossil Record 2. London, Chapman & Hall. [QE723.P67]

Cowen, R. 2005. History of Life, 4^th edn. Boston, Blackwell Scientific Publications. [QE711.2.C68]

Erwin, D. H. & Wing, S. L. (eds) 2000. Deep Time: Paleobiology's Perspective. Paleobiology, Supplement to Volume 4, Number 6. http://www.bioone.org/toc/pbio/26/sp4

Fortey, R.A. 2002. Fossils: the Key to the Past. London, Natural History Museum Publication. [QE711.3.F67]

Jablonski, D., Erwin, D.H. & Lipps, J.H. (eds) 1996. Evolutionary Paleobiology. Chicago, University of Chicago Press. [QE721.2.E85.E96]

Louys, J. 2012. Paleontology in Ecology and Conservation. Berlin and New York, Springer. http://simsrad.net.ocs.mq.edu.au/login?url=http://link.springer.com/openurl?genre=book&isbn=978-3-642-25037-8

MacPhee, R. D. E. (ed) 1999. Extinctions in Near Time: Causes, Contexts, and Consequences. New York, Kluwer Academic/Plenum. [GN282.E87 1999]

Raup, D.M. & Stanley, S.M. 1978. Principles of Paleontology. San Francisco, W.H. Freeman. [QE711.2.R37]

THE RALPH FAULKNER PRIZE

For the person enrolled in a science degree who is judged the best student in BIOL381 there is a prize made possible by the generosity of the late Mr Ralph Faulkner, one of Macquarie’s first intake of students in 1967. As an external student, Ralph completed all the palaeontology units on offer. His good cheer and wonderful sense of humour made him a very popular participant in class and especially on field trips. Sadly, Ralph passed away in 2001, a victim of cancer. Because he appreciated what Macquarie had done for him and he was especially interested in palaeontology, Ralph undertook to provide the Invertebrate Palaeontology Prize. He did this for many years, but when he knew his death with imminent, he organised to leave funds to Macquarie so the award would continue after his death. Ralph was, for many years, part of the Science Staff of Kiama High School