Spring 2009COURSE OUTLINEMar.16 – 21 Spring Break University closedApr. 23 Final exam(Comprehensive) 200 points TBAwhen it is too late.FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITYDepartment of Earth SciencesSpring 2009 GLY1101 - THE HISTORY OF LIFE Meeting location : T- Thur : 1400 - 1515 PCA 135Dr. F. Maurrasse E-mail [email protected] Office: PC 346B; Tel : 305-348-2350Earth Sciences Department Office : PC (Charles Perry) Rm 344, Tel :305-348-2365 or 348-3572REQUIRED TEXT :Life of the Past, 4th edition, by W. I. Ausich and N Gary Lane Prentice Hall, Publisher, 1999Welcome to the course on the History of Life. Our goal is to make you become acquainted with how life occurred and changed on Earth as seen from past records and present analogs. In order to accomplish this goal, we will analyze the fossil record that forms the basis of paleontology (study of the history of ancient life), a discipline of the Earth Sciences, together with the present record of living animals and plants as examined in the biological sciences. COURSE OUTLINEDate Topic ReadingTextbook assignments for the lectures are shown in brackets, and in italics.Jan. 06 Introduction - Course policies etc.. [Time and Fossils]Ch 1Jan. 08 Meaning of fossils- How to Tell Time [Time and Fossils cont’d] Ch 1Jan. 13 Biodiversity [The Organization of Life]Ch. 2Jan. 15 Biodiversity [The Organization of Life]Ch. 2Jan. 20 Assignment No.1 Video on reserve at the Library – Return due January 22Jan. 22 Interpreting Past Climates and Environments [Rocks and Fossils]Ch. 3 Jan. 27 Fossilization of Life [Rocks and Fossils] Ch. 3Jan. 29 Assignment No.2 Video on reserve at the Library – Return due February 3Feb. 03 Origin of the Earth and its Life [Origins of Earth, Oceans, Atmosphere & Life] Ch. 4Feb. 05 Evolution and Extinction [Organic Evolution and Extinction] Ch. 5Feb. 10 Paleogeography through time [Continental Drift/Plate Tectonics]Ch. 6Feb. 12 1st exam 100 points 1Feb. 17 How Changing Continents & Climates affect(ed) life [Paleobiogeography] Ch. 7Feb. 19 Earliest life forms and environments[ThePrecambrianFossil Record] Ch. 8Feb. 24 Proterozoic Life [The Precambrian Fossil Record] Ch. 8Feb. 26 The Cambrian Explosion [Introduction to Marine Communities & the Cambrian]Ch. 9Mar.03 Ocean-bottom Animals of the Phanerozoic [Paleozoic, Mesozoic, and Mar.05 Cenozoic Ocean-Bottom Faunas] Ch. 10Mar.10 Floating and Swimming Critters [Fossil Record of Plankton & Nekton] Ch. 11Mar.12 2nd exam 100 pointsMar.16 – 21 Spring Break University closedMar.24 Marine Predators through Time [Marine Predators]Ch. 12Mar.26 Leaving the Water: Land Plants and Animals [Origin & Early Evolution of Terrestrial Communities]Ch.. 13Mar.31 The history of Plants [Terrestrial Primary Producers: The Land Plants] Ch. 14Apr.02 From Reptiles to Dinosaurs [Early Consumers on Land: Reptiles]Ch. 15Apr. 07 From Reptiles to Dinosaurs to Birds [Early Consumers on Land: Reptiles] Ch. 15Apr. 09 Death of the Dinosaurs [Early Consumers on Land: Reptiles] Ch. 15Apr. 14 The Evolution of Mammals [Advanced Consumers on Land: The Mammals] Ch. 16Apr. 16The Evolution of Mammals [Advanced Consumers on Land: The Mammals] Ch. 16The Evolution of Primates [Primate and Human Evolution] Ch. 17Apr. 23 Final exam(Comprehensive) 200 points TBACourse Policies: Beepers and cellular phones must be turned off , and exchanges between students should remain at a strict minimum during the lecture period.There will be a 10-minute period at the beginning of each lecture when I will be asking questions concerning previous lectures. You should also take this time period to ask questions concerning the material you have read for the lecture, and of past lectures. You should also ask for clarification during the lecture, if there is an aspect of the subject that you do not fully 2understand. You may also contact me after class by e-mail to ask questions. Textbook: The required textbook is available in the university bookstore. You must bring your textbook to class at each lecture, because it has the reference materials often needed during the lecture. Also, read assigned materials listed in the syllabus prior to the corresponding lecture. I strongly recommend that you use the text web sites listed in the chapters to help you in your study. You should also pay very careful attention to the extra hand-outs that I will distribute in class.Attendance: Lectures and EXAMSThe class roll will not be called at every lecture, but it is imperative that you be present at every lecture in order to benefit from your working group. Extra materials will be covered in the lectures that are not in the book, and past recent history shows that you will lose at least 10% of your Test score for each lecture that you miss, therefore use your time constructively. Makeup exams will be given only if you have a valid proof justifying your absence, otherwise ifyou miss a mid-term exam, that is your dropped score as explained below. In the case you have a valid reason (that can be documented ) for missing an exam, you will be given a makeup at the end of the term . In such a case, you need to contact me or the office of the Earth Sciences Department as soon as possible notifying us that you will be missing the exam. GRADING: The final grade will be computed as an average of the total scores of a mid-term exam and the final . The lowest mid-term exam score (not the final) will be dropped. Mid-term exams cover all lectures since the previous exam. The final exam covers all lectures. Passing Grades are based on the following numerical values of total points earned in exams plus bonus points: for instance on 300 points : A = 288 and above, A- = 287-270; B+ = 269-258; B- = 257-255; B- = 254 - 240; C+ = 239 – 231; C = 230 – 225; C- = 224 – 210; D + = 209 - 204; D = 203 – 198; D- = 197 – 195; F = below 195. Make the best out of your time. Ask for help early ,not at the last minute of the semesterwhen it is too late.Use your resources efficiently to succeedNote: PCA = Paul Cejas Architecture