Professor Nick Cutter (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
itsananomaly) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
fandomhigh2024-01-22 08:17 pm
itsananomaly) wrote in fandomhigh2024-01-22 08:17 pm
Introduction to Paleobiology - Monday, 1st Period
“Good Morning,” Cutter began class that morning, holding onto his usual cup of coffee, “today’s class is going to be covering mycology, phycology and dendrochronology,” he said, “these topics are all connected in the field of paleobontanty as it applies the principles and methods of paleobiology to flora and other green land plants but it also includes fungi and algae , mycology is the study of fungi, phycology is the study of algae and dendrochronology is the study of dating tree rings to the exact date the tree formed,”
“For this lecture I’ll be talking about mycology, Mr. Temple - “ he smiled over at Connor, “will be talking about phycology and then we’ll both talk about dendrochronology since these topics are quite involved,”
“As I explained mycology is the study of fungi, originally mycology was part of the field of botany but due to the fungi’s evolutionary relationship to animals it was reclassified to be independent field,” Cutter continued, “fungi are an essential part for life on earth as they fulfil the role of symbionts and many fungi are able to break down complex organic biomolecules and they are able to play an essential part in the global carbon cycle,”
“Many fungi also produce toxins, antibiotics and other secondary metabolites and many fungal species are very important in controlling plant diseases by different pathogens, for example, species of the filamentous fungal genus Trichoderma are considered one of the most important biological control agents as an alternative to chemical-based products for effective crop diseases management,” Cutter finished and nodded for Connor to continue the lecture.
Connor nodded and stood from the desk as he started his part of the lecture. “Phycology is the branch of science that deals with the study of algae. It also includes the study of various other prokaryotic organisms like blue-green algae and cyanobacteria. It is also known as algology. Algae has great ecological importance. Phytoplanktons form a vital part of the food chain and feed the majority of fish and marine animals that are key to the rest of the food chain hierarchy. A few types of algae are commercial sources of iodine, alginic acid, agar, potash, and other materials used in many applications across multiple industries. Many large species are a food source for many humans as they can actually be prepared and eaten. There are even some species used in sewage-oxidation ponds and water-cleaning plants. Algal products are also used in insulating materials such as bricks, filters, and scouring powder.”
“This field of scientific study became officially recognized in the 19th and 20th centuries and our understanding of the importance of algae in the production of oxygen, clean water, and other critical ecological systems continues to deepen. For organisms that are so small, they play a vital role in food chains and the carbon/oxygen cycle of the world” Connor noted as he looked back to Cutter with a nod for him to pick up the lecture again.
“And finally the last topic for today’s class is dendrochronology, which is the scientific method of dating tree rings to find out exactly when they formed in a tree and it is through this that we can find data for climate and atmospheric conditions during different periods in history from the wood of old trees, Dendrochronology is also useful for determining the precise age of samples, especially those that are too recent for radiocarbon dating as that provides a range rather than an exact date,” Cutter continued the lecture, “However, for a precise date of the death of the tree a full sample to the edge is needed, which most trimmed timber will not provide. It also gives data on the timing of events and rates of change in the environment, most notably climate and also the wood found in archaeology or works of art and architecture and it can also be a useful technique to help calibrate radiocarbon ages,” he paused, “new growth in trees ccurs in a layer of cells near the bark. A tree's growth rate changes in a predictable pattern throughout the year in response to seasonal climate changes, resulting in visible growth rings. Each ring marks a complete cycle of seasons or one year of a tree’s life and as of 2020 securely dated tree-ring data for the Northern Hempisphere are available going back 13,910 years,”
“For the rest of the class I would like you to work on yourhandwaved worksheets and Mr. Temple and myself are available to answer any questions that you may have,” Cutter finished the lecture.
“For this lecture I’ll be talking about mycology, Mr. Temple - “ he smiled over at Connor, “will be talking about phycology and then we’ll both talk about dendrochronology since these topics are quite involved,”
“As I explained mycology is the study of fungi, originally mycology was part of the field of botany but due to the fungi’s evolutionary relationship to animals it was reclassified to be independent field,” Cutter continued, “fungi are an essential part for life on earth as they fulfil the role of symbionts and many fungi are able to break down complex organic biomolecules and they are able to play an essential part in the global carbon cycle,”
“Many fungi also produce toxins, antibiotics and other secondary metabolites and many fungal species are very important in controlling plant diseases by different pathogens, for example, species of the filamentous fungal genus Trichoderma are considered one of the most important biological control agents as an alternative to chemical-based products for effective crop diseases management,” Cutter finished and nodded for Connor to continue the lecture.
Connor nodded and stood from the desk as he started his part of the lecture. “Phycology is the branch of science that deals with the study of algae. It also includes the study of various other prokaryotic organisms like blue-green algae and cyanobacteria. It is also known as algology. Algae has great ecological importance. Phytoplanktons form a vital part of the food chain and feed the majority of fish and marine animals that are key to the rest of the food chain hierarchy. A few types of algae are commercial sources of iodine, alginic acid, agar, potash, and other materials used in many applications across multiple industries. Many large species are a food source for many humans as they can actually be prepared and eaten. There are even some species used in sewage-oxidation ponds and water-cleaning plants. Algal products are also used in insulating materials such as bricks, filters, and scouring powder.”
“This field of scientific study became officially recognized in the 19th and 20th centuries and our understanding of the importance of algae in the production of oxygen, clean water, and other critical ecological systems continues to deepen. For organisms that are so small, they play a vital role in food chains and the carbon/oxygen cycle of the world” Connor noted as he looked back to Cutter with a nod for him to pick up the lecture again.
“And finally the last topic for today’s class is dendrochronology, which is the scientific method of dating tree rings to find out exactly when they formed in a tree and it is through this that we can find data for climate and atmospheric conditions during different periods in history from the wood of old trees, Dendrochronology is also useful for determining the precise age of samples, especially those that are too recent for radiocarbon dating as that provides a range rather than an exact date,” Cutter continued the lecture, “However, for a precise date of the death of the tree a full sample to the edge is needed, which most trimmed timber will not provide. It also gives data on the timing of events and rates of change in the environment, most notably climate and also the wood found in archaeology or works of art and architecture and it can also be a useful technique to help calibrate radiocarbon ages,” he paused, “new growth in trees ccurs in a layer of cells near the bark. A tree's growth rate changes in a predictable pattern throughout the year in response to seasonal climate changes, resulting in visible growth rings. Each ring marks a complete cycle of seasons or one year of a tree’s life and as of 2020 securely dated tree-ring data for the Northern Hempisphere are available going back 13,910 years,”
“For the rest of the class I would like you to work on your