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)
fandomhigh2024-03-25 08:37 pm
itsananomaly) wrote in fandomhigh2024-03-25 08:37 pm
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Introduction to Paleobiology - Monday, 1st Period
Connor stood in front of the class as the clock ticked over to start time. The day seemed to be dragging for some reason and he had this strange itch in the back of his mind, something incessantly poking at him, nearly driving him to distraction. Whatever it was, he hoped it would pass soon. He was looking forward to enjoying the day after class with Cutter and going out somewhere possibly to celebrate their engagement.
Taking another quick drink from the coffee cup in his hand, Connor set it down and cleared his throat. "Good morning class. Today we are going to be looking at the field of paleontology known as Paleoecology. Paleoecology is the study of interactions between organisms and/or interactions between organisms and their environments across geologic timescales."
"As a discipline, paleoecology interacts with, depends on and informs a variety of fields including paleontology, ecology, climatology and biology. There is a wide range of types of paleoecological evidence, including individual fossils, assemblages of fossils, sediment inorganic and organic geochemistry, isotopic composition of fossils and sediments, and sediment lithology. Paleoecology and related disciplines provide an understanding of how ecosystems and individual species function and change over time in response to both natural and manmade."
Connor looked over at Cutter with a smile and nodded as he finished up his part of the lecture and handed the rest of the class over to him.
Cutter smiled warmly, feeling his face flush as he smiled at Connor, not sure why he was feeling the way he was … he shook his head to try and clear his thoughts so he could continue on with the lecture and then they could continue to celebrate their engagement.
“While the functions and relationships of fossil organisms may not be observed directly (as in ecology), scientists can describe and analyze both individuals and communities over time. To do so, paleoecologists make the following assumptions: All organisms are adapted and restricted to a particular environment, and are usually adapted to a particular lifestyle. Essentially all organisms depend on another organism, whether directly or indirectly. The fossil or physical records are inherently incomplete - the geologic record is selective and some environments are more likely to be preserved than others. Taphony, affecting the over- and underrepresentation of fossils, is an extremely important consideration in interpreting fossil assemblages. Uniformitarianism, is the concept that processes that took place in the geologic past are the same as the ones that are observed taking place today. In paleoecology, uniformitarianism is used as a methodology: paleoecologists make inferences about ancient organisms and environments based on analogies they find in the present.”
“The aim of paleoecology is to build the most detailed model possible of the life environment, previously living organisms found today as fossils. The process of reconstructing past environments requires the use of archives, example sediment sequences, proxies example the micro or mega-fossils and other sediment characteristics that provide the evidence of the biota and the physical environment, and chronology example, obtaining absolute (or relative) dating of events in the archive. Such reconstruction takes into consideration complex interactions among environmental factors such as temperatures, food supplies, and degree of solar illumination. Often much of this information is lost or distorted by the fossilization process or diagenesis of the enclosing sediments, making interpretation difficult. Some other proxies for reconstructing past environments include charcoal and pollen, which synthesize fire and vegetation data, respectively. Both of these alternates can be found in lakes and peat settings, and can provide moderate to high resolution information.,” Cutter concluded, his flush deepening as he looked back at Connor.
It was with a quick glance and nod Connor wrapped up the class, that itch only growing the longer class seemed to go on.
"For the rest of class we will work on the activity sheets here" he said as he started to hand them out to the class. "We both will be here if there are any questions or if anyone needs any assistance." Connor gave a small awkward smile to Connor as he finished handing out the assignment worksheets to the class.
Taking another quick drink from the coffee cup in his hand, Connor set it down and cleared his throat. "Good morning class. Today we are going to be looking at the field of paleontology known as Paleoecology. Paleoecology is the study of interactions between organisms and/or interactions between organisms and their environments across geologic timescales."
"As a discipline, paleoecology interacts with, depends on and informs a variety of fields including paleontology, ecology, climatology and biology. There is a wide range of types of paleoecological evidence, including individual fossils, assemblages of fossils, sediment inorganic and organic geochemistry, isotopic composition of fossils and sediments, and sediment lithology. Paleoecology and related disciplines provide an understanding of how ecosystems and individual species function and change over time in response to both natural and manmade."
Connor looked over at Cutter with a smile and nodded as he finished up his part of the lecture and handed the rest of the class over to him.
Cutter smiled warmly, feeling his face flush as he smiled at Connor, not sure why he was feeling the way he was … he shook his head to try and clear his thoughts so he could continue on with the lecture and then they could continue to celebrate their engagement.
“While the functions and relationships of fossil organisms may not be observed directly (as in ecology), scientists can describe and analyze both individuals and communities over time. To do so, paleoecologists make the following assumptions: All organisms are adapted and restricted to a particular environment, and are usually adapted to a particular lifestyle. Essentially all organisms depend on another organism, whether directly or indirectly. The fossil or physical records are inherently incomplete - the geologic record is selective and some environments are more likely to be preserved than others. Taphony, affecting the over- and underrepresentation of fossils, is an extremely important consideration in interpreting fossil assemblages. Uniformitarianism, is the concept that processes that took place in the geologic past are the same as the ones that are observed taking place today. In paleoecology, uniformitarianism is used as a methodology: paleoecologists make inferences about ancient organisms and environments based on analogies they find in the present.”
“The aim of paleoecology is to build the most detailed model possible of the life environment, previously living organisms found today as fossils. The process of reconstructing past environments requires the use of archives, example sediment sequences, proxies example the micro or mega-fossils and other sediment characteristics that provide the evidence of the biota and the physical environment, and chronology example, obtaining absolute (or relative) dating of events in the archive. Such reconstruction takes into consideration complex interactions among environmental factors such as temperatures, food supplies, and degree of solar illumination. Often much of this information is lost or distorted by the fossilization process or diagenesis of the enclosing sediments, making interpretation difficult. Some other proxies for reconstructing past environments include charcoal and pollen, which synthesize fire and vegetation data, respectively. Both of these alternates can be found in lakes and peat settings, and can provide moderate to high resolution information.,” Cutter concluded, his flush deepening as he looked back at Connor.
It was with a quick glance and nod Connor wrapped up the class, that itch only growing the longer class seemed to go on.
"For the rest of class we will work on the activity sheets here" he said as he started to hand them out to the class. "We both will be here if there are any questions or if anyone needs any assistance." Connor gave a small awkward smile to Connor as he finished handing out the assignment worksheets to the class.