Conservation Paleobiology

Catalog description

(cross-leveled with GEOL 4370 ). Humans are having an undeniable influence on Earth systems, including the biosphere. Climate change, habitat destruction, over-hunting/harvesting, pollution, and invasive species are among the primary stressors of modern biodiversity. How have ecosystems responded to such stressors in the past? How do we determine what a "pristine" ecosystem looks like when planning ecosystem restoration? Paleontologists are uniquely equipped to address these questions using the fossil record. In this course we will review the important questions in this emerging discipline, learn about the tools used to address these questions, and learn from case studies involving invertebrate, vertebrate, and plant fossils from a variety of environments. Credit Hour s : 3