Paleontology: Early Vertebrate Evolution is a four-lesson course teaching a comprehensive overview of the origin of vertebrates. Students will explore the diversity of Palaeozoic lineages within a phylogenetic and evolutionary framework. This course examines the evolution of major vertebrate novelties including the origin of fins, jaws, and tetrapod limbs. Students also explore key Canadian fossil localities, including the Burgess Shale (British Columbia), Miguasha (Quebec), and Man On The Hill (Northwest Territories). Watch a preview of the course here: https://uofa.ualberta.ca/courses/paleontology-vertebrate-evolution
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Paleontology: Early Vertebrate Evolution
Université de l'Alberta
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Dates limites flexibles
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Approx. 7 heures pour terminer
Recommandé : 4 weeks of study, 3-5 hours/week
Anglais
Sous-titres : Anglais, Espagnol, Roumain, Allemand
Programme du cours : ce que vous apprendrez dans ce cours
3 heures pour terminer
The Phanerozoic Begins
In this lesson we take you back to the beginning of the Phanerozoic Eon to learn what it truly means to have backbone, as we encounter the key anatomical features of vertebrates and their closest chordate relatives. We’ll also introduce the language of evolution – phylogenetics – as we examine some of the contenders for the title of ‘The Earliest Vertebrate’, and give you a crash course in sedimentology, so you can begin to piece together the spectacular environments that were home to our early aquatic ancestors. Just a quick note before you get started: 'Palaios' is the Greek word for 'ancient', so palaeontology or paleontology is the study of ancient life. Both spellings are correct, with palaeontology used in Britain, and paleontology more common in the US.
3 heures pour terminer
4 vidéos (Total 64 min), 6 lectures, 1 quiz
4 vidéos
Course Preview Video1 min
1.1 Vertebrate Origins22 min
1.2 Vertebrate Environments23 min
1.3 Diversity of Early Vertebrate Life15 min
6 lectures
Instructional Staff10 min
Meet Your Presenter: Scott Persons10 min
Course Glossary10 min
Acknowledgements10 min
Interactive Learning Objects10 min
Lesson 1 Course Notes10 min
1 exercice pour s'entraîner
Module 1 Assessment (Graded)30 min
2 heures pour terminer
Learning to Swim
The old problem of the comparative anatomist was exactly how to compare two animals that appeared, at first glance, to look nothing alike. How, do you compare cows and lobsters? Well, in this lesson you’ll not only learn how to compare crustaceans and cattle, but you’ll also quickly learn that there’s more to a vertebrate than just a backbone as we delve into basic vertebrate anatomy. We’ll cover all the need-to-know anatomical terms and directions, as well as specialist features like the lateral line system, which not only helped early fish avoid predation, but is also the main reason why you find it very difficult to catch fish with your bare hands today! We will also explore the immense diversity of the jawless vertebrates including the tenacious Cyclostomata, the elusive Conodonta, and, long before Ankylosaurus, a group of heavily armoured jawless fishes – the ostracoderms.
2 heures pour terminer
3 vidéos (Total 53 min), 1 lecture, 1 quiz
3 vidéos
2.2 Early Fish Types & Anatomy - Part 121 min
2.2 Early Fish Types & Anatomy - Part 216 min
1 lecture
Lesson 2 Course Notes10 min
1 exercice pour s'entraîner
Module 2 Assessment (Graded)30 min
1 heure pour terminer
Learning to Bite
The Ordovician, Silurian and Devonian Periods were times of great continental, oceanic and climactic change that brought about the Earth’s first mass extinction events. With environmental catastrophes opening up new ecological niches, a trait evolved in early vertebrates that would prove so successful that over 99% of modern vertebrates still retain it: jaws. In this lesson we will try to understand the geographical and temporal background of early vertebrate diversity, as well as the impact and origin of the evolution of jaws on vertebrate life. Introducing huge predators such as Dunkleosteus along the way, we’ll explore the incredible diversity of the Gnathostoma (the jawed fishes), mainly from fossils known from the spectacular Late Devonian site of Miguasha in Quebec. So get ready for a lesson you can really sink your teeth into!
1 heure pour terminer
3 vidéos (Total 49 min), 1 lecture, 1 quiz
3 vidéos
3.1 Evolution of Jaws - Part 215 min
3.2 Placoderms21 min
1 lecture
Lesson 3 Course Notes10 min
1 exercice pour s'entraîner
Module 3 Assessment (Graded)30 min
1 heure pour terminer
Learning to Walk
Although this lesson marks the end of the beginning of the vertebrate story, we still have some bones left to pick! In this last lesson we’ll look at the features of the Osteichthyes (the bony fishes) and examine the differences between two immensely successful vertebrate groups; one that conquered the water: the Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes), and one that eventually conquered the land: the Sarcopterygii (lobe-finned fishes). We’ll investigate how the sarcopterygians gave rise to the tetrapods, meet our very first tetrapod ancestors like Acanthostega, and introduce the features that were essential in making the leap from water to land. Along the way we’ll meet some living fossils, see some incredible evolutionary adaptations, and learn about our earliest terrestrial origins – it’s time to step up and finish the tale of ‘Early Vertebrate Evolution’!
1 heure pour terminer
3 vidéos (Total 48 min), 1 lecture, 1 quiz
3 vidéos
4.2 The Lobe-Finned Fishes18 min
4.3 Primitive Tetrapods16 min
1 lecture
Lesson 4 Course Notes10 min
1 exercice pour s'entraîner
Module 4 Assessment (Graded)30 min
Avis
4.8
Meilleurs avis pour PALEONTOLOGY: EARLY VERTEBRATE EVOLUTION
par HGOct 14, 2017
I believe the course should have been six weeks long instead of four. I enjoyed the course, however should have contained more detail and the quizzes should have had more questions, at least ten.
par TOJun 20, 2016
WOW, I learned a lot form this and it was fairly educational but not overwhelming or difficult. This instructor really gets the points across without being to easy or hard. A very good class.
par JCMar 2, 2018
Celebrate your inner fish as you swim along with this awesome course charting our earliest ancestors. Very well constructed and delivered once again by the team at the University of Alberta.
par TAMay 25, 2018
Great short course, perfect for an introduction into early vertebrate evolution. I recommend taking the other Palaeontology courses by this university on this site if you haven't already.
par GSSep 15, 2018
This course was very informative and I enjoyed learning about the far past of vertebrates. I would definitely recommend this to anyone interested in paleontology and the history of life.
par DLJul 8, 2016
I haven't completed this course yet. Self pace and enjoying the lectures and videos. I've taken another Univ of Alberta course on Marine Reptiles which was great! I enjoy the Paleontol
par LCFeb 23, 2020
Overall very interesting course and videos. It would be nice to have a page at the end of the course showing the evolution of each fish discussed (along with features and timeline).
par RKJul 20, 2019
Pretty in tense but the quizzes are pretty straightforward and the course goes pretty quickly. The diagrams helped. My first stab at real paleontology and it was a good intro.
par MMJul 29, 2017
I found the material and the lessons very useful and clear,. I have deduced one star, because I found it a bit difficult to assimilate so much information in such short time.
par PGFeb 5, 2017
The presenter is world class, and I really enjoyed the interactive maps. The quizzes should be a bit more challenging though - perhaps learn how to identify a few fossils,
par JFApr 20, 2019
Short but amazing view on fish development with lots of technical terminologies. The very enjoyable way of learning. Thank you for this course and the whole series!
par OVMar 21, 2020
the course was very interesting even for a 13 year old like me\n\nI wold like to encourage more people to do this course and will certainly tell my friends about it
par KKFeb 8, 2017
Difficult subject to get your head around but ultimately worth the effort. The teaching, as always with the University of Alberta's MOOCs, is second to none.
par AOSep 10, 2019
Excellent course and good depth for beginners with some general biology background. Hope they continue it for entire evolution of vertebrates. Fantastic. A
par DOApr 12, 2016
I thoroughly enjoyed the learning experience on this course. Notes and videos clear and concise, well put together, as expected from University of Alberta.
par LHFeb 2, 2018
Fabulous for understanding life! I highly recommend this course. Well taught with videos and written notes. Fantastically researched! See how we all began!
par KHJan 31, 2019
This is perhaps the best and most enjoyable course that I have ever taken in Paleontology , I also learned a lot and will always treasure the experience !
par TWOct 11, 2016
Everything you need!\n\nThis is the first of a great series - first-class lecture notes, well illustrated lectures and plenty of links to further study.
par ABNov 14, 2018
A great course with useful and complete information. The only negative point is that there were not enough assignments for practicing and remembering.
par AMJul 10, 2016
it is good for maths students who haven't studied biology and struggle with understanding palaeontology. vertebrates have been explained very well.
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Université de l'Alberta
UAlberta is considered among the world’s leading public research- and teaching-intensive universities. As one of Canada’s top universities, we’re known for excellence across the humanities, sciences, creative arts, business, engineering and health sciences.
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