À propos de ce cours : 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

Créé par : University of Alberta

Enseigné par : Alison Murray, Ph.D, Associate Professor
Department of Biological Sciences

Engagement	4 weeks of study, 3-5 hours/week
Langue	English, Sous-titres : Spanish, Romanian
Comment réussir	Réussissez tous les devoirs notés pour terminer le cours.
Notes des utilisateurs	4.8 étoiles Note moyenne des utilisateurs 4.8Voir ce que disent les étudiants

Programme de cours

SEMAINE 1

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.

4 vidéos, 6 lectures

阅读: Instructional Staff
阅读: Meet Your Presenter: Scott Persons
阅读: Course Glossary
阅读: Acknowledgements
阅读: Interactive Learning Objects
阅读: Lesson 1 Course Notes
Vidéo: 1.1 Vertebrate Origins
Vidéo: 1.2 Vertebrate Environments
Vidéo: 1.3 Diversity of Early Vertebrate Life

Noté: Module 1 Assessment (Graded)

SEMAINE 2

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.

3 vidéos, 1 lectures

阅读: Lesson 2 Course Notes
Vidéo: 2.2 Early Fish Types & Anatomy - Part 1
Vidéo: 2.2 Early Fish Types & Anatomy - Part 2

Noté: Module 2 Assessment (Graded)

SEMAINE 3

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!

3 vidéos, 1 lectures

阅读: Lesson 3 Course Notes
Vidéo: 3.1 Evolution of Jaws - Part 2
Vidéo: 3.2 Placoderms

Noté: Module 3 Assessment (Graded)

SEMAINE 4

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’!

3 vidéos, 1 lectures

阅读: Lesson 4 Course Notes
Vidéo: 4.2 The Lobe-Finned Fishes
Vidéo: 4.3 Primitive Tetrapods

Noté: Module 4 Assessment (Graded)

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Créateurs

University of 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.

Notation et examens

Note moyenne 4.8 sur 5 sur 425 notes

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.

This course is absolutely great! It was very informative, organized and helped me a lot when it comes to the knowledge of this scientific area. Since i'm hoping to become a student in a Masters degree in Paleontology, i definitely recommend this course, because of how rich it is in information, and how fun and interactive it is. There were some creatures, our long ancestors, that i didn't know about too, until viewing this course.

Excellent ! I have invented a joke for you. Sure it is better in French (I'm a Parisian woman) but it can be understand in English I hope :BONY AND CLADE !Thank you very much ! I love my inner fish !