Spring 2018 - EASC 622 G100
Principles of Ichnology (3)
Class Number: 13010
Delivery Method: In Person
Overview
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Course Times + Location:
Location: TBA
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Instructor:
MacEachern James
jmaceach@sfu.ca
778-782-5388
Office: TASC 1 Room 7235
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Prerequisites:
Advanced undergraduate sedimentology course.
Description
CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:
The conceptual framework of ichnology with particular emphasis on the ethological (behavioral) classification of biogenic structures, as well as its applications to the ichnofacies concept and paleoenvironmental interpretation of the sedimentary record. Environmental stresses and organism responses will be integrated with conventional sedimentology to highlight the complex inter-relationships between infauna and the environments they inhabit. The genetic stratigraphic applications of ichnology will also be addressed.
COURSE DETAILS:
General:
EASC 622 concentrates on the Principles of Ichnology (the study of trace fossils). Few graduate students will have had any more than a brief exposure to this discipline during their undergraduate career. This course deals with an introduction to the science, starting with the conceptual framework of ichnology with particular emphasis on the ethological (behavioural) classification of biogenic structures. The course addresses trace fossil applications to the ichnofacies concept and to paleoenvironmental interpretations of the sedimentary record. Neoichnological and paleoichnological datasets will be assessed. Environmental stresses and organism responses will be integrated with conventional sedimentology in order to highlight the complex inter-relationships between infaunal behaviour and the environments they inhabit. The genetic stratigraphic applications of ichnology will also be addressed.
Course Topics:
1. Conceptual Framework of Ichnology: Animal-Sediment Relations
2. Ethology of Trace Fossils and Application to the Ichnofacies Concept
3. Ichnofacies and Ichnofabric Analysis
4. Neoichnology and the rise of Process Ichnology
5. Integrating Ichnology and Sedimentary Facies Analysis
6. Genetic Stratigraphic Paradigms and Utility of Ichnology
Course Organization:
One 2-hour lecture/seminar every week.
One 1-hour laboratory period every week
Grading
- Seminar Evaluations 40%
- Term Paper 20%
- Laboratory Assignments 40%
Materials
REQUIRED READING:
Course Textbooks:
Readings will be assigned weekly from the literature. Students are also advised to obtain access to:
Bromley, R.G., 1996, Trace Fossils: Biology, Taphonomy and Applications, Chapman and Hall, New York, 631p.
MacEachern, J.A., Bann, K.L., Gingras, M.K., and Pemberton, S.G., eds., 2007, Applied Ichnology, SEPM Short Course Notes 52, 380p.
Miller, W. III (ed.) 2007, Trace Fossils: Concepts, Problems, Prospects, Elsevier, New York, 611p.
Buatois, L and Mángano, G., 2011, Ichnology: Organism-Substrate Interaction in Space and Time, Cambridge, New York, 358p.
Knaust, D. and Bromley, R.G. (eds). Ichnology as Indicators of Sedimentary Environments, Developments in Sedimentology 64, 924p.
Graduate Studies Notes:
Important dates and deadlines for graduate students are found here: http://www.sfu.ca/dean-gradstudies/current/important_dates/guidelines.html. The deadline to drop a course with a 100% refund is the end of week 2. The deadline to drop with no notation on your transcript is the end of week 3.
Registrar Notes:
SFU’s Academic Integrity web site http://students.sfu.ca/academicintegrity.html is filled with information on what is meant by academic dishonesty, where you can find resources to help with your studies and the consequences of cheating. Check out the site for more information and videos that help explain the issues in plain English.
Each student is responsible for his or her conduct as it affects the University community. Academic dishonesty, in whatever form, is ultimately destructive of the values of the University. Furthermore, it is unfair and discouraging to the majority of students who pursue their studies honestly. Scholarly integrity is required of all members of the University. http://www.sfu.ca/policies/gazette/student/s10-01.html
ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: YOUR WORK, YOUR SUCCESS