PROFESSOR:  Dr. R.W. Mathewes
OFFICE:  B8236 (291-4472)
e-mail: r_mathewes@sfu.ca
 

CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:

"The principles of paleoenvironmental reconstruction, emphasizing the study of pollen grains, spores, and other microfossils in solving problems of paleobiology and earth history."

PREREQUISITES:

Minimum 60 credit hours including BISC 204 or GEOG 215. Some background in Botany, Biogeography, or Earth Sciences is desirable.

REQUIRED TEXTS:

1.    McAndrews, J.H., A.A. Berti, and G. Norris. 1973.

Key to the Quaternary pollen and spores of the Great Lakes Region. Life Sciences Misc. Publ., Royal Ontario Museum. (Lab Manual)

2.    A syllabus of selected readings that will be compiled and sold through the SFU bookstore

RECOMMENDED:

Warner, B.C. (editor) 1990. Methods in Quaternary Ecology.

Geoscience Canada, Reprint Series 5.

INTRODUCTION:

This course is designed to introduce the subject of paleoecology, or the ecology of the past. By interpreting the fossil records of organisms, it is possible to reconstruct the histories of populations or communities through time. Such information is useful to archaeologists, biogeographers, biologists, stratigraphic geologists, climatologists, and others. Once the principles of paleoecology are outlined, the emphasis will be on microfossils to show how fossil data can be applied to solve problems in a range of different disciplines. Applications can range from understanding past climatic changes, the origins of agriculture, fire history, or changing forest dynamics since the last ice age. Although the emphasis is on pollen and spores, other types of fossils will also be discussed.

Topics will be introduced during the two lectures each week, and "hands-on" experience in microfossil identification will be provided in the laboratories.

This course may be applied towards a minor in Quaternary Studies.

GRADING: