GEO 317 explores the union of life science and Earth science in the study of fossils. Topics include ecological structure and succession; habitats and niches; trophic relationships; environmental gradients; form and function; growth and development; morphometrics; macroevolution; phylogenetics and cladistics; biodiversity and taxonomic turnover; time series analysis; time binning methods; and field sampling and data collection. Students learn to collect information on fossils and then analyze numerical data using univariate and multivariate statistical methods with common programming languages like R (but no prior experience with statistics or computer science is required). Alternate years.
Students must meet one of the following prerequisites: (1) GEO 130 and sophomore standing; (2) BIO 141, BIO 142, and sophomore standing; (3) GEO 326; or (4) Permission of Instructor.