Macquarie University

Advanced Studies in Palaeobiology - BIOL766

This is an advanced unit that exposes students to the best examples of recent (and classic) primary literature across a broad range of fields including palaeobiology, evolutionary biology, ecology and geobiology. In particular, this unit focuses on exciting interdisciplinary research streams where the work of geneticists and embryologists is combined fruitfully with the investigations of palaeobiologists and evolutionary biologists in order to decipher important evolutionary questions. The unit also focuses on the enormous interest in reconstructing past environments through studies of community palaeoecology, taphonomy and ecosystem evolution. Students will participate in and contribute to weekly group based discussions, debates and seminars that aim to probe, critically evaluate and assess topical questions and test prevailing models and/or hypotheses across a wide range of interdisciplinary research themes. The curriculum will include written and oral essay style assessments as well as planning and presentation of a novel research project focused on an important aspect of evolutionary biology and/or palaeobiology. This unit provides students an opportunity to directly interact with research active academic staff, postdoctoral researchers and PhD students from many disciplines including evolutionary biology, palaeobiology, ecology and geoscience.