Workshop on Paleoecology of South Florida
Wednesdays 2-4:30 + 2 field days; class ends before Spring Break
Instructors: Drs. Laurel Collins & Evelyn Gaiser
Biology Dept. Class Number 18958, BSC 5929 Workshop: Paleoecology of South Florida
Earth Sciences Dept. Class Number 18959, ESC 5162 Workshop: Microfossil Paleoenvironments
2 credits, no prerequisites
Learning Outcomes: Students will be able to collect and record sediment and water samples, identify diatoms and foraminifera under the microscope, and know how to apply taxon distributions to the determination of paleoenvironments.
|
Date |
Subject |
Meeting Place |
| Jan. 7 | Organizational meeting | Paleo lab, PC 349A |
|
Jan. 14 |
Lecture: Introduction to the biology, paleobiology, and environmental distributions of diatoms and foraminifera |
Paleo lab, PC 349A |
|
Jan. 17, 9am-5pm |
Fieldwork on foot: Sample 3 freshwater to brackish sites, Biscayne Bay (6 hr.) |
Parking lot behind PC |
| Jan. 21 |
Lecture &
Labwork: Introduction
to specimen preparation methods and taxonomic identification for diatoms and
foraminifera |
Paleo lab, PC 349A |
|
Jan. 28 |
Labwork: Preparation & identification of diatoms and forams in 4 samples |
Paleo lab, PC 349A |
|
TBA, 8am-4 pm |
Fieldwork by boat: Sample 4 brackish and marine sites in Card Sound. Take sediment core (8 hr.) |
FIU Boatyard, W campus |
|
Feb. 4 |
Labwork:
Continue identification of diatoms and forams |
Paleo lab, PC 349A |
|
Feb. 11 |
Labwork: Continue identification of diatoms and forams |
Paleo lab, PC 349A |
|
Feb. 18 |
Labwork: Continue identification of diatoms and forams |
Paleo lab, PC 349A |
|
Feb. 25 |
Labwork: Prepare diatom and foram environmental indicator taxa from 2 core samples |
Paleo lab, PC 349A |
|
Mar. 4 |
Labwork: Indentify diatom and foram environmental indicator taxa from 2 core samples |
Paleo lab, PC 349A |
|
Mar. 11 LAST CLASS |
Labwork: Finish
up any remaining labwork |
Paleo lab, PC 349A |
|
Mar. 13, 5pm |
Deadline for 3- to 5-page reports . A hard copy should be submitted to either Dr. Collins or Dr. Gaiser. |
|
|
Instructors |
Affiliation |
Email address |
Phone |
Office Hours
|
Office |
|
Dr. Evelyn Gaiser |
Dept. Biol. Sci., SERC |
gaisere@fiu.edu |
(305) 348-6145 |
TR 3:30-4:30 |
OE211 |
|
Dr. Laurel Collins |
Dept. Earth Sci., Dept. Biol. Sci. |
collinsl@fiu.edu |
(305) 348-1732 |
M 2-3:30 pm, W 12-1:30 am |
PC435 |
Reading
Handouts will be distributed during the workshop, including the following:
Diatom Indicators of Ecosystem Change...
Brasier, M.D. 1980. Phylum Sarcodina – Foraminifera. Figures from pp. 90-121 in Microfossils. George Allen and Unwin, London.
Culver, Stephen J. 1993. Foraminifera. Pp. 203-247 in J.H. Lipps (ed.), Fossil Prokaryotes and Protists. Blackwell Scientific, Boston.
Course Justification
This workshop teaches the paleoenvironmental knowledge and the taxonomic and laboratory skills necessary to interpreting paleoenvironments from sediment cores. Interpreting past marine, estuarine and freshwater environments of South Florida helps in restoration efforts of Florida Bay and the Everglades, and contributes to understanding future environmental changes.
Course Policies and Grading
The fieldwork is mandatory unless a serious issue such as a medical condition prevents it.
Grades will be based on the following 3 components:
50% prepared and identified diatoms and forams from 2 samples
30% 3-5 page report on the workshop, including a description of the gradient in species composition with changes in the modern environment, a table of key species distributions, and interpretation of change in environment, if any, in the area represented by the core. The organization of the paper should be the following: Abstract, Introduction to study area and questions addressed, Methods, Results, Conclusions, References, and a map and table. A hard copy of the report is due by Friday, March 13 at 5 pm in either Dr. Collins' or Dr. Gaiser's office.
20% participation in fieldwork, classes and labs