63-120 Biodiversity in Earth’s History

Instructors: Alina Nikolaevna Baranova

Event type: Practical course/lab

Displayed in timetable as:

Hours per week: 2

Credits: 3,0

Language of instruction: English

Min. | Max. participants: 10 | 22

Comments/contents:
When we look at development of biodiversity over time, there was an increasing diversification, but was repeatedly interrupted by setbacks, finally zenith of biodiversity is dated by the end of the Tertiary. The time we live in the Quaternary is the era of declining biodiversity. This decline caused by climate variability within Pleistocene ice ages and the destructive anthropogenic influence. During the seminar we will have a closer look on the processes of species extinction / expansion, as well as on up-to-date theories of Life Creation, first cell formation and its diversification. We will briefly than travel through the Tree of Life with additional help of Center of Natural History (CeNak) of Hamburg University. The excursions are planned to Zoological, Mineralogical and Geological-Paleontological Museums.

Learning objectives:
The goal is to summarize the sporadic knowledge on Life creation and its development and to discuss it in three dimensions of time ages, systematic and genetic. In addition, to come from the theory to practice, the excursions in Center of Natural History will allow participants to see the evidence of biodiversity dynamic in the Earth‘s past history. Biodiversity threads (in the past and present) would be also examined during the group discussions.

Didactic concept:
The seminar includes lectures, followed by the work in groups, three excursions and a final conference –a block-day seminar, during which participants will prepare the posters, present and discuss them in the group.

The participants should be ready to work in groups based on the materials pre-read at home (30 min lecture + 15 min questions, 45 min work in groups based on the given materials), thorough preparation and active discussion.

The dates for the excursions and the block-day seminar will be anounced during first meeting.

Literature:
Will be announced during first meeting

Additional examination information:
• engaged participation in the group discussions on the seminars; 
• prepare a short and informative talk for one of the excursions in of the museums
• design and present the posters (the posters should be designed in PowerPoint, or the alternative might be discussed)