Analysing Mesozoic biotas from the Opole area – advances of palaeontological methods

Presentation of the basic methods of field research in palaeontology on the example of Mesozoic sites in the Opole region - the Upper Triassic of Krasiejów and the Opole Cretaceous (Upper Cretaceous). Development of geological profiles of outcrops in terms of paleoecology. Determination of vertebrate and invertebrate fossils and palaeoecological interpretation of taphocoenoses.

Topics covered:

A. Topics of the lecture:

‘Trias’ Documentation Site in Krasiejów: origin of the Late Triassic bone-bed, nature of the sediments, representatives of macro- (temnospondyls, archosaurs, lungfish, bony fish) and microfauna of vertebrates (bony and cartilaginous fish, avemetatarsals, pseudosuchians, lepidosaurs); methods of excavation work, including macro- and micro-remains; mechanical and chemical preparation methods; methods of studying vertebrate fossils with particular emphasis on palaeohistology.

Opole Cretaceous: profile and Cretaceous sites of Opole and the surrounding area, profile of the Odra II site, profile of the Folwark site, marine invertebrate fauna (echinoderms, bivalves, brachiopods, sponges, bryozoans and others), trace fossils of the Opole Cretaceous, ecological interactions between organisms (the problem of a soupground).

B. Topics of the field course:

Development of a geological profile of a paleontological site, identification of fossils, collecting sediment samples for testing, mechanical preparation of fossils, preparation of microfossils using a stereoscopic microscope, use of a geological compass and measurement of the orientation of fossils (determination of the direction of material transport), interpretation of ecological relationships between fossil species based on fossils (predators, parasites, commensals, suspension eaters, detritivores, etc.)

Literature:

A. Required to pass the course (pass the exam):

A.1. Bodzioch & Kowal-Linka, 2012. Unraveling the origin of the Late Triassic multitaxic bone accumulation at Krasiejów (S Poland) by diagenetic analysis. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology, 346, 25-36.

A.2. Szulc et al., 2015. Key aspects of the stratigraphy of the Upper Silesian middle Keuper, southern Poland. In Annales Societatis Geologorum Poloniae, 85, 557-586.

A.3. Kowalski et al., 2019. Preliminary report on the microvertebrate faunal remains from the Late Triassic locality at Krasiejów, SW Poland. Annales Societatis Geologorum Poloniae, 89(3), 291-305.

A.4. Teschner et al., 2022. Growth and limb bone histology of aetosaurs and phytosaurs from the Late Triassic Krasiejów locality (SW Poland) reveals strong environmental influence on growth pattern. Contributions to Zoology, 91(3), 199-232.

A.5. Sachs et al., 2018. Turonian marine amniotes from the Opole area in southwest Poland. Cretaceous Research, 84, 578-587.

A.6. Kędzierski, 2008. Calcareous nannofossil and inoceramid biostratigraphies of a Middle Turonian to Middle Coniacian section from the Opole Trough of SW Poland. Cretaceous Research, 29(3), 451-467.

A.7. Jagt-Yazykova et al., 2022. Palaeoenvironments and biota of the Opole Cretaceous. Field guide, pp. 127-140.

A.2. studying by students (on their own)

self-studying by students

B. Additional literature

Scientific and popular science articles depending on the issues discussed

Knowledge: the student knows and understands:

1. K_W01 interprets the complexity of processes and phenomena in nature, the solution of which requires an interdisciplinary approach_P7S_WG

2. K_W02 understands the perspective of geological time and describes changes in the biosphere taking place in past geological epochs P7S_WG

3. K_W03 explains the physical, chemical and biological processes taking place in the lithosphere P7S_WG

4. K_W04_interprets and evaluates hypotheses regarding the temporal and spatial determinants of biodiversity _P7S_WG

Skills: student can:

4. K_U01 demonstrates the ability to critically analyse and select information, especially from electronic resources

5. K_U01_ selects and applies techniques and research tools adequate to the problems of the studied specialty _P7S_UW

6. K_U02_ uses the acquired specialist knowledge to interpret the collected empirical data and draw conclusions _P7S_UW

Social competences: the student is ready to:

7. K_K01 has the habit of using recognized sources of scientific information and the principles of critical reasoning when solving practical problems _P7S_KK

8. K_K03_ is responsible for the entrusted equipment and his own work and respects the work of others _P7S_KR

Assessment methods and criteria:

A. Forms of assessment (verification of learning outcomes):

lecture: closed test

field course: field documentation

B. Basic criteria for determining the grade:

W: passing the test with more than 50% correct answers

T: correct preparation of the field report