QUATERNARY PALYNOLOGY AND PLANT MACROFOSSILS
GEOS/ANTH 481/581
FALL, 2008, Tu Th 12:30-1:45, Gould-Simpson 213

OWEN K. DAVIS, Professor, Geosciences
Office: Gould Simpson 344, Ph 621-7953
odavis@email.arizona.edu
Office Hrs: MW 2-3:00 GS 344

DATE TOPIC READING  INTERNET MATERIAL
Aug 26 28  Introduction to Palynology Kapp p. 1-6, 25-32;
Tidwell p. 64-86		  INTRODUCTION
Sep 2 4 Pollen Classes Kapp p. 10-11, 33-40;
Tidwell p. 97-174		  CLASSES Lab sched. pine pine
Sep 9 11 Pollen Sculpture Kapp p. 12-15  SCULPTURE     Lab
Sep 16 18 Pollen Structure Kapp p. 7-12  STRUCTURE     Lab
Sep 23 25 Surface Samples Davis, 1995  INTERPRETATION 1     Lab
S/O 30 2 Production & Dispersal Kapp p. 20-24  INTERPRETATION 2    Lab
Oct 7 9 Pollen Diagrams Kapp p. 15-19  PRESERVATION   Lab Fossil
Oct 14 16 Diagram Presentations     EXTRACTION   Lab Fossil
Oct 21 23 Tilia Exercise   about Missouri  Tilia Exercise Contd.
Oct 28 30  CONISS & ANALOG Exercises    CONISS & ANALOG Exercises
Nov 4 6 Macrofossils Tidwell p. 102-127  Drawings   Photos   charred
Nov 11 13 Conifer Needles Tidwell plates 10-14, 30-32  External  Internal Anatomy
Nov 18 20 Conifer Cones Tidwell p. 110-117 plate 10  Female Cones   Male Cones
Nov 25 27 Seeds and Fruits Tidwell p. 166, 253-255  Seeds & Fruits
Dec 2 4 Wood Morphology Tidwell p. 175-184, 201-249  Wood Anatomy
Dec 9 Wood Morphology Tidwell plates 36-38, 44-58  Wood Anatomy

OBJECTIVES & OUTCOMES
    581. Quaternary Palynology and Plant Macrofossils (2-4) II Theory and techniques of identification and interpretation of pollen, spores, seeds, leaves, and wood of plants from sediment of lakes, marshes, caves, and archeological sites. P, Ecol. 472. (Identical with Anth. 581). Tu Th 9:30-10:45 Gould-Simpson 203, 302. Owen K. Davis 621-7953, -6024.

  1. Understand the Biology and Morphology of Pollen and Spores
  2. Understand the Basis for Identification of Pollen and Spores
  3. Be Able to Identify 24 Common Pollen Grains
  4. Understand the Relationship Between Vegetation and Pollen Abundance
  5. Understand Pollen Taphonomy
  6. Be Able to Interpret Pollen Diagrams
  7. Understand Vegetation History of North America
  8. Use TILIA to Plot Pollen Diagrams
  9. Understand the Biology and Morphology of Plant Fossils
  10. Understand the Basis for Identification of Plant Fossils
  11. Be Able to Identify Various Plant Fossils
GRADES:
  • Attendance & Participation (120 points)
  • Lab Practicals (120 points)
    • pollen 60 points (12 slides)
    • macros 60 points (12 boxes)
  • Drawings (60 points)
    • pollen 6 drawings (5 points each)
    • macros 6 drawings (5 points each)
  • Pollen samples (200 points)
    • count 4 samples - 100 grains each (30 points each)
    • plot pollen diagram for class counts (80 pts)
    500 points total
    A: >= 90% , B: = 89-80% , C: = 79-70%
CLASSROOM BEHAVIOR
  • Attendance Required, excessive absence and tardiness will lower grade
    • All holidays or special events observed by organized religions will be honored for those students who show affiliation with that particular religion,
    • Absences pre-approved by the UA Dean of Students (or Dean's designee) will be honored
  • No Disruptive Behavior
  • No Threatening Behavior
  • DON'T CHEAT Cheating is any attempt to represent someone else's work (on exams, quizzes, extra credit reports) as your own. Cheating can result in a failing grade for this course and may result in your expulsion from the University — refer to The Record of Faculty/Student Conference
TEXTS
  • Brown, C.A. 2008. Palynological Techniques. SECOND EDITION. Edited by James B. Riding and Sophie Warny, 146 p. $15
  • Kapp, R.O., Davis, O.K., and King, J.E. 2000. Ronald O. Kapp's Pollen and Spores, Second Edition. American Association of Stratigraphic Palynologists, Dallas, Texas. 279 p. $25.
  • Tidwell, W.D. 1998. Common fossil plants of western North America, Second Edition. Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington, D.C. 299 p.

The information contained in this syllabus, other than the grade and absence policies, is subject to change with reasonable advance notice, as deemed appropriate by the instructor.

This syllabus conforms with UA Policy