Workshop on Paleoecology of South Florida
W
12:30-3:00 + 2 weekend field days
Instructors: Drs. Laurel Collins & Evelyn Gaiser
BSC 5929 Workshop: Paleoecology of South Florida
GLY 5627 Workshop: Microfossil Paleoenvironments
2 credits, no prerequisites
Course Objectives: To gain knowledge about paleoenvironments and the taxonomic and laboratory skills necessary to interpret 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.
Learning Outcomes: Students will be able to collect and record sediment and water samples, identify diatoms and foraminifera, and apply taxon distributions to the determination of paleoenvironments.
|
Date |
Subject |
Meeting Place |
| Feb. 8 | Organizational meeting | Paleo lab, PC 349A |
|
Feb. 15 |
Lecture: Introduction to the biology, paleobiology, and environmental distributions of diatoms and foraminifera |
PC 341 |
|
Feb. 18, 8:30am-5pm |
Fieldwork on foot, marsh transect: Sample freshwater to brackish sites, S Biscayne Bay (estimated 6 hr.) |
Parking lot behind PC |
| Feb. 22 |
Lecture &
Labwork: Introduction
to specimen preparation methods and taxonomic identification for diatoms and
foraminifera |
Paleo lab, PC 349A |
|
Feb. 29 |
Labwork: Preparation & identification of diatoms and forams in 4 samples |
Paleo lab, PC 349A |
|
Mar. 3, 7:30am-4 pm |
Fieldwork by boat, marine transect: Sample brackish and marine sites, N Biscayne Bay. Take sediment core (estimated 8 hr.) |
Parking lot behind PC |
|
Mar. 7 |
Labwork:
Continue identification of diatoms and forams |
Paleo lab, PC 349A |
| Mar. 14 | Spring Break | |
|
Mar. 21 |
Labwork: Continue identification of diatoms and forams |
Paleo lab, PC 349A |
|
Mar. 28 |
Labwork: Continue identification of diatoms and forams |
Paleo lab, PC 349A |
|
Apr. 4 |
Labwork: Prepare diatom and foram environmental indicator taxa from 2 core samples |
Paleo lab, PC 349A |
|
Apr. 11 |
Labwork: Indentify diatom and foram environmental indicator taxa from 2 core samples |
Paleo lab, PC 349A |
|
Apr. 18 LAST CLASS |
Labwork: Finish
up any remaining labwork |
Paleo lab, PC 349A |
|
Apr. 25, 3pm |
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 12:30-1:30 |
ECS253 |
|
Dr. Laurel Collins |
Dept. Earth & Env., Dept. Biol. Sci. |
collinsl@fiu.edu |
(305) 348-1732 |
MF 10-11:30,
|
PC435 |
Reading
Handouts will be distributed during the workshop, including the following used primarily for taxonomy:
Diatom Indicators of Ecosystem Change...
Culver, Stephen J. 1993. Foraminifera. Pp. 203-247 in J.H. Lipps (ed.), Fossil Prokaryotes and Protists. Blackwell Scientific, Boston.
Use of forams in Florida Bay paleoenvironments
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 diatom and foram slides 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.
20% participation in fieldwork, classes and labs