Earth 101 - Invertebrate Paleobiology

Explore invertebrate paleobiology through a comprehensive video series from the University of California, Santa Cruz. Delve into topics such as taphonomy, species diversity, substrate adaptations, and functional morphology of reef-building organisms. Examine species concepts, classification methods, and evolutionary processes including phenetics and cladistics. Investigate ontogeny, heterochrony, and landmark morphometrics. Study biostratigraphy, biogeography, and evolutionary patterns, including trends and random walks. Analyze extinction and origination events, diversity trends, and environmental patterns. Learn about guilds, evolutionary faunas, and the environmental preferences of marine organisms. Gain insights into functional morphology, with a focus on suspension-feeding invertebrates. Access additional course materials and information through the provided course page link.

Taphonomy (time averaging).
Species composition and diversity.
Substrate Adaptations.
Functional morphology: reef-building.
Species concepts and classification.
Phenetics and cladistics.
Ontogeny and heterochrony.
Landmark morphometrics.
Biostratigraphy.
Biogeography.
Biogeography: vicariance and dispersal.
Evolutionary pattern and process.
Evolutionary trends vs. random walks.
Extinction and origination.
Diversity trends and biases.
Diversity: spatial and environmental patterns.
Guilds and evolutionary faunas.
Environmental preferences of marine organisms.
Functional Morphology: Suspension-Feeding.