Paleontology: Early Vertebrate Evolution from Coursera

What's inside

Syllabus

The Phanerozoic Begins

In this lesson we take you back to the beginning of the Phanerozoic Eon to learn what it truly means to have backbone, as we encounter the key anatomical features of vertebrates and their closest chordate relatives. We’ll also introduce the language of evolution – phylogenetics – as we examine some of the contenders for the title of ‘The Earliest Vertebrate’, and give you a crash course in sedimentology, so you can begin to piece together the spectacular environments that were home to our early aquatic ancestors. Just a quick note before you get started: 'Palaios' is the Greek word for 'ancient', so palaeontology or paleontology is the study of ancient life. Both spellings are correct, with palaeontology used in Britain, and paleontology more common in the US.

Learning to Swim

The old problem of the comparative anatomist was exactly how to compare two animals that appeared, at first glance, to look nothing alike. How, do you compare cows and lobsters? Well, in this lesson you’ll not only learn how to compare crustaceans and cattle, but you’ll also quickly learn that there’s more to a vertebrate than just a backbone as we delve into basic vertebrate anatomy. We’ll cover all the need-to-know anatomical terms and directions, as well as specialist features like the lateral line system, which not only helped early fish avoid predation, but is also the main reason why you find it very difficult to catch fish with your bare hands today! We will also explore the immense diversity of the jawless vertebrates including the tenacious Cyclostomata, the elusive Conodonta, and, long before Ankylosaurus, a group of heavily armoured jawless fishes – the ostracoderms.

Learning to Bite

The Ordovician, Silurian and Devonian Periods were times of great continental, oceanic and climactic change that brought about the Earth’s first mass extinction events. With environmental catastrophes opening up new ecological niches, a trait evolved in early vertebrates that would prove so successful that over 99% of modern vertebrates still retain it: jaws. In this lesson we will try to understand the geographical and temporal background of early vertebrate diversity, as well as the impact and origin of the evolution of jaws on vertebrate life. Introducing huge predators such as Dunkleosteus along the way, we’ll explore the incredible diversity of the Gnathostoma (the jawed fishes), mainly from fossils known from the spectacular Late Devonian site of Miguasha in Quebec. So get ready for a lesson you can really sink your teeth into!

Learning to Walk

Although this lesson marks the end of the beginning of the vertebrate story, we still have some bones left to pick! In this last lesson we’ll look at the features of the Osteichthyes (the bony fishes) and examine the differences between two immensely successful vertebrate groups; one that conquered the water: the Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes), and one that eventually conquered the land: the Sarcopterygii (lobe-finned fishes). We’ll investigate how the sarcopterygians gave rise to the tetrapods, meet our very first tetrapod ancestors like Acanthostega, and introduce the features that were essential in making the leap from water to land. Along the way we’ll meet some living fossils, see some incredible evolutionary adaptations, and learn about our earliest terrestrial origins – it’s time to step up and finish the tale of ‘Early Vertebrate Evolution’!

Good to know

Know what's good

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Taught by Alison Murray, Ph.D, who is recognized for their work in the topic that the course teaches

Covers unique perspectives are ideas that may add color to other topics and subjects

Courses multi-modal and includes a mix of media, such as videos, readings, discussions, etc

Taught by Alison Murray, Ph.D, who are recognized for their work in the topic that the course teaches

If this explicitly requires learners to come in with extensive background knowledge first

Reviews summary

Vertebrate evolution: from fish to foot

Learners say this course provides a fascinating and engaging overview of vertebrate evolution. Its engaging assignments and qualified instructor help learners stay engaged. The course covers a range of topics, from the evolution of fins to the development of legs. Quizzes help reinforce concepts, and the clear and well-organized notes provide a valuable reference. While some learners found the anatomical details challenging, overall, the course is highly recommended for anyone interested in paleontology or evolution.

Learners enjoyed the course's engaging assignments and qualified instructor.

"Really enjoyed this course. The presenter in the videos was great at being both engaging but not taking away from the information being presented."

"The presenter was enthusiastic and articulate conveying details and concepts very well."

"The course material was very easy to follow, interesting and presented in an engaging format."

"The presenter is fantastic and makes the material more interactive by his delivery :)"

"I found the course a bit "long" in terms of week content. Perhaps dividing each lesson in 2 weeks would be better. On the course itself, I found it very interesting, it's not a subject I know much, but I think it's interesting. And the course's content is interesting, not very hard for someone outside the area, and leaves with the impression that a follow-up course would be enjoyable."

The course covers a range of topics related to vertebrate evolution, including the evolution of fins, the development of legs, and the various fossil sites where evidence of early vertebrates has been found.

"Covers the story on the evolution of tetrapods from the earliest chordates, including not only the morphological and anatomical differences, but also palaeoecology and palaeogeography. The story is told in a fun and captivating way, with wonderfully illustrative visuals. Most celebrity animals, like Dunkleosteus, are covered."

"The material is well structured starting with the evolution of chordates and ending with the first tetrapods. Extensive examples of both fossil sites and the animals that have been found in them are used to great effect throughout the course."

"This was a fun and educational little dive into early vertebrate evolution."

"I have learnt so much from this course as it is very comprehensive and well-organised with great visualization."

"This course was very fascinating. It wasn't that easy, but the Dino 101 course from UoA definitely helped to understand the whole topic better."

Learners appreciated the quizzes that reinforced concepts and the clear and well-organized notes that provided a valuable reference.

"The quizzes related to the material learned in the corresponding lectures and the course was structured well."

"I really enjoyed this course. The presenter is fantastic and makes the material more interactive by his delivery :) There really is nothing better than listening to someone that sounds like they enjoy what they are teaching! The information is a great overview and has provided me with a good opportunity to take the names, periods and terms and go on to do more research on the topics."

"I thoroughly enjoyed having the notes to read through prior to the presentation. It was so helpful to me."

"The video lectures were augmented by readings also allowing the option to choose whichever format was preferable to learning the material or both."

"The notes/PDF handouts are invaluable and put together in a way I rarely see in online courses. (That's a good thing!) They are well-written, clearly organized, have good illustrations, and can be understood apart from the videos."

"The course notes and video presentations were very good."

Some learners found the anatomical details discussed in the course to be challenging.

"I jut hope coursera gives a fair amount of the fees to the student who did all the presentations: the professor may have written it but did not show up even once !He deserves it more than her!"

"All the anatomical details of early fishes got a bit too dense for me to fully absorb but I enjoyed learning about this crucial period of tetrepod evolution. There were certainly some strange looking creatures in the early seas."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Paleontology: Early Vertebrate Evolution with these activities:

Review basic vertebrate anatomy

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Review the basics of vertebrate anatomy to strengthen your foundation in the subject.

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Read through your notes or textbook chapters on vertebrate anatomy.
Draw diagrams of different vertebrate body systems, such as the skeletal system, muscular system, and nervous system.
Take practice quizzes or tests on vertebrate anatomy to assess your understanding.

Participate in study groups with classmates

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Enhance your understanding of the course material by collaborating with peers in study groups.

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Form or join a study group with classmates who share similar learning goals and schedules.
Meet regularly to discuss course topics, review lecture notes, and work on assignments together.
Take turns leading discussions, presenting summaries, or facilitating practice sessions.

Explore online tutorials on vertebrate evolution

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Supplement your understanding of vertebrate evolution by following guided tutorials that provide additional explanations and examples.

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Search for reputable online tutorials on vertebrate evolution, such as those provided by universities or scientific organizations.
Follow the tutorials attentively, taking notes and completing any interactive exercises provided.
Review the material covered in the tutorials and reflect on how it complements your understanding of the course.

Five other activities

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Solve practice problems on vertebrate evolutionary relationships

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Reinforce your understanding of vertebrate evolutionary relationships through repetitive practice.

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Obtain practice problems from the course materials, textbooks, or online resources.
Work through the problems independently, applying the concepts and techniques learned in the course.
Compare your solutions with the provided answers or discuss them with your instructor or peers to identify areas of improvement.

Create a timeline of key events in vertebrate evolution

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Solidify your knowledge of the sequence of events in vertebrate evolution by creating a visual timeline.

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Gather information from the course materials, textbooks, and scientific articles about the major events in vertebrate evolution.
Organize the events chronologically and select a suitable format for your timeline, such as a flowchart, infographic, or presentation.
Create your timeline, accurately depicting the sequence and relationships between the key events.
Review your timeline and make any necessary revisions or additions to ensure clarity and completeness.

Read 'Vertebrate Paleontology' by Michael J. Benton

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Expand your knowledge of vertebrate paleontology by reading a comprehensive textbook that provides in-depth coverage of the subject.

View Vertebrate Palaeontology on Amazon

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Obtain a copy of 'Vertebrate Paleontology' by Michael J. Benton.
Read through the chapters relevant to the course topics, taking notes and highlighting important concepts.
Complete the practice exercises or review questions provided in the book to test your understanding.
Engage in discussions or online forums to share your insights and learn from others' perspectives on the material.

Contribute to open-source projects related to vertebrate paleontology

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Gain practical experience and contribute to the field of vertebrate paleontology by participating in open-source projects.

Browse courses on Open Source

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Identify open-source projects related to vertebrate paleontology, such as fossil databases, visualization tools, or educational resources.
Review the project documentation and codebase to understand its goals and technical requirements.
Identify areas where you can contribute your skills and knowledge, such as data analysis, software development, or documentation writing.
Contact the project maintainers to discuss your ideas and offer your assistance.

Develop a research proposal on a topic in vertebrate evolution

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Deepen your understanding of the research process and apply your knowledge of vertebrate evolution by developing a research proposal.

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Identify a specific topic in vertebrate evolution that interests you and aligns with your learning goals.
Conduct a literature review to gather background information and identify knowledge gaps.
Formulate a research question and develop a hypothesis or set of objectives.
Describe your proposed methodology, including data collection methods and analysis techniques.
Outline your expected outcomes and discuss the potential implications of your research.

Career center

Learners who complete Paleontology: Early Vertebrate Evolution will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Comparative Anatomist

A Comparative Anatomist is a biologist who studies the anatomy of different organisms to understand their evolutionary relationships. This course provides a comprehensive overview of the origin of vertebrates, which is essential knowledge for anyone who wants to study comparative anatomy. The course covers the diversity of Palaeozoic lineages within a phylogenetic and evolutionary framework, and examines the evolution of major vertebrate novelties including the origin of fins, jaws, and tetrapod limbs. This knowledge is essential for understanding the evolution of vertebrates and for understanding the diversity of life on Earth.

See salaries and explore the career path for Comparative Anatomist

Paleontologist

A Paleontologist is a scientist who studies the fossils of ancient organisms to reconstruct the history of life on Earth. This course provides a comprehensive overview of the origin of vertebrates, which is essential knowledge for anyone who wants to study paleontology. The course covers the diversity of Palaeozoic lineages within a phylogenetic and evolutionary framework, and examines the evolution of major vertebrate novelties including the origin of fins, jaws, and tetrapod limbs. This knowledge is essential for understanding the history of life on Earth and for reconstructing the evolutionary relationships between different groups of vertebrates.

See salaries and explore the career path for Paleontologist

Vertebrate Zoologist

A Vertebrate Zoologist is a zoologist who studies vertebrates, which are animals that have a backbone. This course provides a comprehensive overview of the origin of vertebrates, which is essential knowledge for anyone who wants to study vertebrate zoology. The course covers the diversity of Palaeozoic lineages within a phylogenetic and evolutionary framework, and examines the evolution of major vertebrate novelties including the origin of fins, jaws, and tetrapod limbs. This knowledge is essential for understanding the evolution of vertebrates and for understanding the diversity of vertebrate life on Earth.

See salaries and explore the career path for Vertebrate Zoologist

Natural History Museum Curator

A Natural History Museum Curator is a museum professional who is responsible for the care and display of natural history specimens. This course provides a comprehensive overview of the origin of vertebrates, which is essential knowledge for anyone who wants to work in a natural history museum. The course covers the diversity of Palaeozoic lineages within a phylogenetic and evolutionary framework, and examines the evolution of major vertebrate novelties including the origin of fins, jaws, and tetrapod limbs. This knowledge is essential for understanding the evolution of vertebrates and for understanding the diversity of life on Earth.

See salaries and explore the career path for Natural History Museum Curator

Evolutionary Biologist

An Evolutionary Biologist is a biologist who studies the evolution of living organisms. This course provides a comprehensive overview of the origin of vertebrates, which is essential knowledge for anyone who wants to study evolutionary biology. The course covers the diversity of Palaeozoic lineages within a phylogenetic and evolutionary framework, and examines the evolution of major vertebrate novelties including the origin of fins, jaws, and tetrapod limbs. This knowledge is essential for understanding the evolution of vertebrates and for understanding the diversity of life on Earth.

See salaries and explore the career path for Evolutionary Biologist

Science Teacher

A Science Teacher is a teacher who teaches science to students. This course provides a comprehensive overview of the origin of vertebrates, which is essential knowledge for anyone who wants to teach science. The course covers the diversity of Palaeozoic lineages within a phylogenetic and evolutionary framework, and examines the evolution of major vertebrate novelties including the origin of fins, jaws, and tetrapod limbs. This knowledge is essential for understanding the evolution of vertebrates and for understanding the diversity of life on Earth.

See salaries and explore the career path for Science Teacher

Science Writer

A Science Writer is a writer who writes about science for the general public. This course provides a comprehensive overview of the origin of vertebrates, which is essential knowledge for anyone who wants to write about science. The course covers the diversity of Palaeozoic lineages within a phylogenetic and evolutionary framework, and examines the evolution of major vertebrate novelties including the origin of fins, jaws, and tetrapod limbs. This knowledge is essential for understanding the evolution of vertebrates and for understanding the diversity of life on Earth.

See salaries and explore the career path for Science Writer

Museum Educator

A Museum Educator is a museum professional who is responsible for educating the public about museum collections. This course provides a comprehensive overview of the origin of vertebrates, which is essential knowledge for anyone who wants to work in a museum. The course covers the diversity of Palaeozoic lineages within a phylogenetic and evolutionary framework, and examines the evolution of major vertebrate novelties including the origin of fins, jaws, and tetrapod limbs. This knowledge is essential for understanding the evolution of vertebrates and for understanding the diversity of life on Earth.

See salaries and explore the career path for Museum Educator

Anthropologist

An Anthropologist is a scientist who studies human beings and their societies. This course provides a comprehensive overview of the origin of vertebrates, which is essential knowledge for anyone who wants to study anthropology. The course covers the diversity of Palaeozoic lineages within a phylogenetic and evolutionary framework, and examines the evolution of major vertebrate novelties including the origin of fins, jaws, and tetrapod limbs. This knowledge is essential for understanding the evolution of vertebrates and for understanding the diversity of life on Earth.

See salaries and explore the career path for Anthropologist

Environmental Consultant

An Environmental Consultant is a professional who provides advice to businesses and governments on environmental issues. This course provides a comprehensive overview of the origin of vertebrates, which is essential knowledge for anyone who wants to work in environmental consulting. The course covers the diversity of Palaeozoic lineages within a phylogenetic and evolutionary framework, and examines the evolution of major vertebrate novelties including the origin of fins, jaws, and tetrapod limbs. This knowledge is essential for understanding the evolution of vertebrates and for understanding the diversity of life on Earth.

See salaries and explore the career path for Environmental Consultant

Zoologist

A Zoologist is a biologist who studies animals. This course provides a comprehensive overview of the origin of vertebrates, which is essential knowledge for anyone who wants to study zoology. The course covers the diversity of Palaeozoic lineages within a phylogenetic and evolutionary framework, and examines the evolution of major vertebrate novelties including the origin of fins, jaws, and tetrapod limbs. This knowledge is essential for understanding the evolution of vertebrates and for understanding the diversity of life on Earth.

See salaries and explore the career path for Zoologist

Biologist

A Biologist is a scientist who studies living organisms. This course provides a comprehensive overview of the origin of vertebrates, which is essential knowledge for anyone who wants to study biology. The course covers the diversity of Palaeozoic lineages within a phylogenetic and evolutionary framework, and examines the evolution of major vertebrate novelties including the origin of fins, jaws, and tetrapod limbs. This knowledge is essential for understanding the evolution of vertebrates and for understanding the diversity of life on Earth.

See salaries and explore the career path for Biologist

Science Communicator

A Science Communicator is a professional who communicates science to the general public. This course provides a comprehensive overview of the origin of vertebrates, which is essential knowledge for anyone who wants to work in science communication. The course covers the diversity of Palaeozoic lineages within a phylogenetic and evolutionary framework, and examines the evolution of major vertebrate novelties including the origin of fins, jaws, and tetrapod limbs. This knowledge is essential for understanding the evolution of vertebrates and for understanding the diversity of life on Earth.

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Geologist

A Geologist is a scientist who studies the Earth's physical features. This course provides a comprehensive overview of the origin of vertebrates, which is essential knowledge for anyone who wants to study geology. The course covers the diversity of Palaeozoic lineages within a phylogenetic and evolutionary framework, and examines the evolution of major vertebrate novelties including the origin of fins, jaws, and tetrapod limbs. This knowledge is essential for understanding the evolution of vertebrates and for understanding the diversity of life on Earth.

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Ecologist

An Ecologist is a scientist who studies the interactions between organisms and their environment. This course provides a comprehensive overview of the origin of vertebrates, which is essential knowledge for anyone who wants to study ecology. The course covers the diversity of Palaeozoic lineages within a phylogenetic and evolutionary framework, and examines the evolution of major vertebrate novelties including the origin of fins, jaws, and tetrapod limbs. This knowledge is essential for understanding the evolution of vertebrates and for understanding the diversity of life on Earth.

See salaries and explore the career path for Ecologist