History of plants and natural environments

The UE approaches the history of plants, on the one hand in a diachronic way, by studying each of the great geological periods (Paleozoic, Mesozoic, Cenozoic), and on the other hand, in a transversal way, by deepening certain methods of study of the paleoenvironments (macroflora, palynology, climate, geochemistry, biomechanics).

After an introductory lecture, the lectures present the history of plants by major geological period (Lecture 2 - 3: Paleozoic; Lecture 4 - 5: Mesozoic; Lecture 6 - 8: Cenozoic) and cross-cutting approaches (Lecture 9 - 10: Isotope geochemistry; Lecture 11 - 12: Biomechanics).

The practical exercises illustrate, on the basis of the study of fossil records, examples of paleoenvironmental reconstitution: Practical exercise 1, Paleozoic macroflora (Graissessac); Practical exercise 2-3, Early Pleistocene macroflora (Bernasso); Practical exercise 4, Recent Pleistocene pollen (La Gourre); Practical exercise 5, Holocene geochemistry.

- Know how to place the major stages of plant evolution in time

- Know the paleoenvironments and paleoclimates of the major geological periods

- Have knowledge of the main methods for studying the history of plants and paleoenvironments