Overview
Reconstructing prehistoric ecosystems and impacts of humans and climate change through the use of Quaternary techniques, including assessing extinction causes, what the future holds for conservation, ecosystem restoration and de-extinction.
About this paper
| Paper title | From Extinction to De-Extinction |
|---|---|
| Subject | Zoology |
| EFTS | 0.1667 |
| Points | 20 points |
| Teaching period | Semester 1 (On campus) |
| Domestic Tuition Fees ( NZD ) | $1,448.79 |
| International Tuition Fees | Tuition Fees for international students are elsewhere on this website. |
- Contact
- Teaching staff
- Dr Nic Rawlence
- Professor Phil Seddon
- Marcus Richards
- Dr Catherine Collins
- Professor Richard Walter
- Dr Catherine Beltran
- Assoc Prof Cilla Wehi
- Textbooks
Textbooks are not required for this paper.
- Course outline
This paper will:
- critically assess the causes of extinctions of prehistoric ecosystems
- introduce students to the tools scientists use to reconstruct these ecosystems
- critically assess what scientists have discovered using these tools
- critically assess what the future holds in terms of conservation, ecosystem restoration and de-extinction
- Graduate Attributes Emphasised
Appreciation of global and interdisciplinary perspective; information and environmental literacy; lifelong learning; communication; teamwork; research; critical thinking; and scholarship.
View more information about Otago's graduate attributes.- Learning Outcomes
Students who successfully complete the paper will:
- Formulate and answer questions about reconstructing prehistoric ecosystems, using Quaternary techniques such as radiocarbon dating, stable dietary isotopes, ancient DNA, molecular fossils, palaeontology, archaeology, palynology and plant macrofossils
- Use recently developed freely available online tools (e.g. radiocarbon date calibration, DNA sequence analysis) that will be of use in their postgraduate research
- Critically evaluate (including interpretation and applying knowledge) research in Quaternary Science
- Engage in discussion with other people about Quaternary Science research
- Find relevant material from library databases
- Produce well-organised and well-written research reports
- Give effective scientific oral presentations and debates