Life on Earth: Diversification and Extinctions

Instructor: Anusuya Chinsamy-Turan

Access provided by InZone - Université de Genève

5 modules

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.

11 reviews

Beginner level

No prior experience required

1 week to complete

at 10 hours a week

Flexible schedule

Learn at your own pace

5 modules

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.

11 reviews

Beginner level

No prior experience required

1 week to complete

at 10 hours a week

Flexible schedule

Learn at your own pace

What you'll learn

The five past mass extinctions and their impact on life on earth.
Understanding extinction and diversification (radiation) as drivers of change.
Recognizing what we can do to reduce the risk of a ‘sixth extinction’.

Skills you'll gain

Details to know

Assessments

10 assignments

Taught in English

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There are 5 modules in this course

Discover the diversity of life on earth and how this biodiversity has been shaped by five mass extinction events that occurred in the distant past. Each week we interview scientists about how their research informs us about the biodiversity of our planet including the earliest life forms; fish and tetrapod diversification; the radiation of reptiles and the later domination of dinosaurs; and the rise of mammals. We focus on the five previous mass extinction events to explain this incredible story of life on earth. The fossil record reveals evidence of species that went extinct during each of these catastrophic events and the recovery thereafter when surviving biota diversified. Turning to the present and the Anthropocene period, we look at how human behaviour is negatively impacting Earth’s ecosystems. We conclude by considering the threat of the so-called ‘sixth extinction’, and we discuss ways in which we can mitigate the effects of climate change and the ‘sixth extinction”.

We’ll be exploring the history of life on Earth and the origins of biodiversity by interviewing researchers who share insights about extinction event. In the first two billion years of Earth’s history, bacteria and bacteria alone ruled the world. Bacterial colonies are evident in the fossil record as stromatolites, which are finely layered dome structures produced by bacteria capable of photosynthesis.

What's included

9 videos4 readings2 assignments

9 videos Total 94 minutes

Welcome and Introductions 2 minutes
Earth’s Past Climates 14 minutes
The Five Big Extinction Events 3 minutes
In The Begining 5 minutes
Life on Earth 5 minutes
An Abundance of Bacteria 8 minutes
From Simple to Complex 11 minutes
Cyanobacteria 45 minutes
The Importance of Knowing the Past 1 minute

4 readings Total 40 minutes

More about the Course 10 minutes
The Fossil Record 10 minutes
Unicellular vs Multicellular Organisms 10 minutes
Module 1: Resources 10 minutes

2 assignments Total 25 minutes

Module 1: Graded Quiz 15 minutes
Module 1: Practice Quiz 10 minutes

Exploring fish and tetrapods diversification after the first and second extinction events.

What's included

6 videos3 readings2 assignments

6 videos Total 33 minutes

Setting the Stage for the Diversity of Life 5 minutes
The Development of Jaws 4 minutes
The End Devonian Extinction Event 3 minutes
A Fossil Ecosystem 11 minutes
The Rise of Tetrapods 7 minutes
The Effects of Extinctions 2 minutes

3 readings Total 25 minutes

Overview and Researcher Profiles 10 minutes
End Ordovician Resources 10 minutes
End Devonian Resources 5 minutes

2 assignments Total 25 minutes

Module 2: Graded Quiz 15 minutes
Module 2: Practice Quiz 10 minutes

The catastrophic End Permian extinction event was the biggest extinction event of all time. This almost wiped out life on earth. We will look at before and after this End Permian Extinction event.

What's included

6 videos1 reading2 assignments

6 videos Total 37 minutes

The cleidoic egg and reptile radiation 4 minutes
Bringing Life to Its Knees 12 minutes
Reading Rocks 7 minutes
A Crisis Before the End of the Permian 7 minutes
Plant and Insect Diversification 6 minutes
Lessons From the Past 2 minutes

1 reading Total 10 minutes

End Permian Resources 10 minutes

2 assignments Total 25 minutes

Module 3: Graded Quiz 15 minutes
Module 3: Practice Quiz 10 minutes

The 4th and 5th extinctions are very significant in influencing the development of life. We look initially at how dinosaurs come to dominate the earth for several million years.

What's included

10 videos3 readings2 assignments

10 videos Total 109 minutes

Recovery of Ecosystems 6 minutes
Dinosaurs Dominate 3 minutes
New Dinosaur Discoveries 7 minutes
The 5th Extinction and the Rise of the Mammals 8 minutes
Evolution of Birds 41 minutes
The Evolution of Grasslands 12 minutes
A Window in Time 11 minutes
The carnivore fossils from Langebaanweg 9 minutes
Becoming Human 11 minutes
Extinctions and Diversifications 2 minutes

3 readings Total 30 minutes

End Triassic Resources 10 minutes
End Cretaceous Resources 10 minutes
Module 4: Resources 10 minutes

2 assignments Total 25 minutes

Module 4: Graded Quiz 15 minutes
Module 4: Practice Quiz 10 minutes

In this final module, we explore what we know of the present day loss of biodiversity. We take a close look at some of the negative human impacts on environments and examine our ability to stop the rampant destruction.