Paleontology: Theropod Dinosaurs and the Origin of Birds is a five-lesson course teaching a comprehensive overview of the origins of birds. This course examines the anatomy, diversity, and evolution of theropod dinosaurs in relation to the origin of birds. Students explore various hypotheses for the origin of flight. Watch a preview of the course here: https://uofa.ualberta.ca/courses/paleontology-theropod-dinosaurs
提供方
14,259 人已註冊！
阿尔伯塔大学
教學大綱 - 您將從這門課程中學到什麼
週
1完成時間為 2 小時
Bird Anatomy
In Lesson 1, we explore the anatomy and adaptations of birds, and meet the Victorian scientists who first suspected the link between the terrible lizards and modern birds. In order to fly, birds have undergone a series of anatomical specializations that distinguishes them from other vertebrates. However, many of the most striking and anatomically unusual traits of birds originated over 230 million years ago with the very first theropod dinosaurs. 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.
3 個視頻 （總計 37 分鐘）, 6 個閱讀材料, 1 個測驗
6 個閱讀材料
Instructional Staff10分鐘
Meet Your Presenter: Scott Persons10分鐘
Course Glossary10分鐘
Acknowledgements10分鐘
Interactive Learning Objects10分鐘
Lesson 1 Course Notes10分鐘
1 個練習
Module 1 Assessment (Graded)10分鐘
週
2完成時間為 1 小時
Survey of Non-Avian Theropods
In the wake of the Permian mass extinction, the prehistoric world was ripe for the taking. All the world’s landmass was consolidated into the single supercontinent: Pangaea. With no seas standing in their way, new terrestrial animal lineages were able to exploit new habitats all across the globe. Archosaurs, meaning ‘ruling reptiles’, came to dominate Triassic ecosystems. However, dinosaurian archosaurs were not the top predators. Instead, crurotarsans sat undisputed at the top of the food chain. The first theropods were small, but agile carnivores, and although they started out as the Darwinian equivalent of the mail room clerks, by the next geological period (the Jurassic), they were large and in charge. In Lesson 2, we will introduce you to some of the earliest theropods, and explore the anatomical secrets to their survival and eventual success. We will also meet the largest land predators of all time.
3 個視頻 （總計 44 分鐘）, 1 個閱讀材料, 1 個測驗
1 個閱讀材料
Lesson 2 Course Notes10分鐘
1 個練習
Module 2 Assessment (Graded)10分鐘
週
3完成時間為 2 小時
Coelurosaurs I
In the previous lesson, we explored how the various theropod lineages adapted to their role as apex predators. In this lesson, we will explore a new group of theropods, as much characterized by their speed and agility as their predatory prowess. The coelurosaurs were the most successful and diverse of all the theropods, and included herbivores, the smallest of all dinosaurs, and, of course, the mighty tyrannosaurs.
4 個視頻 （總計 73 分鐘）, 1 個閱讀材料, 1 個測驗
4 個視頻
3.1 Early Coelurosaurs - Part 216分鐘
3.1 Early Coelurosaurs - Part 314分鐘
3.2 Bird-Like Traits in Coelurosaurs21分鐘
1 個閱讀材料
Lesson 3 Course Notes10分鐘
1 個練習
Module 3 Assessment (Graded)10分鐘
週
4完成時間為 1 小時
Coelurosaurs II
Dinosaurs had long been thought of as overgrown reptiles; cold blooded, swamp bound, with meagre intelligence and little to no social complexity. The ‘Dinosaur Renaissance’ was a revolution in palaeontological thinking that entirely transformed that traditional image of dinosaurs. In Lesson 4, we will see how new research and discoveries over the past fifty years have shaped our modern image of dinosaurs into one of energetic, intelligent animals, that likely displayed many of the complex social behaviours witnessed in modern birds. You’ll also meet the deinonychosaurs, A.K.A. ‘the raptors’, and you will learn the leading theories for how one group of dinosaurs learned to fly.
3 個視頻 （總計 60 分鐘）, 1 個閱讀材料, 1 個測驗
3 個視頻
4.2 Bird-Like Characteristics - Part 115分鐘
4.2 Bird-Like Characteristics - Part 218分鐘
1 個閱讀材料
Lesson 4 Course Notes10分鐘
1 個練習
Module 4 Assessment (Graded)10分鐘
週
5完成時間為 1 小時
The Avian World
66 million years ago, an asteroid the larger than Mt. Everest collided with the earth and brought about the extinction of the dinosaurs…except birds! Now that you’re familiar with some of their larger Mesozoic ancestors and their bird-like features, it’s time to meet the avian lineage proper. With the evolution of flight, birds could exploit habitats and resources that were literally unreachable by other animals. The evolution of birds has been one of diversification. Flightlessness has evolved numerous times, as have specializations for insectivory, swimming, and predation. Although theropods may no longer dominate the land, they still rule the skies.
3 個視頻 （總計 66 分鐘）, 1 個閱讀材料, 1 個測驗
3 個視頻
5.2 Survival of the Neornithes - Part 123分鐘
5.2 Survival of the Neornithes - Part 225分鐘
1 個閱讀材料
Lesson 5 Course Notes10分鐘
1 個練習
Module 5 Assessment (Graded)10分鐘
4.9
202 個審閱33%
通過此課程獲得實實在在的工作福利
熱門審閱
This course was great! It explains everything clearly, and it keeps you involved by asking questions about the material, and keeps you amused with some interesting anecdotes. Highly suggested by me!
I loved this course. It was informative, easy to understand, and exciting. The lecturer's knowledge and passion shone through in the lectures, and the course notes were a great supplement too.
講師
Philip John Currie, Ph.D
Professor and Canada Research Chair, Dinosaur PaleobiologyDepartment of Biological Sciences
關於 阿尔伯塔大学
UAlberta is considered among the world’s leading public research- and teaching-intensive universities. As one of Canada’s top universities, we’re known for excellence across the humanities, sciences, creative arts, business, engineering and health sciences.
常見問題
我什么时候能够访问课程视频和作业？
注册以便获得证书后，您将有权访问所有视频、测验和编程作业（如果适用）。只有在您的班次开课之后，才可以提交和审阅同学互评作业。如果您选择在不购买的情况下浏览课程，可能无法访问某些作业。
我购买证书后会得到什么？
您购买证书后，将有权访问所有课程材料，包括评分作业。完成课程后，您的电子课程证书将添加到您的成就页中，您可以通过该页打印您的课程证书或将其添加到您的领英档案中。如果您只想阅读和查看课程内容，可以免费旁听课程。
退款政策是如何规定的？
有助学金吗？
還有其他問題嗎？請訪問 學生幫助中心。
