ABOUT Paleontology
Paleontology is not just one specific field. It is actually broken up into many sub fields where someone would study and do something very specific. Some of these subfields are listed below!
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Micropaleontology: Study of generally microscopic fossils, regardless of the group to which they belong.
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Paleobotany: Study of fossil plants; traditionally includes the study of fossil algae and fungi in addition to land plants.
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Palynology: Study of pollen and spores, both living and fossil, produced by land plants and protists.
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Invertebrate Paleontology: Study of invertebrate animal fossils, such as mollusks, echinoderms, and others.
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Vertebrate Paleontology: Study of vertebrate fossils, from primitive fishes to mammals.
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Human Paleontology (Paleoanthropology): The study of prehistoric human and proto-human fossils.
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Taphonomy: Study of the processes of decay, preservation, and the formation of fossils in general.
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Ichnology: Study of fossil tracks, trails, and footprints.
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Paleoecology: Study of the ecology and climate of the past, as revealed both by fossils and by other methods.
What do Paleontologists Really Do?
How is Paleontology Related To Biology?
Biology is the study of all living things. With a peleontologist studying the fosils of the once living and learning about things that may have lead to their extinction and studying their bones that directly relates to biology as well as many other subfields including geology, ecology, anthropology, archaeology,
How Does it Relate to STEM+?
We know that Paleontology relates to science because of its ties to biology. Technology and engineering is related because with all of the tools that a paleontologist uses. With more advanced tools that could be created, that can lead to more discoveries. The person who creates that tool is going to be an engineer. Mathematics is related because once they make a discovery that have to figure out when was this organism living.
Duties of A Paleontologist
• Determine possible location of fossils by analyzing data
• Locate fossils by excavating several layers of sedimentary rock
• Gather fossil information such as its age and whether it was formed on land or under water
• Use tools such as picks, drills, chisels, shovels and brushes
• Use specialized computer programs to evaluate discoveries
• Make comparisons of newly obtained data to existing data
• Analyze and study findings and data in laboratories
• Identify time period of fossil and share results with colleagues from other scientific disciplines
Daily Job
A paleontologists working in the lab will be a 40 hour work week like any other job. If, however, they are on a trip during a dig they can work long days. Working on these trips work conditions though can be very harsh if brutal climates.