Fossil and Recent reef ecosystems 1300-WKWSR

Reefs in the Recent seas are the most diversified and complicated ecosystems. They are built principally by the Scleractinia, and the reef-forming role of this coral group started in the Triassic (ca. 250 Ma). Reefal environments, however, are much older than this, and as old as the Cambrian (ca. 520 Ma), and built by, among others: sponges, Palaeozoic corals (extinct by the end of Permian), bryozoans and others.
The evolution of reefal systems was interrupted by the great extinction events, followed by significant changes in their structure.
The aim of this seminar is to familiarize students with the ecology, structure and functioning of the reefal ecosystems built by Metazoa. The course will Focus on the evolution of these ecosystems, starting with the Cambrian archaeocyathid communities, through the mid-Palaeozoic coral-stromatoporoid reefs and the late Palaeozoic microbial-sponge-bryozoan associations, to Mesozoic and Recent reefs at the end.
The course will consist of introductory lectures presenting the general outline of the evolution of reefal environments and basics of their ecology, and the seminar part, where students will prepare their talks based on the literature review. Discussions after lectures and talks will be an important element of the teaching process.
The emphasis will be put on the changes of reefal environments through time, including the Late Devonian and end-Permian mass extinctions.