PostExam 3: Human Evolution & Human Impacts on Environment

Question 1

Monkey Tails

Answer 1

New World Monkeys
- arboreal - many w/ prehensile tails
Old World Monkeys
- some arboreal -some terrestrial - more w/ prehensile tails
Apes
- no tails

Question 2

Primates

Answer 2

Gibbons (lesser apes) + great ape common ancestor ~20-25 mya
Chimp-hominin common ancestor ~6-10mya

Question 3

What features make human distinction obvious at different times?

Answer 3

There is no single “line” separating human/non human

Question 4

Bipedalism

Answer 4

using 2 feet for movement

Question 5

Bipedal Locomotion

Answer 5

-frees forelimbs to manipulate and carry objects when walking
-elevates eyes to see predators and prey
-more energy efficient
-moving from one place to another

Question 6

Ardipithecus ~4.5mya

Answer 6

• fragmentary skeleton
  -bipedal and ground dwelling

Question 7

Australopithecus ~2.5-4mya

Answer 7

-good fossil record
-chimp sized
-small brain but fully bipedal

Question 8

Brain size during Hominin evolution

Answer 8

-brain volume tripled
-brain size doubled

Question 9

Early homo~2.5mya

Answer 9

-larger brain
-stone tools

Question 10

Middle homo~2mya

Answer 10

-long fossil record
-fire
-first to move out from Africa to Asia

Question 11

Homo neanderthalensis

Answer 11

-largest brain
-bulky and short
-skeleton distinct from sapiens
-europe and Middle East

Question 12

Homo sapiens

Answer 12

-originated in Africa, then spread
-fossil and molecular evidence
-tools more practical
-rituals, art, music

Question 13

Evolutionary Mismatch

Answer 13

obesity, diabetes, myopia, depression

Question 14

Evolutionary Psychology

Answer 14

depression, monogamy, beauty

Question 15

Are Humans Primates?
What are humans closest relatives?

Answer 15

Yes.
Chimpanzees

Question 16

Biomagnification

Answer 16

concentration of toxins in higher trophic levels

Question 17

Eutrophication within nitrogen

Answer 17

excess nitrogen in aquatic ecosystems can lead to rapid growth of algae which causes dead zones
-> less oxygen b/c algae is blocking sun to allow vegetation to photosynthesize