PostExam 3: Human Evolution & Human Impacts on Environment Flashcards
Monkey Tails
New World Monkeys
- arboreal - many w/ prehensile tails
Old World Monkeys
- some arboreal -some terrestrial - more w/ prehensile tails
Apes
- no tails
Primates
Gibbons (lesser apes) + great ape common ancestor ~20-25 mya
Chimp-hominin common ancestor ~6-10mya
What features make human distinction obvious at different times?
There is no single “line” separating human/non human
Bipedalism
using 2 feet for movement
Bipedal Locomotion
-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
Ardipithecus ~4.5mya
- fragmentary skeleton
-bipedal and ground dwelling
Australopithecus ~2.5-4mya
-good fossil record
-chimp sized
-small brain but fully bipedal
Brain size during Hominin evolution
-brain volume tripled
-brain size doubled
Early homo~2.5mya
-larger brain
-stone tools
Middle homo~2mya
-long fossil record
-fire
-first to move out from Africa to Asia
Homo neanderthalensis
-largest brain
-bulky and short
-skeleton distinct from sapiens
-europe and Middle East
Homo sapiens
-originated in Africa, then spread
-fossil and molecular evidence
-tools more practical
-rituals, art, music
Evolutionary Mismatch
obesity, diabetes, myopia, depression
Evolutionary Psychology
depression, monogamy, beauty
Are Humans Primates?
What are humans closest relatives?
Yes.
Chimpanzees
Biomagnification
concentration of toxins in higher trophic levels
Eutrophication within nitrogen
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
