Unit 3 Flashcards
___ processes are all of the processes that happen to an organism after its death.
Taphonomic
___ is thought to be the largest primate to have ever lived.
Gigantopithecus
All of the following are relative dating methods except:
A. Dendrochronology
B. Biostratigraphy
C. Stratigraphic correlation
D. Cultural dating
A
Early Miocene apes were called “dental apes” because their dentition was similar to that of modern apes, however, their postcranial anatomy (everything below the skull) was most similar to that of a(n):
Monkey
Strata are:
A. Layers of rock and sediment
B. Index fossils
C. Petrified remains of organisms
D. None of these
A
The rafting hypothesis…
A. Is the idea that Orangutans populated the islands of Indonesia by building rafts.
B. Is one explanation of how platyrrhines arrived in the Americas.
C. Only applies to great apes
D. Suggests that our primate ancestors may have been extremely skilled tool users.
B
Which of the following correctly describes the changes to radioactive carbon atoms that occur during decay?
A. Carbon-14 atoms lose two neutrons to become Carbon-12 atoms
B. Carbon-12 atoms gain two neutrons to become Carbon-14 atoms.
C. A Carbon-14 neutron decays into a proton to become Nitrogen-14.
D. Carbon-12 atoms do not decay.
E. Carbon-13 atoms lose a neutron to become Carbon-12 atoms.
C
A(n) ___ is the remains of organisms that have been transformed into rock through chemical replacement.
Fossil
Bones and teeth make up 99% of the fossil record because bones are _% mineral and teeth are _% mineral.
65; 95
___ is the study of fossils.
Paleontology
Name two reasons why it is important to study fossils.
- Chronological order allows for an understanding of biological change over time
- We can understand factors that have shaped evolution in the past
___ is the proccess of what happens to an organism’s remains.
Taphonomy
Name the four factors of an ideal burial environment for fossilization.
- Remains covered soon after death
- Protection from scavengers
- Oxygen-free (anoxic) environment limits decomposition
- Avoid acidic groundwater/soils that dissolve bone/teeth
Where are most fossils formed?
Sedimentary rock
Name the 3 main forms of fossil evidence.
- Volcanic ash (footprints)
- Chemical composition of bone or teeth (shows diet)
- DNA preservation if tissue is not fully fossilized
The ___ says that we can assume that fossils look similar because they share genes.
Morphological species concept
___ is the study of the change in proportion of various parts of an organism as a consequence of growth.
Allometry
Name 3 risks of defining paleospecies.
- Allometry: Fossils may appear to be different species when they are really the same species at different stages of growth
- Sexual dimorphism: Morphologically different fossils may be male and female examples of the same species
- Interspecies Variation: Interbreeding-capable individuals may look very different
___ is Darwin’s theory that species are constantly and slowly changing, and that these changes eventually “add up” to a new species
Gradualism
___ is Gould’s theory that species are usually not changing very much. They rapidly evolve into new species in short periods of time.
Punctuated Equilibrium
___ dating is the form of dating that determines the order of fossils by dating based on the relationship with fossils or other artifacts.
Relative
___ dating determines the approximate age of a fossil and does not require other fossils.
Absolute
___ says that the lower the layer of rock, the earlier in time it was deposited.
Steno’s Law of Superposition
Name the four exceptions to the Law of Superposition
- Original Horizontality
- Tilting
- Folding
- Faulting
___ identifies a layer based on its physical and chemical composition. The order of layers is determined by looking at many sites.
Stratigraphic Correlation
___ is when a layer representing time was eroded away or not deposited at a site.
Paraconformity
___ is a type of dating that compares fossils to index fossils (with known dates) and notes the first and last appearance and any morphological change.
Biostratigraphy
___ is a type of dating that compares fossils to material culture produced by humans that also has a known date range to find the date range of the fossil.
Cultural Dating
___ dating techniques use radioactive decay.
Radiometric
___ is a type of dating in which we compare the specimen C-14 to C-12 ratio to the original C-14 to C-12 ratio and then see how much C-14 has decayed and how many half lives it took to decay.
Carbon-14 Dating
___ is a type of dating in which a nuclear reactor bombards K-39 with neutrons, converting it to Ar-39 and then we measure the Ar-40 to Ar-39 ratio.
Argon-Argon Dating
Name the two advantages of Argon-Argon Dating.
- Less rock needed
- Don’t need to measure potassium
Name the advantage of Uranium Series Dating.
No need for volcanic materials
___ uses the rings on a tree to estimate how many winters have passed. This requires excellent preservation of tree sections.
Dendrochronology
___ is a type of dating that uses the random reversals of Earth’s magnetic field. Metal grains align with the magnetic field as they settle into sedimentary rock and then the banding pattern is matched to fossil collection and we can date sedimentary rocks younger than 5 mya.
Paleomagnetic Dating
___ is a type of dating in which we determine the number of base pairs mutated per 1 million years and then use the number of differences between a species to determine the years since those species diverged.
Genetic Dating
Major life forms emerged during which era?
Phanerozoic
Which three eras make up the Phanerozoic era?
- Paleozoic
- Mesozoic
- Cenozoic
In which epoch did primates emerge?
Eocene
Name the three hypotheses as to why primates emerged.
- Arboreal hypothesis
- Visual predation hypothesis
- Angiosperm radiation hypothesis
The ___ is the hypothesis that states that primate traits developed, causing movement from life on the ground to life in the trees.
Arboreal Hypothesis
Name the three primate traits considered to be arboreal adaptations.
- Grasping hands and feet
- Stereoscopic vision
- Greater intelligence for 3D space
What is the problem with the Arboreal Hypothesis?
Other arboreal mammals (squirrels, etc.) lack the primate traits that are considered to be arboreal adaptations.
The ___ is the hypothesis that states that primate traits were adaptations to hunting insects and other small prey and that they needed specialized visual apparatus and grasping digits.
Visual Predation Hypothesis
What is the problem with the Visual Predation Hypothesis?
Many primates eat non-moving foods such as fruit.
Study of morphological changes during growth and development of body parts is called…
Allometry
The fossil record is incomplete because…
A. Most organisms do not fossilize
B. It is difficult to find fossilized individuals
C. Complete species variation is not always represented
D. All of the above
D
Which of the following features is used to distinguish hominids from other apes?
A. Bipedalism
B. Lack of CP3 honing complex
C. Increased encephalization
D. All of the above are used
D
Which of the following is NOT a hominin trait?
A. Increased prognathism
B. Parabolic dental arcade
C. Thick enamel
D. Decreased prognathism
A
True or False?
Gracile australopithecines evolved several traits that may assist in hard-object feeding.
False
Which of the following is a derived trait among robust australopithecines?
A. Bipedalism
B. Increased prognathism
C. Flared zygomatics
D. Sexual dimorphism
C
The earliest hominin to appear in the fossil record is ___.
A. Australopithecus robustus
B. Australopithecus africanus
C. Sahelanthropus tchadensis
D. Australopithecus afarensis
C
Which of the following features allow us to infer diet?
A. Bipedalism
B. Enamel thickness
C. Encephalization
D. Parabolic dental arch
B
Which of the following is not a proto-homini genus?
A. Sahelanthropus
B. Orrorin
C. Ardipithecus
D. Australopithecus
D
Which of the following fossils are the oldest and therefore would be expected to share some anatomical similarities with the Miocene apes?
A. Australopithecus afarensis
B. Australopithecus anamensis
C. Ardipithecus ramidus
D. Australopithecus aethiopicus
C
Each of the following traits is found in a bipedal hominin EXCEPT:
A. A wide and short pelvis
B. A big toe in line with the other toes
C. A foramen magnum far posterior on the skull
D. an S-shaped vertebral column.
C
Fossil evidence of bipedalism first appeared in the hominin lineage about ___ million years ago.
7
How does the shape of the vertebral column differ between human adults and fetuses?
Human fetal vertebral column is C-shaped, while the human adult vertebral column is S-shaped.
What angle does the femur form in relation to the knee in hominins?
Less than 90 degrees
What limb proportions would you expect to see on a hominin?
Long legs relative to arms
The human foot is best described as…
Big toe is adducted, there is a longitudinal arch
Modern humans are considered…
A. Quadrupedal
B. Occasional bipeds
C. Habitual bipeds
D. Obligate bipeds
D
___ is when different anatomical traits evolve at different times in a lineage.
Mosaic evolution
Hominins have a ___ knee.
Valgus
True or False?
Modern humans have an opposable hallux.
False
What general trends characterized the evolution of Homo cranial morphology?
Increased cranial capacity and more rounded crania through time
What trait remained constant throughout the evolution of Homo cranial morphology?
Location of the foramen magnum
Which hominin is most commonly associated with Oldowan stone tool technology?
Homo habilis
Who was the first member of the genus Homo?
Homo habilis
Which of the following tool types were the first bifacial tools?
A. Oldowan
B. Levallois
C. Mousterian
D. Acheulian
D
Which of the following are hypothesized to have been the first stone tools of hominins?
A. Oldowan
B. Levallois
C. Mousterian
D. Acheulian
A
Which hominin developed Acheulian stone tool technology?
Australopithecus Afarensis
Which homin is associated with the Levallois, or “prepared-core” technique?
Homo sapiens neanderthalensis
True or False?
Some splitters believe certain fossil skulls within Homo habilis are different enough to necessitate an additional species, Homo rudolfensis.
True
Which homin was the first to leave Africa?
Homo erectus
The ___ states that primates emerged because they used visual activity to find fruit among trees and used grasping toes to cling to branches while they pick and eat fruit.
Angiosperm Radiation Hypothesis
Name the two continents on which primates have not been found.
Australia and Antarctica
___ are the first true primates that emerged during the Eocene era and look very similar to lemurs.
Euprimates
The ___ is the first primate in the New World which emerged in the late Oligocene era in Bolivia.
Branisella
In terms of climate, what happened at the end of the Miocene and what did it mean for primates?
Cooling; Most apes go extinct
In terms of climate, what happened in the mid-Miocene and what did this mean for primates?
Rapid drop in temperature; lots of ape movement
In terms of climate, what happened in the late Oligocene and what did this mean for primates?
Rapid warming; Last proliopithecids, first proconsulids
Name 5 ways in which hominins are different from apes.
- Bipedal locomotion
- Non-honing chewing complex
- Significant brain size increase
- Complex material culture
- Speech
The theory of ___ says that hominin features appeared at different times, not all at once.
Mosiac Evolution
Name the 5 main morphological indicators of bipedalism.
- Foramen Magnum location
- Vertebrae
- Femur
- Pelvis
- Limb length
What is the difference in foramen magnum location between bipeds and quadrupeds?
- Bipeds: More anterior
- Quadrupeds: More posterior
What are the difference in vertebrae between bipeds and quadrupeds?
- Bipeds
- Larger from cervical to lumbar
- More weight the lower you go
- S-shaped
- Quadrupeds
- 1 less vertebra
- Vertebra all similar size
- Do not support increasing weight
- C-shaped
What are the differences in femur between bipeds and quadrupeds?
- Biped
- Valgus knee
- Angle of femur and knee less than 90 degrees
- Longer femoral neck
- Quadruped
- Varus knee
- Angle of femur and knee approximately 90 degrees
Was Lucy a biped or a quadruped?
Biped
___ states that bipedalism was naturally selected so that hominin hands would be free to carry tools and weapons for hunting.
Darwin’s Hunting Hypothesis
Name three traits that appeared much later than bipedalism, going against Darwin’s Hunting Hypothesis.
- Tool use
- Increased brain size
- Hunting
The ___ states bipedalism arose because it allowed primates to gather food more efficiently and travel longer distances (more energy efficient) in the savannah-like environment at the end of the Miocene.
Patchy Forest Hypothesis
Who presented the Patchy Forest Hypothesis?
Peter Rodman and Henry McHenry
The ___ states that bipedalism arose because standing upright reduced exposure to solar radiation.
Thermoregulation Hypothesis
What is the problem with the Thermoregulation Hypothesis?
Standing upright was less useful in the woodlands, where humans first evolved.
The ___ stated that bipedalism arose so that males could carry food back to their families while females had more offspring.
Male Provisioning Hypothesis
Who presented the Male Provisioning Hypothesis?
Owen Lovejoy
What was the problem with the Male Provisioning Hypothesis?
It assumes that monogamous pairs evolved prior to bipedalism.
Brain evolution occured alongside which 4 other morphological changes?
- Skull enlargement (to hold bigger brain)
- Developmental / Pelvic changes (to birth infants with larger brains)
- Finer motor control of hands (for writing and toolmaking)
- Lower larynx and finer tongue control (for speech production)
Name the 4 main automatic functions of the brain stem.
- Startle responses (turns head, blinks eyes, moves body in response to sudden noise/movement)
- Breathing rhythm
- Regulation of heart rate and blood pressure
- Vomiting, swallowing, coughing, hiccupping, sneezing
Name the 4 automatic functions of the cerebellum.
- Receives brain info about what muscles are supposed to do
- Receives sensory info about what muscles actually do
- Corrects muscles if necessary
- Maintains balance and posture
What is the difference between a human’s Cerebellum and that of an ape?
A human’s is enlarged
What is the difference between a human’s cerebrum and that of an ape?
- Cerebral cortex folding is increased in humans
- More surface area = more room for neuron connections
- More connected = underlying white matter is 41% greater in prefrontal cortex than predicted from human body mass
- More surface area = more room for neuron connections
Which sense(s) are associated with the frontal lobe?
Motor movement and smell
Which sense(s) are associated with the temporal lobe?
Hearing and speech planning
Which sense(s) are associated with the parietal lobe?
Touch and taste
Which sense(s) are associated with the occipital lobe?
Vision
The ___ deals with higher cognitive functions and is larger and more branched than predicted for humans based on body size.
Prefrontal Cortex
Ardi’s intermediate form of bipedalism included the use of:
A. Longer hind limbs for clinging and leaping
B. Moving along tree branches using her palms and feet
C. A non-divergent hallux, in line with the rest of her toes
D. A tail
B
Each of the following traits is found in a bipedal hominin except:
A. A bowl-shaped pelvis
B. A non-divergent hallux
C. A C-shaped spine
C
Fossils
A. Are formed whenever an animal or plant dies
B. Can only be formed from bone
C. Are not useful when studying evolution
D. Can be formed through the mineralization of organic material
D
“Lucy” and the Laetoli footprints are associated with which Australopithecus species? Hint: This species lived from 3.6 mya to 3.0 mya in East Africa.
Australopithecus afarensis
Ororrin tugensis and Sahelanthropus tchadensis
A. Had very large brains, but still spent time in the trees
B. Had an apelike brain, but were bipedal
C. Are definitely not human ancestors
D. Were found in a cave deposit in China
B
Which of the following statements is TRUE about the sagittal crest?
A. The sagittal crest is not found in any apes
B. The sagittal crest is not found in any hominins
C. The sagittal crest is not found in any primates
D. The sagittal crest is not found in modern humans
E. The sagittal crest is a result of genetic drift
D
What is the difference between radiocarbon dating and potassium-argon dating?
A. Radiocarbon dating only dates organic materials older than 200,000 years
B. Potassium-argon dating is based on calculations of the half-life of carbon compounds in rock
C. Radiocarbon dating is used for organic materials while potassium-argon dating is used for rocks
D. Potassium-argon dating can only provide ages for minerals less than 50,000 years old
C
The ___ of a substance is how long it takes for half of the radioisotopes in a substance to decay.
Half life
___ controls muscles that produce speech.
Broca’s Area
___ is a disorder where one can comprehend speech but has problems producing speech.
Broca’s Aphasia
___ comprehends and plans speech.
Wernicke’s Area
___ is a disorder where one can produce speech but it is incomprehensible.
Wernicke’s Aphasia
What are the 4 changes that took place in the brain of primates?
- Increased visual discrimination
- Reduced olfactory bulb
- Enlarged primary motor cortex
- Enlarged neocortex
What are the 5 changes that took place in the brains of humans?
- Enlargement of brain folding
- Enlargement of fine motor control
- Enlargement of speech areas
- Enlargement of visual association area
- Enlargement of prefrontal cortex
The ___ is the ratio of a species’ actual brain size to predicted brain size. The predictions are based on comparisons of brain size and body mass for large numbers mammals.
Encephalization Quotient (EQ)
Apes tend to have an EQ of…
Larger than 1.00
How has EQ changed through human evolution?
It has increased
What does faster prenatal growth signify in terms of brain development?
Smaller, less complex brain
A(n) ___ chewing complex means teeth have a sharp, slicing edge.
Honing
What are 3 significant differences in dental features between hominins and apes?
- Hominins have a non-honing chewing complex, apes have a canine-premolar honing complex
- Hominins have thicker enamel
- Hominins do not have a sagittal crest
The ___ is where the masticatory (chewing) muscles attach.
Sagittal crest
___ was the most complete early hominin found, who was dated to 4.4 mya using Argon-Argon dating.
Ardi (Ardipithecus Ramidus)
Bioarchaeology can provide information about the ___ of past populations.
A. Health
B. Activity
C. Nutrition
D. All of the above
D
Forensic anthropology is the scientific application of physical anthropology in…
A. An archaeological context
B. A historical context
C. A medico-legal context
D. An academic context
C
True or False?
Although they share many of the same methods, forensic anthropologists often analyze the skeletal remains of only a single individual at a time, while bioarchaeologists usually analyze skeletal samples of many individuals.
True
Sex, age, ancestry, and stature estimation comprise the ___ profile.
A. Biological
B. Individual
C. Identifying
D. Legal
A
Based on anthroposcopic examination of an individual’s skeletal remains, sex can be determined if that individual is…
A. A subadult
B. An adult
C. Neither a nor b
D. Both a and b
B
Methods used to estimate an age range for subadult skeletal remains are based on patterns of:
A. Degeneration
B. Tooth development and eruption
C. Sexual dimorphism
D. Cranial fusion
B
A forensic anthropologist is called to a crime scene where skeletal remains of an adult have been discovered. Most of the remains are highly fragmentary and poorly preserved; however, the pelvis is largely intact. Which of the following might be determined from these remains?
A. Age and stature
B. Stature and sex
C. Occupation
D. Sex and age
E. All of the above
D
True or False?
Bioarchaeologists often use stature as a measure of health in past populations because stature is influenced by environmental stressors encountered during growth and development.
True
A lesion with rounded edges and additional bone growth occurred:
A. Antemortem
B. Perimortem
C. Postmortem
D. No way to tell
A
True or False?
In ballistic trauma, the entry hole and exit hole are the same size, so the direction of the gunshot cannot be determined.
False
Name four derived traits of Sahelanthropus tchadensis.
- Less prognathic
- Anterior foramen magnum (bipedal)
- Non-honing chewing complex
- Thicker enamel
Name three derived traits of Orrorin tugenensis.
- Long femoral neck and groove (bipedal)
- Non-honing chewing complex
- Thick enamel
Name four derived traits of Ardipithecus species
- Bipedal femur, pelvis, foramen magnum
- Intermediate hands/feet (arboreal)
- Non/Peri-honing chewing complex
- Thin/thick enamel
___ say they are a new species when there is anatomical variation.
Splitters
___ combine morphologically similar variants into a single species.
Lumpers
Name the three differences in traits seen in Australopithecines but not in the earliest hominins.
- Non-honing chewing complex
- Further loss of arboreal traits in bones
- Slight increase in size of brain
“Lucy’s Baby” was a major fossil found from which species?
Australopithecus afarensis
One big event in Human Evolution was an enlarged ___, leading to better muscle memory.
Cerebellum
According to the Dietary Hypothesis, ___ Australopithecines had larger anterior teeth relative to cheek teeth, making them omnivorous while ___ Australopithecines had deep jaws and large cheek teeth allowing them to eat hard seeds and nuts.
Gracile; Robust
Australopithecus africanus was alive how long ago?
3-2 mya
Name 3 primitive traits of Australopithecus africanus.
- No sagittal crest
- Rounded cranial vault
- Small brain
Name 4 derived features of Australopithecus africanus.
- Anterior foramen magnum
- Wide, short pelvis
- Valgus knee
- Adducted, long hallux
Australopithecus robustus was alive how long ago?
2-1.5 mya
Name 4 derived features of Australopithecus robustus.
- Sagittal crest
- Massive, flat face
- Large molars, small incisors
- Thick enamel
C4 plants were determined to be from ___ while C3 plants were determined to be from ___.
Grasslands; wet woodlands (leaves, fruits, herbs)
Which two Australopithecines were found to have a high C4 plant ratio?
africanus and robustus
Australopithecus sediba was alive how long ago?
1.977-1.98 mya
Name 2 primitive features of Australopithecus sediba.
- Non-flared zygomatics
- Tooth microwear = ate hard foods
Name 2 derived features of Australopithecus sediba.
- Different diet: mostly C3 plants
- Ankle bends inwards
Australopithecus afarensis was alive how long ago?
3.6-3 mya
Name 5 primitive features of Australopithecus afarensis.
- Small femoral head
- Small acetabulum
- Equal length arms and legs
- Intermediate phalange curvature
- Glenoid fossa in shoulder oriented upwards
Name 7 derived features of Australopithecus afarensis.
- Anterior foramen magnum
- S-shaped vertebral column
- Valgus knee
- Long femoral neck
- Wider, shorter pelvis
- Adducted hallux
- Longitudinal arch
What is the half life used for Potassium-Argon dating?
1.3 billion years
How old should the rocks be in order to use Potassium-Argon dating?
Older than 200,000 years
What is the half life used for Argon-Argon dating?
1.3 billion years
___ are atoms with different numbers of neutrons.
Isotopes
The ___ is a part of the brain made up of different “lobes” that deals with motor movements and the senses.
Cerebrum
The ___ is the part of the brain that deals with higher cognitive functions.
Prefrontal cortex
What are the 5 main higher functions of the prefrontal cortex?
- Intellect
- Complex learning
- Recall
- Working memory
- Personality
What are the 4 hypotheses for why brain evolution occurred?
- Increased access to food sources
- Familiarity with the “home range” (knowing when and where certainn foods are available)
- “Social Brain;” Living in social groups requires complexity for social interactions and alliances
- Meat-eating: Proteins and fats nourished growing brains
Sahelanthropus tchadensis was alive how long ago?
7-6 mya
Orrorin tugenensis was alive how long ago?
6 mya
Name 3 derived traits of Aridipithecus ramidus.
- Non-honing chewing complex with thick enamel
- Anterior foramen magnum
- Shorter, broader pelvis
Name 2 primitive traits of Ardipithecus ramidus
- Opposable hallux
- Curved phalanges
Homo habilis was alive how long ago?
2.5-1.8 mya
Name 2 primitive traits of Homo habilis.
- Short stature
- Short leg length relative to arm length
Name 2 derived traits of Homo habilis
- Reduced prognathism
- Larger forehead
Homo erectus was alive how long ago?
1.8 mya - 300,000 ya
Name two reasons why the controlled use of fire was important.
- Allowed for expansion into cool regions
- Releases more nutrients through heating/easier chewing
Which species were most associated with the Mousterian Tool Complex?
Neandertals
The Out of Africe model says that the first Anatomically Modern Humans evolved from archaic Homo sapiens in ___, and migrated to ___ to repace the archaic Homo sapiens living there.
Africa; Asia and Europe
The ___ Model says that archaics in Africa, Europe, and Asia all evolved into Anatomically Modern Humans in those areas.
Multiregional Continuity
___ was a stone tool method in Africa to transform poor quality silcrete into easily shaped material.
Heat treatment
Cultural objects like ___ and ___ were used for trade in Africa by Anatomically Modern Humans.
Shell beads and Incised ochre
What is the main reason for switching to farming despite all the negative aspects of it?
Very high fertility rates led to more frequent births
___ is the study of historical and ancient human skeletal remains.
Bioarcheology
___ is the scientific application of physical anthropology in a medico-legal context.
Forensic Anthropology
In sex estimation, where can the two most extreme differences between males and females be found?
Skull and pelvis
If a bone fracture has smooth edges and calluses, when did it happen?
Pre-mortem
If a bone fracture has sharp edges and no calluses, when did it happen?
Peri-mortem
What are the risks of habituation of primates?
Primates become used to the presence of people and are less likely to avoid poachers.
What are the 3 R’s of primate experimentation and captivity?
Replace, Reduce, Refine
The ___ says that you must consult with the tribes about what to do with the remains found on federal land.
Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA)
The ___ was a controversy in which they couldn’t decide if the remains found belonged to a Native American or to a man of European descent. Scientists eventually sued the US Government over the remains and they are now stored in Burke Museum at University of Washington by court order.
Kennewick Man Controversy
What are the 3 major concerns for humans in the future?
- Climate
- Population Growth
- Diet
