Primate Evolution & Human Impacts

VERTEBRATE ZOOLOGY (VZ Lecture34 – Spring 2012 Althoff - reference PJH Chapter 21)

Bill Horn

Bonoboo Logging Borneo Rainforest

Primate Phylogeny

Lorises & PottosBushbabiesLemursTarsiidaeNew world monkeysOld world monkeysGibbonsOrangutanGorillaPan (chimps)Humans

PJH Figure 24-2, p631

Great Apes & Humans

Shared Derived Characters

• Hominoids (= Hominoidea) apes & humans…distinguished by from other recent anthropods by “pronounced widening and dorsoventral flattening of the trunk relative to the body length…compared to monkeys”…result is shoulders, thorax, and hips ___________

• Chimps, gorillas, & humans have “_________ ________”…hollow air-filled spaces lined with mucous membranes

Skeleton of generalized hominoid…showing morphological specializations for _____________________

13

5

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

2

PJH Figure 24-9, p638

Also, see handout for “other” characteristics ofprimates

Origin & Evolution of Humans• Just ____ species of hominin (= fossil human)

in existence for past 30,000 years (i.e., Homo sapiens)

• Prior to 30,000 years ago, evidence that there were 3 other species: H. neanderthalensis, H. floresiensis, and H. erectus

• Rather “constant” change in who is considered most closely related to who in the past decade. Molecular data AND culture/language have contributed to the analysis…..

Origin & Evolution of Humans…con’t• Molecular data: _________________ related

to humans than gorillas or orangutan….

…gorilla is more closely related to the humans and chimps than to the orangutan

• Culture and language-wise, humans are very different than great apes. Yes, molecular studies show we are __________________. This is why we are placed in the same family—taxonomically speaking.

Comparison of skulls of __________ (B-E) and a more primitive hominid (A)

A B

DC

PJH Figure 24-14, p647

E

Note change in relative size of _________ from A-E

Comparison of feet of ______ hominoids—positions of metatarsals shown for _____ and positions of both metatarsals and phalanges for ______.

PJH Figure 24-17, p654

Gibbon Orangutan

HumanMountain gorillaChimpanzee

Better ____________forstriding….

Orangutan

Comparison of trunk regions chimp and human:Oblique plate-like pelvis of a typical ape is changed into an upward facing basin. “Mod” increases ________ of the throax relative to the pelvis; shorter rib cage and larger and more flexible lumbar vertebrae creat ea waist.

PJH Figure 24-18, p654

HumanChimpanzee

Better _________design forstridding….

Human Impacts: Pleistocene (11,800-250,000 YA)

EXTINCTION Hypotheses• ________ - overhunting , primarily of

megafauna

• ________ - climate change did it

• ________ - infectious disease did it

• ________ - fireball/fire regime changes did it After Dr. Ross MacPhee, American Museum of Natural History

Major Modern Day Threats to Birds and Mammals

PJH Figure 25-4, p671

There is hope….• Government programs• NGO’s• Education efforts• Success stories:

Bald eagles Black-footed ferretsTimber wolves Peregrine falconsetc.