Primate Evolution & Human Impacts VERTEBRATE ZOOLOGY (VZ Lecture34 – Spring 2012 Althoff - reference PJH Chapter 21) Bill Horn Bonoboo Logging Borneo Rainforest

Primate Phylogeny Lorises & Pottos Bushbabies Lemurs Tarsiidae New world monkeys Old world monkeys Gibbons Orangutan Gorilla Pan (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 _____________________ PJH Figure 24-9, p638 Also, see handout for “other” characteristics of primates

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 D C 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 Human Mountain gorilla Chimpanzee Better ____________for striding…. 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 Human Chimpanzee Better _________design for stridding….

Human Impacts: Pleistocene (11, ,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 eaglesBlack-footed ferrets Timber wolvesPeregrine falcons etc.