today: the real hobbits exams returned f 2/19 homework #2 is due m 2/22
TRANSCRIPT
Today: the real Hobbits
Exams returned F 2/19
Homework #2is due M 2/22
How might limited resources affect the evolution of a species?
Human Evolution Fig 34.40
Human Population GrowthFig 53.22
as of 2/14 at 6pm:6,802,790,917
Carrying Capacity
exponential growth
stationary phase
Fig 53.12
What limitsCarrying Capacity?…
Fig 53.12
Space
…Availability of resources.
Availability of resources and removal of waste limits carrying capacity Fig 55.4
Webpages and Articles about Homo floresiensis
(the video) http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/sciencenow/3209/01.html
(longer video) http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=8604680088784253620(part 1 of 7)
http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/features/world/asia/georgia/flores-hominids-text
http://www.nature.com/nature/focus/flores/index.html
For updated info (2009):http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v459/n7243/full/459041a.html
See textbook pg. 765...
The little people of Flores
H. floresiensis: A new species?
Asian island of Flores
Liang Bua where remains were found
Typical objects found. Tools and bones.
Artists rendering of H. floresiensis
floresiensis and sapien skull
Comparison of size:Pygmy, European, and H. floresiensis
Pygmy elephant
What about the tools?Was floresiensis “smart”?
H. sapien and H. floresiensis brain
Relative brain to body size
The shape and size of the brain ofH. floresiensis indicates that it was organized differently than the brain of H. sapiens.
So…Several individual skeletons were found of a small population ranging in age from ~90,000 – 18,000 years ago. They have relatively small brains, but might have been able to do sophisticated things.
Homo floresiensis:Are they a distinct species, and if so, how are we related?
Trait diversity may vary in different populations
57” 65” 73”
Human Evolution Fig 34.40
H. floresiensis: A new species?
Yes: the number of similar individuals, the dates of existence (~90,000–18,000 years old), and the different morphology.
There is much controversy over H. floresiensis
Alternate hypotheses and rebuttals:
Skeletons represent humans with brain damage.Skeletons represent humans with severe iodine deficiency: http://dsc.discovery.com/news/2008/03/05/hobbit-human.html
Rebuttal to iodine deficiency: http://johnhawks.net/weblog/fossils/flores/cretin-flores-faq-2008.html
Wrist bones are very different from humans:
http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/abstract/317/5845/1743
There is much controversy over H. floresiensis
Next: What is ecology...
Exams returnedF 2/19
Homework #2is due M 2/22