14: Modern Humans
- Page ID
- 299441
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Generalists and Specialists
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Generalist species - flexible lifestyle and basic body types
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Specialist species - specific lifestyle and special adaptations for that lifestyle
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Examples:
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Raccoons are a generalist species - live in a variety of habitats; varied diet
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Koalas are a specialist species - feed only on leaves of eucalyptus tree
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Neanderthals: specialist species
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Hunting skills in specialized environments
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Homo sapiens: “generalist specialist”
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Don’t necessarily rely on one type of lifestyle or method
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Generalist species with ability to specialize in specific circumstances
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Unique form of social support and care
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Culture as a way of ensuring group cohesion
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Use of external knowledge sources
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Very flexible and resilient to different environments
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Foramen Magnum Index
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Foramen magnum index = FB/SL
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FB: Foramen Magnum Distance to Back
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SL: Skull Length
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Close to 0 = quadrupedal
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Close to 0.3 = bipedal
The Anthropocene
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Geologic epoch after the Holocene
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Marked by significant human impacts on Earth
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Anthropometry
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Scientific study of human measurements and body proportions
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Physical measurements (height, weight, BMI, body proportions, strength, dexterity, range of motion)
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Applications:
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Ergonomics research
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Tracking child growth and development
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Architecture, interior design, clothing, product design
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Impacts of diet, habits, occupations, human variation, past vs. present humans…
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Using data from modern humans to extrapolate about past humans/early hominins
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Photos:
- See Google slides below:

