Full set study guide

Lifeway

A term to refer to how people make a living and for what that means in their culture.

Hunting & Gathering

A traditional method where men hunt and women and children gather food.

Ethnographic Analogy

Comparing modern gatherers' lifestyles to ancient hunting gatherers by saying 'Apple is to orange as cat is to dog'.

Bands

The social organization used by hunter-gatherers.

Upper Paleolithic

The last Stone Age, characterized by domestication of dogs, technological innovation, and the expansion of modern humans (100,000 - 12,000 B.P.).

Pleistocene

Known as the Ice Age, marked by early human evolution, hunting, cooperation, and early domestication.

Broad Spectrum Revolution

A shift in human diet from large game to a more diverse range, including smaller animals and fish.

Behaviorally Modern Humans

Modern Homo sapiens characterized by symbolic thought, language, communication, and advanced tools.

Domestication

The adaptation of animals and plants for human use.

Artificial Selection

Process where humans intentionally breed plants or animals for specific traits.

Genetic Modification

Altering DNA of an organism to enhance its traits.

Neolithic Revolution

A significant cultural and technological transition from hunting-gathering to agriculture.

Oasis Theory

Hypothesis suggesting domestication occurs in resource-scarce areas.

Self-Domestication Hypothesis

Hypothesis that animals domesticated themselves by seeking proximity to humans.

Domestication Syndrome

A set of traits commonly observed in domesticated compared to wild animals.

Niche Construction Theory

Theory that organisms can actively modify their environment, influencing their own evolution.

Risk Mitigation

Strategies taken to reduce or manage potential risks.

Multiple Lines of Evidence

Approach that suggests correlation does not imply causation.

Neoteny

Biological phenomenon where an organism retains juvenile traits into adulthood.

Commensal Scavenger Hypothesis

Theory that wolves scavenged near human campsites, benefiting both species.

Cross Species Adoption Hypothesis

Theory that certain species adopt and care for the young of different species.

Sagittal Crest

Bony ridge along the top of the skull.

Commensalism

A relationship where one organism benefits while the other is neither helped nor harmed.

Commensal Pathway

Biological and ecological processes through which organisms interact during a commensalism relationship.

Red Junglefowl

Wild bird species considered the primary ancestor of the domestic chicken.

Canalization

Genetic capacity to produce the same phenotype despite environmental variability.

Cyprus Cat Burial

Archaeological discovery of a cat buried alongside a human, indicating early cat domestication.

Neolithic Package

Interconnected changes in technology, society, and economy during the Neolithic period.

Deferral of Harvest Desert Kites

Ancient hunting structures shaped like kites, used in arid regions for trapping animals.

Path Dependency

Concept that past decisions influence future options.

Positive Feedback

Process where an initial change is amplified, leading to further increase.

Agropastoral System

An agricultural method combining crop cultivation with livestock raising.

Secondary Domestication

Process of domestication occurring independently in different regions for already domesticated species.

Catalhoyuk

An early proto-city settlement in present-day Turkey, dating back to 7100 BCE.

Ganj Dareh

Ancient site in highlands of Iran known for goat domestication.

Jericho

One of the oldest cities with archaeological evidence for butchery.

Primary Products

Products like meat, fat, and hides.

Secondary Products

Products such as milk and wool derived from domesticated animals.

Artiodactyl

Group of even-toed ungulates like cattle and pigs.

Aurochs

Large wild cattle species that contributed to modern cattle domestication.

Sus Scrofa

Scientific name for wild boar and domestic pigs.

mtDNA

Mitochondrial DNA used for tracing genetic lineages.

Landrace

Domesticated species adapted to local environments through natural selection.

Hybridization

Interbreeding between different species or varieties.

PERVs

Porcine endogenous retroviruses, a type of genetic element from viral infections.

Agent-Based Modeling

Simulation technique for studying interactions among autonomous agents.

Netlogo

Open-source environment for building and exploring complex system models.

Models

Simplified representations of systems or processes to help understand phenomena.

Cycling

Recreational activity that may also imply transportation or competition.

Stochasticity

Continual fluctuation between two or more equilibria.

Equilibrium / Dynamic Equilibrium

A state of basic balance in the modeled system.

Predator-Prey Models

Mathematical frameworks used to describe predator-prey interactions in ecosystems.

Biodiversity

The variety of life across genetic, species, and ecosystem levels.

Feralization

Process where domesticated animals revert to a wild state.

Genetic Introgression

Gene flow from one species or population to another.

Anthropogenic

Results from the influence of human beings on nature.

Nitrogen Surplus

Excess nitrogen remaining after plant and animal consumption.

Eutrophication

Nutrient overload in water bodies leading to algae overgrowth.

Albedo Effect

The reflectivity of the Earth's surface affecting climate.

Reindeer (Rangifer tarandus)

A species of ungulate found in arctic and sub-arctic regions.

Sami

Indigenous people of northwestern Eurasia.

Mobile Pastoralism

Herding strategy involving seasonal migrations with herds.

Stable Isotope Analysis

Technique for understanding ancient diets and animal management.

Taiga

Biome characterized by cold, coniferous forests, the world's largest terrestrial biome.

Monocentric Hypothesis of Reindeer Domestication

Theory suggesting reindeer were domesticated from a single central population.

Polycentric Hypothesis of Reindeer Domestication

Theory suggesting reindeer were domesticated in multiple areas independently.

Pitfall Trap

Capture device used in ecological research to study small animals.

Cervidae

Scientific family name for deer species.

Antlers

Bony structures that grow on the heads of members of the Cervidae family.

Machiavellian Intelligence

Ability of an individual to manipulate others for personal gain.

Prosocial Behavior

Cooperation, reduced aggression, and social tolerance.

General Impacts of Livestock on Native Species

Effects domesticated animals have on native wildlife, ecosystems, and biodiversity.

Invisibility

State of being unseen or unnoticed in various contexts.

Oleo

Technical term possibly related to food studies or material culture.

Industrial Production

Manufacturing goods in large quantities using machines and labor.

Disembodied Meat

Meat that is no longer connected to its source animal.

Assembly Line/Unskilled Labor

Repetitive tasks performed by workers in industrial production.

Hygiene and Sanitation

Practices that help maintain health and prevent disease.

Homebush State Abattoir

Historical site in Australia studied for meat production and industrialization.

Slaughtering Machine/Rolling Tracks

Part of an assembly-line style setup in slaughtering processes.

Ecological Cost

Environmental impacts resulting from human activities.

Toxoplasma Gondii

Common parasite that can infect warm-blooded animals, involving cats.

Exotic Pet Trade

Buying, selling, and breeding of non-native animals as pets.

Global Patterns in Pet Keeping

Varying practices surrounding pet ownership across different regions.

Humanization of Pets

Trend of treating pets as family members.

Ethical Pet Keeping

Responsible approach to owning and caring for pets.

Feral Cat Hunting, Pros and Cons

Management of feral cats through hunting to mitigate their impact on ecosystems.

Ain Mallaha

Archaeological site significant to early human settlements.

Natufian Cultures

Prehistoric cultures in the Levant transitioning to sedentism.

Sedentism

Practice of living in one place for an extended period.

Geometric Morphometrics

Statistical method for analyzing and comparing shapes of structures.

Sympatry

Occurrence of two species in the same geographic area.

Humanized Mice

Mice genetically altered to express human traits.

Grimace Scales

Method for assessing pain in animals based on facial expressions.

3R

Replace, reduce, and refine in the context of animal research.

Ahimsa

Doctrine of non-violence towards all living beings.

Specialisms

Discrimination against non-human species.

Vivisection

Surgery on living animals for research purposes.

Anthropocentrism

Belief that humans are the central or most significant species.

Domestication

Process by which humans control the reproduction and behavior of animals.