biological anthropology week 7

primate reproductive strategies

  • high ranking female passes down rank

kin selection

  • altruistic behavior

    • closer the relative = increased likeliness of altruistic behavior

  • related genes may survive even if it is costly to the individual

why be social

  • group living increases competition but pros outweigh cons

    • ex) more eyes means an increased chance of spotting surrounding predators 

  • group living evolved as adaptive response to many ecological variables

primate cultural behavior

  • grooming aggressive behavior exemplify physical behavior

  • cultural

    • orangutan nest building

    • gorilla water depth testing

    • chimpanzees termite fishing, leaf sponges, nut cracking

    • kanzi’s stone tool making

    • vocalizations of vervet monkeys - they make specific noises to announce what predators are near to the rest of their species

fossils and principle faunal succession

  • william smith (1769-1839)

  • principle of faunal succession

    • strata

  • first primates almost 10 million yrs after dino extinction

how to become a fossil

  • taphonomy - study of what happens to remains of animal from time of death to discovery

    • burial

    • geologic processes

    • biological processes