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BIO113 Studying Mammals Unit 10: Food For Thought - OPEN University

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Open University

S182_10
10 Hours 

Level
Introductory


Course Home (Click Here)

Course Description

In this unit, we will explore the fascinating question of who our ancestors were. I'll be looking at living species of apes in order to pick up clues about social structure and lifestyle in our ancestors and gain some understanding about why we humans behave as we do. I'll discuss tool use and culture in both ape and human societies, and look at two ancient species known only from their fossils – an australopithecine and Homo erectus.

This is the tenth in a series of units about studying mammals. To get the most from these units, you will need access to a copy of The Life of Mammals (2002) by David Attenborough, BBC Books (ISBN 0563534230), and The Life of Mammals (2002) on DVD, which contains the associated series of ten BBC TV programmes. OpenLearn unit S182_8 Studying mammals: life in the trees contains samples from the DVD set. You should begin each unit by watching the relevant TV programme on the DVD and reading the corresponding chapter in The Life of Mammals. You will be asked to rewatch specific sequences from the programme as you work through the unit.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this unit you should be able to:

  • describe features of apes, and features that distinguish Homo from apes;
  • explain an evolutionary tree for hominines that shows one interpretation of the evolution of Homo from ape-like ancestors, australopithecines;
  • use what is known about social group structure in living species of ape to suggest social group structure in extinct species;
  • interpret features of apes, australopithecines, and Homo species in terms of adaptations;
  • understand the roots of those features that make Homo sapiens different from other mammal species;
  • discuss strategies for preservation of mammalian diversity and the related responsibilities of Homo sapiens living today.

Introduction

  • Introduction Resource
  • In this unit, we will explore the fascinating question of who our ancestors were. I'll be looking at living species of apes in order to pick up clues about social structure and lifestyle in our ancestors...

1 The apes and their relationship to humans

2 Variable structure of ape societies

3 Tool use and culture in ape and human societies

4 Who were the ancestors of Homo?

  • 4 Who were the ancestors of Homo? Resource
  • Fossil evidence supports Darwin's view that humans and apes evolved from an ape-like ancestor and, furthermore, suggests that the ape line diverged from the Homo line at least five million years ago (Figure...

5 Who were the ancestors of Homo sapiens?

  • 5 Who were the ancestors of Homo sapiens? Resource
  • Large brain size is a defining feature of Homo sapiens, which means that evolution of increased brain size in Homo is crucial evidence. Indeed, an increase in both the size and the complexity of the brain...

6 Modern Homo sapiens

  • 6 Modern Homo sapiens Resource
  • Modern Homo sapiens evolved in Africa about 200 000 years ago, migrating out of Africa over a long period of time. In doing so they colonised much of the world, displacing populations of Homo erectus and...

7 The threat of extinction

  • 7 The threat of extinction Resource
  • DA ends his book by writing eloquently of the dangers of extinction faced by mammals, from habitat loss as we exploit our environment to produce more and more food, for our growing population. However...

References and Acknowledgements

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Copyright 2007, by the Contributing Authors. Cite/attribute Resource. administrator. (2010, January 30). BIO113 Studying Mammals Unit 10: Food For Thought - OPEN University. Retrieved March 13, 2010, from Free University Courses OCW Courses OpenCourseWare Freeversity Foundation Web site: http://freeversity.org/science-and-mathematics/biology/bio113-studying-mammals-unit-10-food-for-thought-open-university. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons License Creative Commons License