U1A4 - Human’s Emergent Basic Notes – pp. 38-43   A.      Intro. 1.       What is the present world population, why, and what has been the progression of that growth curve. a.       Worlds Population hit 5 billion on 7-11-1987 b.      Prediction is that within 100 years we’d hit 10 billion c.       Worlds population hit 6 billion, 10-12-1999 d.      Worlds population as of 8-2010 = 6,871,600,000 (6.87 billion) e.      1987 US annual growth = 50 million / 2010 = 11.36% = 68 million   2.       What is the “Great Debate” about, which side do you prefer, and why? a.       Powerful anxiety about expanding world populations 1.       Spectrum of world problems -          prevalence of famine, disease depletion of the environment b.      Vs. we have never had it better and creative/scientific advancement will solve our problems. 1.       Prodigious capacity of our planet 2.       Achievements of our species 3.       Scientific revolution 4.       Increase in numbers and well being of humans   B.      Forest to Savanna 3.       Why has the species homo sapien-sapien been so successful? a.       We fill no specific niche b.      Adaptability to climate and food c.       Pre-adaptation – latent abilities – Defined as “the ability to turn the attributes developed from 1 environment to good use in another 1.       3 general areas -          Physical – Intellectual – Cultural 2.       Physical -          Color Vision and Smell – great for discerning edible plants especially in new environments -          Binocular – Stereoscopic - 3D vision give very good depth perception necessary for both swinging thru the trees and seeing predators on the open savanna -          180% rotator cuff (versatile shoulder) needed for throwing or hitting with great force -          Opposable thumb – hand manipulation allows for tool development -          Up right gate frees the hands for tool use and protection and allows for a greater field of view to see predators or game on the savanna -          Intelligence 3.       Social/Cultural -          Habit of wandering bands (food search) parallels HG life styles -          Demands the development of communication skills -          Facial Expressions – Complex Expressions – Vocalizations (Language) -          These attributes require a complex culture and years of physical nurturing -          Complex physical and social interactions require the development of large brains (intellectual development)   4.       What forces from the natural world probably propelled human like hominids forward on the evolutionary ladder? a.       Climate change – cooler dryer climate shrunk the forest and expanded the savanna – forced the species from the trees. b.      Savanna much more challenging than forest – adaptation here prepared us for life every where else 1.       No specific niche in natures economy – We serve no specific function for the ecosystem – need to create a place 2.       Lack of specific adaptations – exp penguins and koala bears 3.       Food adaptation – we can eat and survive on almost anything 4.       Harshness of life on the savanna prompted critical development a.       Prompted fully upright stance 1.       Two legged gate (economical movement) 2.       Heat distribution 3.       Energy use (Long distance travel) 4.       Feed the hands for tool use 5.       Cooperative life style and tool use = bigger brains 6.       Bigger brains = development of language and cultural learning   C.      Out of Africa 7.       What global event helped spread humans to every continent in the world? - How did this event make this migration possible? a.       The ice age locked so much water up in glaciers about 90,000 years ago that sea and ocean levels were much lower creating land bridges and coastal corridors -          Example Beringia   8.       What special demands and effects did life as a nomadic hunter gatherer have on Hunter Gatherer Society, especially in the northern cooler climates? a.       Family and community size, Limits of carrying capacity – Euthanasia b.      Limited possessions c.       At the mercy of the natural environment d.      Genetic isolation e.      High Mortality Rates f.        If food was abundant extensive leisure time