ask a geologist: human evolution - rutgers geology museum...mauricio anton in what kinds of...

Ask a Geologist:Human EvolutionBy: Dr. Rhonda Quinn

Gary Larsen

About MeRhonda Quinn, Ph.D.

● Associate Professor of Anthropology, Seton Hall University in South Orange, NJ

● Research Affiliate in the Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences at Rutgers University in Piscataway, NJ

● I travel to other countries to study ancient humans and paleo-environments(Rift Valley of eastern Africa)

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My favorite fossil human is Paranthropus boisei, a grass-eater withlarge chewingmuscles and molar teeth

Smithsonian

Human EvolutionHow did we evolve?

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Mauricio Anton

In what kinds of environments did humans evolve?

What traits were successful in these ancient environments?

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Chimps and humans have98-99% DNA in common

Smithsonian

What makes us human?

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Savanna chimp blogspot Georgia State University

Human fossil record

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Smithsonian

Homo erectus

Homo habilis

Australopithecus afarensis

Australopithecus africanus

A fossil human (hominin) is

identified as having:

• Big brain

• Small teeth

• Bipedal gait

• Tall stature

Our family tree is bushy!

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University of Wisconsin-Madison

Bipedal ~6 mya

Small teeth~2.5 mya

Big brain ~1 mya

Tall~1.8 mya

Traits evolve at different times…

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Global environments have changed!

Data from marine sediment

and ice cores

Smithsonian

Global cooling:onset of ice ages

Time (mya)

18O

/16O

War

mC

old

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Global environments have changed!

Smithsonian

Global cooling:onset of ice ages

Fore

sts

Gra

ssla

nds

Time (mya)

18O

/16O

War

mC

old

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Global environments have changed!Fo

rest

sG

rass

land

s

Ancient human diets and habitats

Geochemistry

Analyze chemicals in teeth and paleosolminerals

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Paleosol = ancient soil

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Mass Spectrometer

Radausher (2015)

Rutgers Earth and Planetary SciencesGeochemistry Laboratory

Wynn (2000)

12C

13C

More 13C Less13C

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Mauricio Anton

New ecological niches

Paranthropus boisei

Homo erectus Niche Separation

Understanding Human Adaptations

How do humans respond to changing environments?

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Biologically

Behaviorally

Technologically

Future Directions: more DNA of fossils

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Question Time!