Download exam #3 study guide

STUDY GUIDE FOR EXAM TWO (50 points)
Physical Anthropology/ Waters
The exam will consist of 50 multiple-choice, true/false and matching questions on the topics listed below (based on
lecture material, readings and in-class films). If you’ve missed any class meetings, check with another student
about copying lecture notes outside of class time, obtain missed class handouts from the instructor during
scheduled office hours and check the class website for some lecture materials:www.elcamino.edu/faculty/mwaters.
See the “Exam Two” link on the class website for additional study resources: film clips (these are mostly shorter
segments of the ones viewed in class) and Physical Anthropology Tutorials (on biological classification, the Order
Primates, and primate behavior).
BE PREPARED (bring Scantron 882 and at least one pencil), and BE ON TIME (exam will be marked down 5% if
you’re more than 10 minutes late).
EVOLUTIONARY MEDICINE (CHAPTER 17, p. 436-438)
 Natural selection and viruses (i.e. the role of antibiotics in producing drug-resistant strains)
MACROEVOLUTION AND BIOLOGICAL CLASSIFICATION (CHAPTER 5):
 Principles of Classification: homologies, cladistics (cladograms, ancestral vs. derived traits), convergent
evolution (homoplasy is an example of this)
 Definition of species: the biological species concept, the role of ecological niche in separating species from
each other, speciation, geographic isolation and other reproductive isolating mechanisms covered in class
 The classification of humans (know the names of the seven main taxons – Kingdom, Phylum, Class, etc. –
and the corresponding categories into which humans are classified – Animalia/Metazoa, Chordata,
Mammalia, etc.).
 Some of the major transformations that occurred during the evolution of the seven Vertebrate classes
covered in class
 General physical/anatomical characteristics of the Class Mammalia
 Processes of Macroevolution: adaptive radiation, generalized vs. specialized species, modes of evolutionary
change
 Great Transformations film questions (i.e. whale evolution and the first tetrapods)
THE PRIMATES (CHAPTER 6):
 Primate characteristics (physical/anatomical traits unique to this mammalian order) and arboreal
adaptations
 Primate classification/taxonomy: the primate Suborders, Anthropoid Infraorders, Hominoid families (types
of primates classified in each category and evolutionary significance)
 General physical/anatomical features of the main types of non-human primates: Prosimians, New World
monkeys, Old World monkeys, Apes
PRIMATE BEHAVIOR (CHAPTER 7):
 The behavioral ecology approach to studying primate behavior
 Factors leading to group living (“Why be social?”)
 Common adaptive responses: dominance, communication, displays, affiliative behaviors, etc.
 Male and female reproductive strategies and related concepts (e.g. mating systems, sexual dimorphism,
reproductive fitness, sexual selection)
PRIMATE MODELS FOR HUMAN BEHAVIORAL EVOLUTION (CHAPTER 8):
 Language capabilities of apes and the evolution of language
 Primate cultural behavior
 Aggressive interactions between groups
 Affiliation, altruism and cooperation