B029153 - Human and primate evolution

Italian

The course deals with the various aspects of the evolution, phylogenomics and behavior of the primate order. Primate evolution is illustrated from their morphological characteristics, geographic distribution, ecological adaptation, behavior, social evolution and conservation. Origin and evolution of the Hominins. Main species of fossil Hominins and their features. Evolutionary models. Origin of the features typical of the human species.

Fleagle, J (2013). Primate adaptation and evolution (third edition). Academic Press.Strier KB (2016). Primate Behavioral Ecology (fifth edition). Routledge. Wich SA &Marshall AJ. (2016) An introduction to primate conservaton. Oxford Univ. PressG. Biondi, O. Rickards – Umani da sei milioni di anni. terza ed. Carocci, Roma, 2017.
G. Manzi – Il grande racconto dell'evoluzione umana. Il Mulino, Bologna 2013.
D. E. Lieberman – La storia del corpo umano. Evoluzione, salute e malattia. Codice edizioni. 2014.
G. Chelazzi – L'impronta originale. Storia naturale della colpa ecologica. Einaudi, 2013.
C. Tuniz, G. Manzi, D. Caramelli – La scienza delle nostre origini. Laterza, 2013.
Wood B. 2008. Evoluzione umana. Edizioni Codice.
Chiarelli B. 2003. Dalla natura alla cultura. Vol. I. Piccin.
Spedini G. 2005. Antropologia evoluzionistica. 2° edizione. Piccin.

Knowledge acquired: Acquire a solid epistemological and cultural preparation in Primatology.Knowledge acquired:
Main phases of human evolution. Biological features of the main fossil species. Evolutionary models. Origin of the features typical of the human species.
Competence acquired Acquire useful techniques and methods for the understanding of Primatology from the, molecular, genetic and behavioral perspective. From the level of individuals, populations and species.Acquire useful techniques and methods for the understanding of the evolution of Hominins from the paleontological and morphological perspective, at the level of individuals, populations and species.
Skills acquired (at the end of the course):The capacity to work in the field of Primatology in ample autonomy, as well as the capacity to work in groups while valorizing ones owns competence and that of others. The capacity to assume responsibility for projects on primate evolution, ethology and conservation.Capacity of analysis at a morphological level. Capacity of comparison among groups.

Courses recommended: anthropology, paleontology, geology.

Schedule: primate evolutionTotal hours of the course (including the time spent in attending lectures, seminars, private study, examinations, etc.): 150Hours reserved to private study and other individual formative activities:102In class lectures and other activities (hours): 48Schedule: human evolutionTotal hours of the course (including the time spent in attending lectures, seminars, private study, examinations, etc...): 200 Hours reserved to private study and other indivual formative activities: 152Contact hours for: Lectures (hours): 44Contact hours for: Laboratory-field/practice (hours): 4

4 hours of weekly classroom activities and lessons. Aids in support of the classroom activities and lessons include video clips and films of primate behavior. Each student is provided with a pdf of the powerpoint presentations and pertinent articles from the scientific literatureTeaching tools:
Powerpoint presentations.

Each student is evaluated by a final oral examination before specifically formed commissions

The course reconstructs with the comparative method the evolutionary tendencies and primary adaptations, which characterize the Primates. The following subjects will be covered: Theories on the origins of primates. Morphological characteristics of the primates. Distribution of primates. Systematics of primates. Differences in the classifications based on morphology, genetics and behavior. Physical structure of primates. Variability in body size. Anatomy including characteristics and diversity in the morphology of the skull and teeth of primates and specific adaptations in respect to ecology. Various types of locomotion and morphological adaptation. Parameters of the life history of primates. General tendencies in primate evolution. The course will explore the relationships between phylogeny, sexual selection, kin selection, social structure, ecology and the role of culture in adaptation. What is paleoanthropology. History and significance of the main paleoanthropological discoveries. Main evolutionary models. Absolute and relative dating methods. Paleomagnetism. Hominoidea in the African Upper Miocene. Sahelanthropus; Orrorin; Ardipithecus kadabba. Alternative models of early Hominins evolution. Hypothesis on the origino f bipedalism. The oldest Pliocene Hominins. Ardipithecus ramidus. Australopithecus anamensis. Main morphological features. Australopithecus afarensis: history of the discoveries. Anatomical features of the skull and of the postcranial skeleton. Evidences for bipedal locomotion. The Laetoli footprints. Sexual dimorphism in Australopithecus afarensis. Other Australopithecines species between 4 and 3 MY. Australopithecus bahrelghazali. Kenyanthropus platyops. Fossil sites in South Africa. Main features. Current research. The site of Drimolen. Australopithecus africanus. Anatomical features of the skull and of the postcranial skeleton. Climatic changes around 2.5 MYA and potential influence on Hominin evolution. Australopithecus garhi. Anatomical features of the skull and of the postcranial skeleton. Evidences for a possible use of tools. Adaptive radiation of ‘robust’ Australopithecines. (P. aethiopicus, P. robustus, P. boisei). Anatomical features of the skull (and of the postcranial skeleton). Origin of the genus Homo. Homo habilis and Homo rudolfensis. The first stone tools. Encefalization in Homo habilis. Main features of Homo erectus. Homo ergaster and asian H. erectus. Body proportions in H. ergaster. The earliest peopling of Europe. Fossil hominins from Dmanisi. Homo antecessor. Fossil sites in the Sierra de Atapuerca. The earliest peopling of Italy. Ceprano. The site and the skull. Main features and phylogenetic position. Homo heidelbergensis. Main anatomical features. The acheulean culture. Homo neanderthalensis. Main anatomical features. Distribution. Hypothesis on its extinction. The origin of Homo sapiens. The contribution of molecular anthropology to the studies on the origin of modern humans. Main morphological and cultural features of the early Homo sapiens.