course materials

1. Pliocene-Pleistocene transition Discussion
Pliocene-Pleistocene transition DiscussionPliocene-Pleistocene transition DiscussionDuring
the Pliocene-Pleistocene transition the Homo genus appeared in the fossil record. The
Homo genus is a continuation of the Gracile Australopithecines. Like those that came before,
Homo is an obligate biped, but unlike its precursors Homo displays a unique set of physical
adaptations along with behaviors that make the genus unique among hominins. To begin
with, Homo and all its eventual lineages display hunting behaviors along with the associated
stone tools necessary to process meat. At the same time, the creation and dependence on
stone tools and other cultural technologies is a function of the increase in brain size that
begins with the onset of Homo. Hunting, the new Homo subsistence pattern, required not
just a new kind of mindset to create new cultural technologies but at the same time required
a specialized hand that would allow for better manipulation of objects while being capable
of resisting the unique physical pressures associated with making tools.In addition, being
able to run after prey became essential. The Homo genus was the first to display
adaptations that allow for endurance running. The type of running that Homo becomes
known for is not a type of running that allows us to be fast but rather it allows us to run for
long distances at a pace which forces prey to undergo hyperthermia over the long run.Your
task for this activity will be to compare and contrast the locomotor features of
Australopithecus afarensis to Homo erectus. You will accomplish this by answering the
following.Before you begin make sure view all relevant reading material so that you can
give me informed opinions.What anatomical features makes it possible for Homo erectus to
be a biped runner.Pick only onefeature discussed in this week’s material that allowed Homo
erectus to be a biped runner.How is your chosen feature different from Australopithecus
aferensis equivalent feature? Briefly explain the difference.Lastly, I would like you to briefly
explain in your own words how endurance running would enhance the fitness of the Homo
genus.ORDER NOW FOR CUSTOMIZED, PLAGIARISM-FREE PAPERSYou must proofread
your paper. But do not strictly rely on your computer’s spell-checker and grammar-checker;
failure to do so indicates a lack of effort on your part and you can expect your grade to
suffer accordingly. Papers with numerous misspelled words and grammatical mistakes will
be penalized. Read over your paper – in silence and then aloud – before handing it in and
make corrections as necessary. Often it is advantageous to have a friend proofread your
paper for obvious errors. Handwritten corrections are preferable to uncorrected
mistakes.Use a standard 10 to 12 point (10 to 12 characters per inch) typeface. Smaller or
compressed type and papers with small margins or single-spacing are hard to read. It is

2. better to let your essay run over the recommended number of pages than to try to compress
it into fewer pages.Likewise, large type, large margins, large indentations, triple-spacing,
increased leading (space between lines), increased kerning (space between letters), and any
other such attempts at “padding” to increase the length of a paper are unacceptable,
wasteful of trees, and will not fool your professor.The paper must be neatly formatted,
double-spaced with a one-inch margin on the top, bottom, and sides of each page. When
submitting hard copy, be sure to use white paper and print out using dark ink. If it is hard to
read your essay, it will also be hard to follow your argument.