Hominins: From Walking on Two Legs to Running on Two Legs (Graded Assignment)

30 Jun Hominins: From Walking on Two Legs to Running on Two Legs (Graded Assignment)

Beginning in the late Miocene and into the early Pliocene, upright walking tendencies began to develop among the hominin tribe. Upright walking tendencies slowly transformed into obligate bipedalism during the pliocene within the hominin lineage. This shift in locomotor strategy is notably marked by the gradual change in arm to leg ratio that we see when comparing early and later hominins. Early hominins have short legs and very long arms while later hominins have longer legs and short arms.

What you have to do:

Your task for this activity will be to compare and contrast the locomotor strategies of the following three hominin species: Ardipithecus ramidus, Australopithecus afarensis and Homo erectus. You will accomplish this by answering the following questions.

Use the following resource for Ardipithecus (Links to an external site.)
Links to an external site.
(Click)

Use the following resource for Australopithecus (Links to an external site.)
Links to an external site.
(Click)

Use the following resource for Homo erectus (Links to an external site.)
Links to an external site.
(Click)

Before you begin make sure view all relevant reading material so that you can give me informed opinions.

1. Which hominin had the best arboreal capabilities? Make sure you explain your answer by talking about only onefeature that backs up your claim. Choose only one feature from the lower extremities (Legs and feet).

2. Which hominin was the first to have feet that are effective for habitual bipedalism? Briefly explain what makes their feet more effective for bipedalism when compared to previous hominins.

3. Which hominin had the best anatomy for running on two legs? Briefly explain how you would know and tell me about two specific skeletal features that suggest that your chosen species was running on two legs.

4. Lastly, I would like you to give a short summary of the notable evolutionary changes in locomotor strategy (the way that you move around) that you notice occur over time as seen from the perspective of Ardipithecus ramidus, Australopithecus afarensis and Homo erectus.

Rubric
From walking on two legs to running on two legs rubric

From walking on two legs to running on two legs rubric

Criteria Ratings Pts
This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeDescription of criterionCreate a summary of notable transformation that occur among hominins over time.

3.0 pts
Full Marks

Student gave informed summary of the locomotive changes that occur among hominins over time.

1.5 pts
No Description

Student gave an incomplete summary of the locomotive changes that occur among hominins over time.

0.0 pts
No Marks

Student made not attempt to give summary.

3.0pts

This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeNo DescriptionExplore hominin that still retains significant arboreal capabilities

2.0 pts
Full Marks

Student correctly chose the species that retains a significant amount of arboreal capabilities. Student gave one upper and one lower extremity feature that suggests that their chosen species had arboreal capabilities.

1.5 pts
No Description

Student correctly chose the species that retains a significant amount of arboreal capabilities. Student gave only one features (lower or upper) that suggests that their chosen species had arboreal capabilities.

1.0 pts
No Description

Student correctly chose the species that retains a significant amount of arboreal capabilities but did not offer any explanations

0.5 pts
No Description

Student incorrectly chose the species.

0.0 pts
No Marks

Student did not attempt any answer.

2.0pts

This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeDescription of criterionExplore hominin to be first to be an obligate biped

2.0 pts
Full Marks

Student correctly chose the species that was the first to have feet that are seen as effective for habitual bipedalism and explained what makes their feet more effective for bipedalism when compared to previous hominins.

1.5 pts
No Description

Student correctly chose the species that was the first to have feet that are seen as effective for habitual bipedalism but did not explain what makes their feet more effective for bipedalism when compared to previous hominins.

1.0 pts
No Description

Student correctly chose the species that was the first to have feet that are effective for habital bipedalism but made no attempt to give an explanation

0.5 pts
No Description

Student incorrectly chose the species

0.0 pts
No Marks

Student did not attempt to answer question.

2.0pts

This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeDescription of criterionExplore hominin with biped running capabilities

2.0 pts
Full Marks

Student correctly chose the species that was able to run on two legs. Student explained by discussing two specific skeletal features that allow for running on two legs.

1.5 pts
No Description

Student correctly chose the species that was able to run on two legs. Student explained by discussing one specific skeletal features that allow for running on two legs.

1.0 pts
No Description

Student correctly chose the species that was able to run on two legs but did not give details of skeletal features that would allow for running on two legs.

0.5 pts
No Description

Student incorrectly chose the wrong species.

0.0 pts
No Marks

Student did not attempt to answer question

2.0pts

This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeNo DescriptionStudent cited work

1.0 to >0.0 pts
Full Marks

Student cited all their work.

0.0 pts
No Marks

Student did not cite any of their work.

1.0pts

Total Points: 10.00