Tuesday, March 31, 2015

Week 8

The environmental stress that I have chosen is heat. Heat can be very stressful especially if your put in a situation where you have to work in hot conditions. It would make it hard for you to fully perform your duties or even concentrate. For example your body would begin to sweat which is a sign that your body is trying to cool down. Maybe even while taking a test in a cold room. Your body begins to shiver because your body is trying to produce heat. I think affects us both physically and emotionally. Heat affects are body from having its normal internal body temperature.
Cultural  Adaption                                                                                                                                                         A. People tend to stay indoors until the sun has gone down and it’s not so hot outside. It is hotter in the beginning of the day rather than later, plus there is more shade where people could cool off.
B. Another way people have adapted to heat is to wear certain clothing. People can now where shorts, muscle shirts or tank top shirts, hats, sandals and glasses. This type of clothing really cools off the body due to all the openings in the clothing.
C.  A very important thing to consider when dealing with heat is your diet. The main thing to have on those hot days is a lot of water which also replenishes you when you’re losing all that sweat. You can eat cold foods especially ice cream which you’ll see a lot of people doing on hot days to cool off.
D. And finally another way people have adapted to heat is to move out of that area they live or the current environment they are in and move to another state or environment which is cooler.
I think the benefits of studying human variation from environments helps us find out how people around the world adapt to a certain environmental stresses. It helps better understand how and what they do to easily adapt to all types of environments. This is very beneficial and we could use it for other cultures who need help adapting or need ideas.

In my opinion I think race wouldn’t help understand the different types of variations because I think the environment shapes us. I think the environment plays a bigger a role and is more important and it’s what shapes the humans today. Our traits are formed by how we are adapt to the current environment. 

Tuesday, March 24, 2015

Language Blog

Week 7 

Part 1.
            When I engaged into this conversation I didn't think it would be hard or maybe it was the partner I chose, but it was hard just to get a whole conversation in without speaking or writing. All that came to mind was that I felt bad for those people that can’t speak or write it must have been frustrating just trying to make the other person to understand. Doing this assignment opened up my eyes and made me have more patience. What I got from my partner was they just wanted to give up because either I wasn't getting it or vice versa. I could honestly say it was a difficult assignment because no matter how we moved our hands, or air drawing or face movements we couldn't get the full conversation we expected. There was times when words would come out but we would start again and I can tell by her fast movements of her hands she was practically yelling at me without words.
            My goal was for me to be the leader in this conversation since it was my assignment but that didn't go as planned. My partner was mainly in charge because she wanted me to understand what she was trying to say and before starting we chose a topic which was “What did we do today?”. I don’t think we ever changed topics but we did go back and forth getting half of our conversation. Even though there weren't any others included in our conversation I still felt excluded she wanted to be the one sending me her message and for me to understand. So I admit she had the power in this conversation.
            I think both have their positives sides to it because the ones that can speak their whole population understand each other the same with those that can’t speak. Overtime with many years you learn how to make each group (speaking and non speaking) to understand what you’re trying to say until they find it completely easy to communicate whether talking or not. I think both cultures can benefit from each other and learn from one another which happen today. Nowadays people who speak learn how to make others that can speak to understand each other whether its hand and face movements. I think the attitudes that each culture would be curious in wanting to learn how they can do that. I think it would be nothing but positive attitudes from each culture.

Part 2.
            The second half of the assignment is much easier than part one even though I believe body language is important in any conversation. I think what made the conversation interesting was actually choosing a topic to talk about 15 minutes. The topic for the assignment was to talk about what we liked about each other. (15 minutes were a breeze) My partner prefers body language as well due to the fact that I wasn't showing any emotion and felt as if I was lying to her. We both understood each other and got our conversation across to each other without any difficulties.
            I think our language is very important with signs, like the saying goes “actions speak louder than words” I think our hands or just body language would be our actions which I think we can all agree to. You can tell so much about a person when using body language you can tell how they are feeling whether its mad or happy. I think people nowadays can communicate effectively with body language. I think it has more meaning, power and trust but that’s just my opinion.
            Everyone should be able to read body language I think it’s very vital to our everyday life. For example in an interview you want to sell yourself and you can be hiding some potential talent and other have to see it and you want others to see it. That would work best for the manager doing the interview. Maybe even having a lot of friends who have different types or personalities, they could be going to some tough times and they might not tell you but you can see it but how they are acting.
            Its very easy finding someone who doesn't understand body language. Especially when you’re in a group and you secretly want to tell the person across from you something without having to yell but they just don’t understand your body language. There is some benefits to not reading someone’s body language like for one not getting into any trouble. For example when taking a test and your friend trying to give you answers by using body language, better to not understand and not keep looking up so you don’t get a zero. Even then when your friend is giving you answers you probably cant make out what answer he is giving you or for the same question that’s when it could be unreliable.

Tuesday, March 10, 2015

The Piltdown Hoax

The Piltdown Hoax


The fossils were found by Charles Dawson an amateur archaeologist. Charles Dawson found a skull and jaw in the village of Piltdown in England around 1912. Every time a scientist discovers something new there is a lot of commotion, change, confusion and more studying. I think we can always learn something from something new or undiscovered but it needs facts and proof behind it to actually believe in new findings or fossils in this case. The community was shocked and arose questions but more in disbelief. At the time they probably wanted to know more like how many years was that fossil there for? Who did it come from? Is it really from an ape or just a human? Same questions we would ask today if we found fossils. I think the year difference from today and 1912 we would look at it or approach it differently.
Well just like anyone when you get something new or discover something that no one hasn't. You kind of fill up with ideas or sometimes don’t even think before acting. The problem in this scenario would be that Dawson rushed this whole thing about finding fossils and actually not thinking about what it could do to future scientists and how much confusion there would be. Then again we don’t know if he actually was the one that thought of this fraud or really thought the bones fit together and make one ancestor all together. The main thing is to stay calm and make sure all the pieces fit together to have data to back up your findings.
They started realizing that all this was odd around the 1950’s. They started looking at hominids and genus homo traits and putting two and two together realizing that nothing added up. Scientists in the 1950’s began doing testing on the fossils like fluorine tests on the bones which estimated how old the bones were. By doing this they found out that the bones were less than 50,000 years old. Then there was other anthropologist who fully studied the anatomy of the bones and noticed that it came from two different species. They also used a microscope to look at the teeth and noticed that they were filed down to make them look more like human teeth.
In my opinion I think the human factor plays an important role in everyone’s life whether you’re a scientist or not. I think they could remove it from science but kind of impossible I mean how would you stop a scientist from the way they behave or the choices they make. I think what an amateur like Dawson was doing was that he wanted fame just like everyone else. He wanted to be known as a great scientist. I think there will always be errors because no one is perfect. So whether the human factor is removed or not error will always come into play.

The life lesson is that everyone will do anything for fame and fortune and sometimes we shouldn't think like that because everything can fall if you’re doing it for the wrong reasons. It should be considered hard work and it will pay off otherwise consider yourself a fool if they catch on to your mistakes.

Wednesday, March 4, 2015

Comparative Primate Post



Lemurs

a.       Lemurs unlike other primates are able to adapt to any environment that benefits them. They can be mainly found in the Madagascar islands or rain forests. Lemurs are always on the move rather than staying in one particular region. They can be on the ground on dry and hot places or the forests where it is moist. They stick around the forests because of the rain which produces food and since they sleep during the day they make sure they are far away and high from predators.

b.      What sums up their diet? The lemurs will eat what they can from what that environment has to offer. They mainly seek fruit depending on the season, lemurs are very smart and know what types of fruits/food will be producing/available while they stay at that particular environment. They also eat tree bark, sap, small insects, leaves and flowers.

c.       Since lemurs are mainly found in forests. They tend to stay on the trees due to predators. They eat what grows from the trees such as fruits ( bananas, apples, or small insects) When no fruits are producing they leave the forests and adapt to the next environment which could be hot, dry places or the ground, where they will adapt easily and eat what is at hand. This could range from smaller insects to flowers. Depending on the time of the year they will be on the move making sure they have what they need.
d.      

Summary
            I think the influence that the environment has on the lemur’s behavior and physical traits are very strong. I mean even though they are adaptable primates they depend on their current environment to supply food and a safe place to sleep since they sleep during the day. They protect themselves by staying above ground and far away from predators reach. They will also eat whatever is growing on trees or ground and the insects that crawl around them. They will eat whatever the environment has to offer and they will adapt until they are ready to move on to the next environment and come back when the rain season comes again.

Spider Monkey

A.    Spider monkeys live in rainforests mainly found in southern Mexico and Brazil. These primates look for broad regions to have home range to cover. They like living in moist areas and if they must they will go to dry places. They like having a type of cover of their heads as well so they will use the trees branches’ and leaves as a canopy. Spider monkeys will also live in places where they haven’t been disturbed by humans since they are constantly getting captivated or experimented on.

B.     Spider monkeys main priority is fruit. They depend on their fruit that their habitat supplies. Only 10% of the foods that these monkeys consume are anything other than fruit. Spider Monkeys eat a couple of times a day and they just don’t nibble or chew on their food they swallow it whole. So that they don’t have to go searching for food for some time. I found that the female monkeys are in charge of their diet schedule and she will let them know when it’s time for the next eating schedule.

C.     Well since spider monkeys only like being in rainforests there only food is what’s growing on the trees in that particular habitat. The primates trait is easily influenced by the environment in my opinion. These monkeys really have no choice and depend heavily on the fruits that grow. Plus they like being covered and it would be hard to find spots on the ground with cover let alone finding fruit.
D.    

Summary
      What I found really interesting was how the female monkeys are in charge of their eating habits or diet I should say. The spider monkeys eat a few times a day but the most fun fact was that they swallow the whole fruit without biting eat so they save time without having to hunt for it. They also like being covered by shade and staying in the rain forests regions and like having a broad home away from predators in this case humans. Their behavior and physical state are heavily influenced by their habit and what they eat.


Baboon

A.    Baboons prefer savanna or arid habitats or ground environments, although some could be found in forests. They spend most of their time on the ground and on trees when eating, sleeping or hiding from danger. All of the baboons live in south Africa or Arabia.

B.     A similarity to the lemurs these baboons are opportunistic eaters and will eat anything pretty much to satisfy their hunger. They really like crops, fruits, grass, seeds and meat. They will eat smaller animals such as birds and antelopes.

C.     Well for the baboons their trait or their diet is influenced by their environment and will make the most of what they have. If they are in the forests they will eat fruits or leaves and if they are on the ground where they spend most of their time they will eat smaller animals, crops and grass. They will adapt to their environment and eat whatever they can. Their diet is not an issue or complicated in achieving their hunger.
D.    

Summary
didn't think a primate small as the baboon could eat other animals or crave meat. The baboon is much larger than the lemur and spider monkey and all are alike in their environment. The baboons mainly like staying on the ground and will hide from dangers when needed to. Their behavior on the ground has made them stronger in a way and would have to stand up to other animals for protection. Baboons work together in packs when looking for food or fighting of predators. The most interesting fact about these baboons is that they eat anything as their environment changes their diet changes causing them to adapt to new environments easily.




Gibbon

A.    These primates are considered arboreal class of monkeys which means they will always be in the trees. These types of monkeys can be found in India, Indonesia and china, mainly in the forests. The gibbons will be found in the trees and move from tree to tree by swinging on the branches. They also don’t really have a place to call home since they don’t make a nest they just swing around trees.

B.     Their diet includes a variety of foods. What they like the most is fruit and will move from place to place to find what is growing. Most of their diet is made up of 60% just to be fruit. They also eat twigs, flowers, insects and figs. They will also eat bird eggs when they find them in the nests. They will eat throughout the day and whatever they can find.

C.     Since these monkeys are arboreal which they like being in the trees, they were forced to eat fruits. I think it had a big influence and that’s why their diet is made up of fruits.
D.    

Summary
            I think the gibbons were very influenced by the environment due to the fact that they are arboreal monkeys. They will always be on the trees and they learned to swing from the branches. Their diet consists primarily on fruit which grows from the trees they currently inhabit.




 Chimpanzee

A.    Chimpanzees are known to live in harmony with other animal. Whether it’s in rain forests, grasslands and woodlands they are able to habituate and socialize in that environment. They can easily adapt to the trees which where they spend most of their time eating and sleeping, but they like being on the ground as well where they will interact with other chimpanzees and catch insects.

B.     Chimpanzees have a variety of foods they eat. They have no particular diet but they will eat fruits, insects, animals, grass. Generally the chimpanzees are known to be green eaters and like fruit. While researching I found out that chimpanzees have over 100 known foods that they eat. They are not picky eaters and will not be affected to the environment they inhabit.

C.     Just like the other primates they are all influenced by the rain forests where they will eat or sleep. They are protected when they are up above by other predators and since the fruit grows from trees they eat that constantly making it there primary food. They easily adapted to the environment and make the most of it. If they are on the grasslands they eat green foods or insects. No matter where they are at they will adapt and the environment will influence them and they know what to eat and where to get it.
D.    

Summary

            To finalize the chimpanzees are easily adaptable to any environment and will behave accordingly to what’s in front of them. What I learned is that they are the closets primate to humans and are very clever. They will use branches while on the ground to dig up other animals or even use a rock to smash nuts. They also know to eat fruit from the trees and make nest to sleep. Regarding their diet trait they really don’t have a problem with that since they could eat so many foods whether on a tree or ground.