This is one of my favorite class activities I designed to teach during biological anthropology units of Introductory four-subfield Anthropology classes.[i.i] During the activity, students are given hypothetical future situations--our current disasters taken to their max assumption of continued uninterrupted destruction from now until this future point. I ask students to determine what selective pressures are likely to be present in these doomsday scenarios—that is, the events/factors that stress species/individuals/groups into adaptation. Then, I challenge them to consider the unchosen adaptations that might change humans facing these pressures—as well as the chosen adaptations that humans could employ to successfully avoid extinction (if any).[ii] I make a quip about it, to try to make it more fun for a first level course made for students who may or may not go further into Anthropology—they are being asked to save the world. Read the full story about this activity and connected information on human adaptation in The Living Earth column here.
Class Activity: Human Adaptation
Your mission/objective:
Save the World!
Instructions:
In this activity, each group is assigned a situation/crisis. Your goal is to identify selective pressures that would face human beings during this crisis, as well as the adaptations that humans could, would, should, or are developing in response. You will complete this activity by researching the following:
A) selective pressures that humans would face in the climates / environments described in each situation [Predator, Pathogen, Climate, Toxin, Environment, Psychosocial Stressors—particularly focusing on those that could threaten extinction, largescale loss of human lives, or prevent generational survival.
B) Adaptations that humans have developed in response to the selective pressures that relate back to your assigned ‘crisis’ situation [genetic, physiological, developmental, behavioral, and collective/social-cultural].
After researching and fulfilling the basic requests of this assignment, you may also include your own creative brainstorming ideas, if you have thought of something that you were not able to find information on.
Situation 1: [Future Crisis] Global warming has caused the ice-caps to melt. Most regions/major cities that were once coast are now flooded [Miami, New York, so forth]. Heat levels in the tropics now exceed 120 degrees Fahrenheit, and the region that can be called ‘Tropic’ has expanded by a considerable degree of latitude. Animals who cannot survive in such heated temperatures have died out [all arctic animals] and other living forms [such as bacteria, viruses, and huge insects] that thrive at hot temperatures are flourishing, mutating, spreading, and pestering. Research and list at least one specific example per group member of a type of selective pressure humans may have to face in these situations [Predator, Pathogen, Climate, Toxin, Environment, Psychosocial Stressor] that could threaten extinction, largescale loss of human lives, or prevent generational survival that could threaten extinction, largescale loss of human lives, or prevent generational survival. Next, brainstorm/research at least two specific adaptations [genetic, physiological, developmental, behavioral, and social-cultural] that you predict humans will develop/apply to respond to each selective pressure, to ensure the goal of species survival.
Situation 2: [Current Crisis] Pollution levels are staggering, and affecting the natural environment. This affects all animals, including humans. There are sea-size deposits of plastic in the ocean, landfills of cast-off furnishings, technology, and trash. Air pollution stems from emissions from gas, from industrial power plants/manufacturing equipment, and individual contributions such as cigarette smoke, hairspray fads [especially pre-90’s], etc. This has threatened the homes, and breathing quality of animals across the world, including humans. Research and list at least one specific example per group member of a type of selective pressure humans may have to face in these situations [Predator, Pathogen, Climate, Toxin, Environment, Psychosocial Stressor] that could threaten extinction, largescale loss of human lives, or prevent generational survival. Next, brainstorm/research at least two specific adaptations [genetic, physiological, developmental, behavioral, and social-cultural] that you predict humans will develop/apply to respond to each selective pressure, to ensure the goal of species survival.
Situation 3: [Current Crisis] Many parts of the world do not have access to adequate sanitation services [waste-disposal] or clean water. These problems are interconnected. Water pollution stems from both local activities [people bathing, cooking, drinking, and relieving themselves in the same water source; improper disposal of medication], as well as from large-organization activities [nuclear, manufacturing, or other runoff /dumping of toxins /byproducts of operations]. Water shortages are prevalent in areas where water is polluted, rainfall is rare/drought is common [deserts], where business interests have threatened local access to clean water [Think: Nestle Water Rites dispute], or where lead pipes lead to undrinkable water [Think: Flint, Michigan]. Lack of well-developed sanitation services mean that some areas do not have toilets, only have outhouses but no sewers, or end up using local water sources or hillsides as nature’s toilet. Research and list at least one specific example per group member of a type of selective pressure humans may have to face in these situations [Predator, Pathogen, Climate, Toxin, Environment, Psychosocial Stressor] that could threaten extinction, largescale loss of human lives, or prevent generational survival. Next, brainstorm/research at least two specific adaptations [genetic, physiological, developmental, behavioral, and social-cultural] that you predict humans will develop/apply to mitigate the current/prevent future damage from water pollution and improper sanitation, and thus ensure species survival.
Situation 4: Energy ensures our food doesn’t spoil, that we can escape the extremes of outdoor climate, that we have light to read with, that we can continue activities past sunset, that we can communicate with people far away from our current location, and that we can watch our favorite Netflix shows when D2L acts up. [ha!] Unfortunately, the industrial progress we have achieved has [sometimes] had unforeseen consequences for earth, and living creatures. Non-renewable sources of energy which are consumed on a regular basis by an increasingly large part of the world allow us to maintain a lifestyle of constant access to electricity, and technology. Unfortunately, these sources of energy are a bit flawed; they a) will run out, and/or b) often have the consequence of hurting the environment [such as when an oil pipeline bursts].
Research and list at least one specific example per group member of a type of selective pressure humans may have to face in these situations [Predator, Pathogen, Climate, Toxin, Environment, Psychosocial Stressor] that could threaten extinction, largescale loss of human lives, or prevent generational survival. Next, brainstorm/research at least two specific adaptations [genetic, physiological, developmental, behavioral, and social-cultural] that you predict humans will develop/apply to respond to each selective pressure, to ensure the goal of species survival.
Situation 5: [Future Crisis] The earth is no longer safely habitable for the people of earth. You are a part of the lucky [wealthy] group of humans being split up to live on either a space-station or on a colony set up on Mars. Both settings have artificially enhanced gravity. Research and list at least one specific example per group member of a type of selective pressure humans may have to face in these situations [Predator, Pathogen, Climate, Toxin, Environment, Psychosocial Stressor] that could threaten extinction, largescale loss of human lives, or prevent generational survival. Next, brainstorm/research at least two specific adaptations [genetic, physiological, developmental, behavioral, and social-cultural] that you predict humans will develop/apply to respond to each selective pressure, to ensure the goal of species survival.
Situation 6: [Future Crisis] The earth is no longer safely habitable for the people of earth—the sun has swelled, or the heat trapped in our atmosphere has overwhelmed most life [desert conditions]. You are a part of the unlucky [non-1%-5%] group of humans still stuck on earth. Research and list at least one specific example per group member of a type of selective pressure humans may have to face in these situations [Predator, Pathogen, Climate, Toxin, Environment, Psychosocial Stressor] that could threaten extinction, largescale loss of human lives, or prevent generational survival. Next, brainstorm/research at least two specific adaptations [genetic, physiological, developmental, behavioral, and social-cultural] that you predict humans will develop/apply to respond to each selective pressure, to ensure the goal of species survival.
Situation 7: [Future Crisis] The button was pushed, and you are in a zone of nuclear fallout -that outer ring where life hasn’t been obliterated, but has still been severely affected. Old animals are dying out, new animals are arising, and the humans left are forever changed. This event has quickened and altered the next major animal extinction, and taken a large swath of AMH’s [anatomically modern humans] with it. Research and list at least one specific example per group member of a type of selective pressure humans may have to face in these situations [Predator, Pathogen, Climate, Toxin, Environment, Psychosocial Stressor] that could threaten extinction, largescale loss of human lives, or prevent generational survival. Next, brainstorm/research at least two specific adaptations [genetic, physiological, developmental, behavioral, and social-cultural] that you predict humans will develop/apply to respond to each selective pressure, to ensure the goal of species survival.
Situation 8: [Future Crisis] There are global boycotts of production, manufacturing, and distribution. You are in an area where you are used to getting all food from a grocery store, as well as obtaining all other needs through in-person or online stores. But now, imported goods are no longer available. Research and list at least one specific example per group member of a type of selective pressure humans may have to face in these situations [Predator, Pathogen, Climate, Toxin, Environment, Psychosocial Stressor] that could threaten extinction, largescale loss of human lives, or prevent generational survival. Next, brainstorm at least two specific adaptations [genetic, physiological, developmental, behavioral, and social-cultural] that you predict humans will develop/apply to respond to each selective pressure, to ensure the goal of species survival.
Helpful Vocabulary Selective Pressures: Outside forces or stimulus that organisms respond to by way of adaptation or extinction. Examples include: Predators, Pathogens, Toxins, Climate, and Psychosocial Stressors.
Adaptation: Adjustments by an organism (or group of organisms) that help them cope with environmental challenges and other selective pressures. May be: Genetic [evolutionary force (mutation, gene flow, genetic drift, natural selection) over generations], Physiological [short-term, physical], Developmental [Permanent phenotype variation; result of interaction b/w genes and environment / custom/ritual body alterations made by humans during human development], Behavioral [individually self-chosen action], or Social-Cultural [tools, technology, cyborg enhancement, artificial intelligence].
Please Refer to Your PowerPoint and relevant textbook table 1.1 [assigned to D2L/presented in class] for more information.