Slide 1

Evolutionary Designs of African Animals Danielle Lesso College of Engineering Pennsylvania State University [mwanasimba] Slide 2 During the dry season in the African grasslands, fierce competition exists among the animals for water 2 [cnx.org] Slide 3 On the African savannah, predators of different sizes and strategies compete for large herd animals Slide 4 This talk presents evolutionary designs of the largest, tallest, and fastest land animals on the planet African Elephant Giraffe Cheetah 4 Slide 5 Modern elephants are the only remaining species of a vast order of animals [www.nationalelephantcenter.org] 5 [www.defenders.org] Slide 6 Elephants have changed size and shape over time 6 [www.smallkidshomework.com] Slide 7 Using infrasonic sounds, elephants can communicate up to several kilometers apart infrasonic 7 Human hearing range [www.birds.cornell.edu] Slide 8 Infrasonic communication is made possible by the elephants unique hyoid and trunk time 8 [www.sciencdirect.com] [www.birds.cornell.edu] Slide 9 Elephants can communicate long distances by using seismic vibrations 9 Slide 10 Elephants can also physically generate seismic vibrations [physiologyonline.physiology.org] 10 Slide 11 Seismic signals are picked up in the elephants wide feet 11 [physiologyonline.physiology.org] Fatty Cushion Slide 12 Elephants are masters of communication, thanks to key evolutionary designs [www.pixabay.com] 12 Slide 13 Arnason, B. T, Hart, L. A., & O'Connell-Rodwell, C. E. Exploring the potential use of seismic waves as a communication channel by elephants and other large mammals. (2001). American Zoology, 41, 1157-1170. Retrieved from http://icb.oxfordjournals.org/content/41/5/1157.full.pdf+html http://icb.oxfordjournals.org/content/41/5/1157.full.pdf+html Blanc, J., de Boer, W. F., Gaston, K. J., Hamilton, I. D., van Langevelde, F., Prins, H. H. T., de Ruiter, P. C., & Vis, M. J. P. (2013). Understanding spatial differences in African elephant densities and occurrence, a continent-wide analysis. Biological Conservation, 159, 468-476. doi:10.1016/j.biocon.2012.10.015 Fyvie, C. (2005). Introduction to Elephant Evolution. Eco Travel Africa. Retrieved from http://www.ecotravel.co.za/Guides/Wildlife/Vertebrates/Mammals/Big_5/Elephant/Elephant_Evolution.htm http://www.ecotravel.co.za/Guides/Wildlife/Vertebrates/Mammals/Big_5/Elephant/Elephant_Evolution.htm Gibson, A. (2013). Elephant communication non-vocal. Elephants Forever. Retrieved from http://www.elephantsforever.co.za/communication-non-vocal.html#.U9-7fvldW1U http://www.elephantsforever.co.za/communication-non-vocal.html#.U9-7fvldW1U International Union for the Conservation of Nature. (2013). [Interactive map of African elephant range (Provisional AESR 2013)]. Elephant Database. Retrieved from http://www.elephantdatabase.org/http://www.elephantdatabase.org/ O'Connell-Rodwell, C.E. Keeping an "ear" to the ground: seismic communication in elephants. (2007). Physiology,22, 287-294. doi:10.1152/physiol.00008.2007 Palski, R., Thole, K., Van Tilburg, K., Zack, T. (2014). How do elephants communicate with one another? [PowerPoint slides]. Shoshani, J., & Tassy, P. (2005). Advances in proboscidean taxonomy & classification, anatomy & physiology, and ecology & behavior. Quaternary International, 126-128, 5-20. doi:10.1016/j.quaint.2004.04.011 Wrege, P. Infrasound. (2012). The Elephant Listening Project. Retrieved from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/brp/elephant/cyclotis/language/infrasound.html http://www.birds.cornell.edu/brp/elephant/cyclotis/language/infrasound.html References Not Projected During Slideshow Slide 14 Reflection on the delivery of this sections speakers Slide 15 Giraffes are truly unique African mammals 15 [commons.wikimedia.org][flickr.com] [zoo.org] Slide 16 Evolutionary designs help giraffes survive in the dangerous African savannah [Fore, Himes, Thomas; Dr. Eric Chudler] 16 Slide 17 The coat of the giraffe aids in camouflage and parasite protection [commons.wikimedia.org] 17 benzene p-cresol [Fore, Himes, Thomas] Slide 18 Giraffes coats also play a role in thermoregulation 18 [commons.wikimedia.org] [universalhealthcarela.com] Sites of thermoregulation Slide 19 The circulatory system of giraffes overcomes the challenges posed by the animals height 19 [panzajpanal.pl] Slide 20 Valves in the neck arteries keep giraffes from passing out when they have to live their lift heads quickly 20 [panzajpanal.pl] [wiki.hicksvilleschools.org] Slide 21 Characteristic height and good eyesight are also key to survival 21 [Fore, Himes, Thomas] RightLeft Both Slide 22 The giraffe is very capable of survival, thanks to evolutionary designs 22 [commons.wikimedia.org] Slide 23 References Not Projected During Slideshow Badlangana, N. L., Sathar, F., & Manger, P. R. (2010). Variations in the thickness and composition of the skin of the giraffe. The Anatomical Record, 293, 1615-1627. doi:10.1002/ar.21190 Bourton, J. (2009). 'Supercharged' heart pumps blood up a giraffe's neck. BBC Earth News. Retrieved from http://news.bbc.co.uk/earth/hi/earth_news/newsid_8368000/8368915.stm Estes, Kingdon, & MacClintock. (2003). Giraffe, Giraffa camelopardalis. In San Diego Zoo Global (Physical characteristics). Retrieved from http://library.sandiegozoo.org/factsheets/giraffe/giraffe.htmhttp://library.sandiegozoo.org/factsheets/giraffe/giraffe.htm Fennessy, S. (2014). Giraffes - the facts. Giraffe Conservation Foundation. Retrieved from http://www.giraffeconservation.org/giraffe_facts.php?pgid=2 http://www.giraffeconservation.org/giraffe_facts.php?pgid=2 Fore, R., Himes, J., Thomas, C. (2013). How the giraffe survives the African savanna [PowerPoint slides]. Holdrege, C. (2003). The giraffe's short neck. In Context, 10, 14-19. Retrieved from http://www.natureinstitute.org/pub/ic/ic10/giraffe.htm http://www.natureinstitute.org/pub/ic/ic10/giraffe.htm Maisano, S. (2006). Giraffa camelopardalis. University of Michigan Museum of Zoology. Retrieved from http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Giraffa_camelopardalis/ http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Giraffa_camelopardalis/ Mitchell, G., & Skinner, J. D. (2009). An allometric analysis of the giraffe cardiovascular system. Molecular & Integrative Physiology, 154, 523-529. doi:10.1016/j.cbpa.2009.08.013 Zoos South Australia. (2014). Giraffe. In Monarto Zoo (Threats & conservation). Retrieved from http://www.zoossa.com.au/monarto-zoo/animals-exhibts/animals?species=giraffe http://www.zoossa.com.au/monarto-zoo/animals-exhibts/animals?species=giraffe Slide 24 Reflection on the delivery of this sections speakers Slide 25 [en.wikipedia.org] 25 Cheetahs have evolved into excellent hunters [commons.wikimedia.org] Slide 26 [wildencounters.net] [flickr.com] [pixabay.com] A cheetah is a great hunter because of its speed, keen senses, and clever strategies [flickr.com] Speed [kreatifdinz.blogspot.com] Senses [wildencounters.net] [luxurytravelblog. net] 26 [pixabay.com] Strategies Slide 27 A cheetah has an extremely flexible spine, powering its long stride [youtube.com] 27 [flickr.com] Slide 28 The long tails of cheetahs allow them to make quick turns, while their claws provide traction [art.com] 28 Slide 29 A cheetah relies on both its eyesight and its hearing to locate and stalk prey 29 [philtulga.com] [flickr.com] Slide 30 The cheetah uses strategy to complement its physical advantages during hunting 30 [worldnomads.com] Slide 31 There are drawbacks to being the fastest land animal [www.wildencounters.net] 31 Slide 32 Even with the drawbacks, the cheetah is a unique predator because of its evolutionary design 32 [flickr.com] Slide 33 In summary, evolutionary designs have allowed elephants, giraffes, and cheetahs to survive in extreme conditions African Elephant Giraffe 33 Cheetah Slide 34 However, man poses challenges to these species that evolutionary change might not be able to overcome 34 [Pringle] [U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service] Slide 35 References Not Projected During Slideshow Bunting, M.R., Hoffman, H., Lewis, M. A., & Salemi, B. (2011). Toward ultra high speed locomotors: Design and test of a cheetah robot hind limb. Presented at IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Animation. Retrieved from http://www.heikohoffmann.de/documents/cheetah.pdf Cheetah Conservation Fund. (2014). About the cheetah. Retrieved from http://cheetah.org/about-the-cheetah/ Garman, A. (2000). The cat as predator. Retrieved from http://dialspace.dial.pipex.com/agarman/bco/behav01.htm Greenly, C., Milligan, B., Sahd, P., & Vulih, M. (2011). The physical characteristics that make the cheetah a great hunter [PowerPoint slides]. The Pennsylvania State University, College of Engineering. Hess, B. J. M. (2011). Vestibular response. In The Oxford Handbook of Eye Movements (The eye movement repertoire). Retrieved from http://books.google.com/books?id=Hiof9gzHPNoC Layton, J. (2008). What makes a cheetah run so fast? Retrieved from http://animals.howstuffworks.com/mammals/cheetah-speed.htm National Geographic. (2012). Cheetahs, cheetah pictures, cheetah facts. Retrieved from http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/cheetah/ Reeder, D.M., & Wilson, D.E., eds. (2005). Species Acinonyx jubatus. In Mammal Species of the World (3rd ed.). Retrieved from http://www.departments.bucknell.edu/biology/resources/msw3/browse.asp?id=14000006 Smith, R. (2008). Cheetah facts. Retrieved from http://www.sciencekids.co.nz/sciencefacts/animals/cheetah.html Slide 36 Reflection on the delivery of this sections speakers Slide 37 References Not Projected During Slideshow Benders-Hyde, E. (2003). African savanna. Retrieved from http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/african_savanna.htm Benders-Hyde, E. (2010). Savanna biomes. Retrieved from http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/savanna.htm Endler, J. A. 1993. Some general comments on the evolution and design of animal communication systems. In Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society, 341, 215-225. doi:10.1098/rstb.1993.0060 McGinley, M. 2011. Biodiversity in Africa. Retrived from http://www.eoearth.org/view/article/150570/ Wildscreen. (2011). Predator-prey relationships in the African savannah. Retrieved from http://www.arkive.org/predator-prey/