The Baynunah Formation has produced a diverse assemblage of plant, invertebrate, and vertebrate f... more The Baynunah Formation has produced a diverse assemblage of plant, invertebrate, and vertebrate fossils that provides the only window onto the terrestrial late Miocene record of the Arabian Peninsula. This chapter reviews and revises the age, biogeography, environments, and ecology of the Baynunah fauna. Biochronological estimates indicate an age of between 8 and 6 Ma, with several indicators favoring the older end of this range. Paleomagnetostratigraphic correlation more precisely favors an age between ~7.7 and 7.0 Ma, and a maximum duration of less than 720 kyr. Rough estimates of sedimentation rate based on assumptions of precessional control of carbonate formation in the upper parts of the Baynunah Formation here tentatively suggest a duration of ~250 kyr. The most common body fossils found are remains of fish (catfish and cichlids), turtles, and crocodiles, indicating the presence of a large but shallow and slow-moving river. A diverse community of mammalian herbivores subsiste...
Figure 4. Radial enamel thickness of the lateral crown face at each of the five major cusps measu... more Figure 4. Radial enamel thickness of the lateral crown face at each of the five major cusps measured by microfocal X-ray CT. Right, occlusal view surface rendered image of the M2 (CO-300) with white line indicating position of the mesial cusp section (section running through the protoconid and metaconid dentine cusp tips); left, corresponding grayscale image of the mesial cusp section; white bar indicates 2 mm. Maximum lateral enamel thickness in the little-worn lower M2 mesial cusp section (Suwa and Kono, 2005) was 2.35 mm in the protoconid and 2.08 mm in the metaconid. The three-dimensional radial lateral enamel thickness ranged from 2.26 to 2.31 opposite the buccal M2 main cusps and 1.81 to 2.15 opposite the lingual M2 main cusps. In the right M1 with flattened buccal cusps, the maximum lateral enamel thickness in the mesial cusp section was 1.55+ in the protoconid and 1.73 in the metaconid. The three-dimensional radial lateral enamel thickness ranged from 1.63+ to 2.03+ opposite...
Figure 3. The Valles-Penedes Dryopithecus laietanus IPMC 18000-5 (left) and Corakyerler CO-205 (r... more Figure 3. The Valles-Penedes Dryopithecus laietanus IPMC 18000-5 (left) and Corakyerler CO-205 (right). IPMC 18000-5 is mirrored to facilitate comparisons (from Moyà Solà and Köhler, 1995).
Figure 2. The Çorakyerler hominoid fossils. CO-205: (a) occlusal view; (b) lingual view of right ... more Figure 2. The Çorakyerler hominoid fossils. CO-205: (a) occlusal view; (b) lingual view of right side and left I 1 and I 2; (c) buccal view of left C–M 3. CO-300: (d) occlusal view; (f) micro-CT-based imagery of right dental row, buccal view; (g) summed voxel projection of right dental row; (h) summed voxel projection of lower canine perpendicular to previous view. CO-710: (e) occlusal view. A summed voxel projection adds CT values of all projected voxels and corresponds to conventional X-ray images.
The excavations conducted at Van Castle Mound, East Anatolia, between 1987 and 2010 uncovered a t... more The excavations conducted at Van Castle Mound, East Anatolia, between 1987 and 2010 uncovered a total of 328 human skeletons dating back to the Medieval period. Thirty trauma cases were identified within the collection, constituting 9.14% of the entire population. Typology and distribution of the trauma among different sexes indicated that depression fractures, oblique fractures, comminuted fractures, and head deformation were more frequently observed in male skeletons, while a post-fractural infection appeared only in a female skeleton. Trauma cases were more common on post-cranial bones. In addition, a trepanned cranial specimen belonging to a mature individual is identified in which grooving technique was performed. Most of the observed trauma cases were related to heavy labor, unsafe working conditions, and challenges of everyday agrarian life. Previous paleopathological studies from the Medieval Van Castle Mound also indicates an insufficient nutritation and high physical stress.
Nearly five decades ago Berggren and Van Couvering proposed an Old World "Hipparion Datum" wherei... more Nearly five decades ago Berggren and Van Couvering proposed an Old World "Hipparion Datum" wherein a North American Hipparion extended its range across Eurasia and Africa as an "instantaneous prochoresis" populating the Old World. Four decades ago Woodburne and Bernor examined European and North African hipparion assemblages and proposed a number of distinct hipparion lineages, sharply departing from the mono-generic paradigm of previous work. Through the 1980s until now, hipparion systematic studies have delineated multiple superspecific groups of hipparions. Herein, we define 10 recognizable genus-rank Eurasian and African taxa delineating their chronologic occurrences, geographic extent and where data exists, their body mass and paleodietary preferences. Our study supports the current interpretation that a species of North American Cormohipparion extended its range into the Old World in the early late Miocene. Regional first occurrences of Cormohipparion are recognized in the Potwar Plateau, Pakistan and Sinap Tepe, Turkey 10.8 Ma. The slightly derived lineage Hippotherium is recorded earlier in the Pannonian C of the Vienna Basin, 11.4-11.0 Ma marking the chronologic "Hipparion" Datum at the lower boundary of Mammal Neogene (MN) Unit 9. Within MN 9, 11.2-9.9 Ma, Cormohipparion underwent a minor diversification whereas Hippotherium diversified in Central and Western Europe and China and Sivalhippus (S. nagriensis) originated in the Indian Subcontinent. Whereas Cormohipparion did not survive into the late Vallesian, MN10 (9.9-8.9 Ma), Hippotherium and Sivalhippus did and the Cremohipparion and Hipparion s.s. lineages originated. During the early and middle Turolian (MN11-12, 8.9-6.8 Ma) Hippotherium, Sivalhippus, Cremohipparion and Hipparion persisted and new lineages, Eurygnathohippus, Plesiohipparion, Baryhipparion and Shanxihippus originated. An initial extinction interval occurred at the end of the Miocene, MN13 (6.8-5.3 Ma) wherein all but one endemic species of Hippotherium, H. malpassi (Italy), Hipparion and several species of Cremohipparion became extinct. Lineage and species reduction continued across the Mio-Pliocene boundary so that by the beginning of the Pliocene (MN14, 5.3 Ma) only African species of Eurygnathohippus, Chinese Plesiohipparion houfenense and Proboscidipparion sinense remained. The later Pliocene (MN15-16, ca. 5.0-2.5 Ma) documents the persistence of endemic Chinese Baryhipparion insperatum, modest diversification of African Eurygnatohippus spp. and Chinese Plesiohipparion and Proboscidipparion spp. Eurygnathohippus made a limited geographic extension into the Indian subcontinent during MN16, whereas Pleisohipparion and Proboscidipparion extended their ranges into Eurasia during MN15 and MN16. The latest occurring hipparions are Proboscidipparion sinense at 1.0 Ma in China and Eurygnathohippus cornelianus in Africa <1.0 Ma. Old World hipparion lineages early on increased their body mass in MN9. During the Turolian interval (MN11-13) hipparion lineages diversified their body mass from very small (<100 kg) to heavy forms (>300 kg), with the smaller forms being predominately grass feeders and larger ones being mixed feeders. Decreased hipparion lineage and species diversity in the Pliocene was accompanied by increased average body size and hypsodonty probably in response to more seasonal Eurasian and African environments. There is no evidence that hipparions ever adapted to cold and dry Old World Pleistocene environments.
In this study, electrical, thermal and exergy efficiencies of PVT using fins in different materia... more In this study, electrical, thermal and exergy efficiencies of PVT using fins in different materials and configurations were experimentally investigated, and optimization analysis of control parameters affecting thermal and exergy efficiencies was performed. Experiments were carried out according to frequent and sparse configurations of fins made from copper, aluminum and brass materials in both monocrystal and polycrystal panels, and compared to non-fins (empty) status. Efficiency values for both frequent and sparse fin configurations have increased significantly compared to non-fins condition. Also, the ideal number of fins for each fins material according to both electrical and thermal efficiencies were investigated. The Taguchi method was used to determine the best combination of control parameters affecting thermal and exergy efficiencies. Additıonally, analysis of variance (ANOVA) was carried out to determine contribution rates of control parameters affecting both efficiencies. It has been found that for all experiments, the most effective factor on both efficiencies was fins material, and then air velocity and panel temperature, respectively.
In the version of this Article originally published, each of the five panels in Fig. 5 incorrectl... more In the version of this Article originally published, each of the five panels in Fig. 5 incorrectly contained a black diagonal line across the plot. This has now been corrected.
Although there are many fluctuations in energy prices, they seems like rising day by day. Thus en... more Although there are many fluctuations in energy prices, they seems like rising day by day. Thus energy recovery systems have increasingly trend. Photovoltaic systems converts solar radiation directly into electrical energy thanks to semiconductors. But due to the nature of semiconductors, whole of solar energy cannot turn into electrical energy and the remaining energy turns into waste heat. The aim of this research is evaluate this waste heat energy by air cooling system. So, the energy efficiency of the system will be increased using appropriate heat transfer technologies such as fin, turbulator etc.
Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 2016
Although ecometric methods have been used to analyse fossil mammal faunas and environments of Eur... more Although ecometric methods have been used to analyse fossil mammal faunas and environments of Eurasia and North America, such methods have not yet been applied to the rich fossil mammal record of eastern Africa. Here we report results from analysis of a combined dataset spanning east and west Turkana from Kenya between 7 and 1 million years ago (Ma). We provide temporally and spatially resolved estimates of temperature and precipitation and discuss their relationship to patterns of faunal change, and propose a new hypothesis to explain the lack of a temperature trend. We suggest that the regionally arid Turkana Basin may between 4 and 2 Ma have acted as a ‘species factory’, generating ecological adaptations in advance of the global trend. We show a persistent difference between the eastern and western sides of the Turkana Basin and suggest that the wetlands of the shallow eastern side could have provided additional humidity to the terrestrial ecosystems. Pending further research, a ...
This study reports the first recorded discovery of three-rooted mandibular molars (3RM) from a Mi... more This study reports the first recorded discovery of three-rooted mandibular molars (3RM) from a Middle Age archaeological population unearthed in Van, Eastern Anatolia. A historical context is given for the research site, Dilkaya Mound, which has a history of approximately 2500 years. In total 462 permanent first and second teeth, 219 deciduous teeth, and a total of 682 mandibular teeth belonging to 358 individuals from Early Iron Age and Middle Age populations were included in this study. The earliest recorded population on site which dates to the Early Iron Age shows no sign of 3RM1 and 3RM2. The 3RM1 feature first appears in Anatolia at a rate of 1,05% by the Middle Age. The frequency of 3RM2 was found at a rate of 0,67%, and 3RM3 at a rate of 2,44 % in the population. Three rooted deciduous lower first molar teeth (3rm1) were observed at a rate of 2,44%; a new feature in the literature. The results of our study support the existing explanation that genetic drift plays a significant role in the distribution of 3RM via the wave of migration to the west from Asia during the Middle Age.
North American Cormohipparion extended its range into the Old World 11.5 Ma. Hipparion first appe... more North American Cormohipparion extended its range into the Old World 11.5 Ma. Hipparion first appearances are locally recorded at 11.5 Ma in Central Europe, 10.7 Ma in the Siwalik and Turkey, and 10.5 Ma in North and East Africa. Hippotherium is the earliest definable lineage and evolved very slowly in Central Europe and the eastern Mediterranean. On the contrary, Sinap Turkey records a “punctuated” evolutionary burst at 9.9 Ma. including 4-5 species of undefined, perhaps monospecific lineages. Sivalhippus evolved in the Siwalik Hills beginning at 10.3 Ma, underwent a local evolutionary radiation that included 4 defined species, and extended its range into East Africa in the late Miocene. Other major multispecific lineages include Cremohipparion, ranging from the eastern Mediterranean to China in the late Miocene and early Pliocene, Eurygnathohippus, which underwent a late Miocene-Pleistocene radiation in Africa, and Plesiohipparion and Proboscidipparion, which originated in China in...
Annual Review of Earth and Planetary Sciences, 2012
The relative weights of physical forcing and biotic interaction as drivers of evolutionary change... more The relative weights of physical forcing and biotic interaction as drivers of evolutionary change have been debated in evolutionary theory. The recent finding that species, genera, clades, and chronofaunas all appear to exhibit a symmetrical pattern of waxing and waning lends support to the view that biotic interactions shape the history of life. Yet, there is similarly abundant evidence that these primary units of biological evolution arise and wane in coincidence with major climatic change. We review these patterns and the process-level explanations offered for them. We also propose a tentative synthesis, characterized by interdependence between physical forcing and biotic interactions. We suggest that species with evolutionary novelties arise predominantly in "species factories" that develop under harsh environmental conditions, under dominant physical forcing, whereas exceptionally mild environments give rise to "oases in the desert," characterized by strong competition and survival of relics.
An adult maxilla and partial mandibles of a hominoid primate recovered from the late Miocene loca... more An adult maxilla and partial mandibles of a hominoid primate recovered from the late Miocene locality of Çorakyerler (central Anatolia) are recognized as a new species of Ouranopithecus, one of the rare western Eurasian hominoids to have survived well into the late Miocene. This species is distinguished from its sister taxon, and likely ancestor Ouranopithecus macedoniensis, by a constellation of dentognathic features. The new species, in which the male postcanine dentition is larger than that of any other Miocene ape besides Gigantopithecus, is associated with evidence indicating an open, dry environment. Dental features of Ouranopithecus apparently evolved in parallel with later Australopithecus, and suggest that Ouranopithecus was adapted to a diet of tough/abrasive foods.
The Baynunah Formation has produced a diverse assemblage of plant, invertebrate, and vertebrate f... more The Baynunah Formation has produced a diverse assemblage of plant, invertebrate, and vertebrate fossils that provides the only window onto the terrestrial late Miocene record of the Arabian Peninsula. This chapter reviews and revises the age, biogeography, environments, and ecology of the Baynunah fauna. Biochronological estimates indicate an age of between 8 and 6 Ma, with several indicators favoring the older end of this range. Paleomagnetostratigraphic correlation more precisely favors an age between ~7.7 and 7.0 Ma, and a maximum duration of less than 720 kyr. Rough estimates of sedimentation rate based on assumptions of precessional control of carbonate formation in the upper parts of the Baynunah Formation here tentatively suggest a duration of ~250 kyr. The most common body fossils found are remains of fish (catfish and cichlids), turtles, and crocodiles, indicating the presence of a large but shallow and slow-moving river. A diverse community of mammalian herbivores subsiste...
Figure 4. Radial enamel thickness of the lateral crown face at each of the five major cusps measu... more Figure 4. Radial enamel thickness of the lateral crown face at each of the five major cusps measured by microfocal X-ray CT. Right, occlusal view surface rendered image of the M2 (CO-300) with white line indicating position of the mesial cusp section (section running through the protoconid and metaconid dentine cusp tips); left, corresponding grayscale image of the mesial cusp section; white bar indicates 2 mm. Maximum lateral enamel thickness in the little-worn lower M2 mesial cusp section (Suwa and Kono, 2005) was 2.35 mm in the protoconid and 2.08 mm in the metaconid. The three-dimensional radial lateral enamel thickness ranged from 2.26 to 2.31 opposite the buccal M2 main cusps and 1.81 to 2.15 opposite the lingual M2 main cusps. In the right M1 with flattened buccal cusps, the maximum lateral enamel thickness in the mesial cusp section was 1.55+ in the protoconid and 1.73 in the metaconid. The three-dimensional radial lateral enamel thickness ranged from 1.63+ to 2.03+ opposite...
Figure 3. The Valles-Penedes Dryopithecus laietanus IPMC 18000-5 (left) and Corakyerler CO-205 (r... more Figure 3. The Valles-Penedes Dryopithecus laietanus IPMC 18000-5 (left) and Corakyerler CO-205 (right). IPMC 18000-5 is mirrored to facilitate comparisons (from Moyà Solà and Köhler, 1995).
Figure 2. The Çorakyerler hominoid fossils. CO-205: (a) occlusal view; (b) lingual view of right ... more Figure 2. The Çorakyerler hominoid fossils. CO-205: (a) occlusal view; (b) lingual view of right side and left I 1 and I 2; (c) buccal view of left C–M 3. CO-300: (d) occlusal view; (f) micro-CT-based imagery of right dental row, buccal view; (g) summed voxel projection of right dental row; (h) summed voxel projection of lower canine perpendicular to previous view. CO-710: (e) occlusal view. A summed voxel projection adds CT values of all projected voxels and corresponds to conventional X-ray images.
The excavations conducted at Van Castle Mound, East Anatolia, between 1987 and 2010 uncovered a t... more The excavations conducted at Van Castle Mound, East Anatolia, between 1987 and 2010 uncovered a total of 328 human skeletons dating back to the Medieval period. Thirty trauma cases were identified within the collection, constituting 9.14% of the entire population. Typology and distribution of the trauma among different sexes indicated that depression fractures, oblique fractures, comminuted fractures, and head deformation were more frequently observed in male skeletons, while a post-fractural infection appeared only in a female skeleton. Trauma cases were more common on post-cranial bones. In addition, a trepanned cranial specimen belonging to a mature individual is identified in which grooving technique was performed. Most of the observed trauma cases were related to heavy labor, unsafe working conditions, and challenges of everyday agrarian life. Previous paleopathological studies from the Medieval Van Castle Mound also indicates an insufficient nutritation and high physical stress.
Nearly five decades ago Berggren and Van Couvering proposed an Old World "Hipparion Datum" wherei... more Nearly five decades ago Berggren and Van Couvering proposed an Old World "Hipparion Datum" wherein a North American Hipparion extended its range across Eurasia and Africa as an "instantaneous prochoresis" populating the Old World. Four decades ago Woodburne and Bernor examined European and North African hipparion assemblages and proposed a number of distinct hipparion lineages, sharply departing from the mono-generic paradigm of previous work. Through the 1980s until now, hipparion systematic studies have delineated multiple superspecific groups of hipparions. Herein, we define 10 recognizable genus-rank Eurasian and African taxa delineating their chronologic occurrences, geographic extent and where data exists, their body mass and paleodietary preferences. Our study supports the current interpretation that a species of North American Cormohipparion extended its range into the Old World in the early late Miocene. Regional first occurrences of Cormohipparion are recognized in the Potwar Plateau, Pakistan and Sinap Tepe, Turkey 10.8 Ma. The slightly derived lineage Hippotherium is recorded earlier in the Pannonian C of the Vienna Basin, 11.4-11.0 Ma marking the chronologic "Hipparion" Datum at the lower boundary of Mammal Neogene (MN) Unit 9. Within MN 9, 11.2-9.9 Ma, Cormohipparion underwent a minor diversification whereas Hippotherium diversified in Central and Western Europe and China and Sivalhippus (S. nagriensis) originated in the Indian Subcontinent. Whereas Cormohipparion did not survive into the late Vallesian, MN10 (9.9-8.9 Ma), Hippotherium and Sivalhippus did and the Cremohipparion and Hipparion s.s. lineages originated. During the early and middle Turolian (MN11-12, 8.9-6.8 Ma) Hippotherium, Sivalhippus, Cremohipparion and Hipparion persisted and new lineages, Eurygnathohippus, Plesiohipparion, Baryhipparion and Shanxihippus originated. An initial extinction interval occurred at the end of the Miocene, MN13 (6.8-5.3 Ma) wherein all but one endemic species of Hippotherium, H. malpassi (Italy), Hipparion and several species of Cremohipparion became extinct. Lineage and species reduction continued across the Mio-Pliocene boundary so that by the beginning of the Pliocene (MN14, 5.3 Ma) only African species of Eurygnathohippus, Chinese Plesiohipparion houfenense and Proboscidipparion sinense remained. The later Pliocene (MN15-16, ca. 5.0-2.5 Ma) documents the persistence of endemic Chinese Baryhipparion insperatum, modest diversification of African Eurygnatohippus spp. and Chinese Plesiohipparion and Proboscidipparion spp. Eurygnathohippus made a limited geographic extension into the Indian subcontinent during MN16, whereas Pleisohipparion and Proboscidipparion extended their ranges into Eurasia during MN15 and MN16. The latest occurring hipparions are Proboscidipparion sinense at 1.0 Ma in China and Eurygnathohippus cornelianus in Africa <1.0 Ma. Old World hipparion lineages early on increased their body mass in MN9. During the Turolian interval (MN11-13) hipparion lineages diversified their body mass from very small (<100 kg) to heavy forms (>300 kg), with the smaller forms being predominately grass feeders and larger ones being mixed feeders. Decreased hipparion lineage and species diversity in the Pliocene was accompanied by increased average body size and hypsodonty probably in response to more seasonal Eurasian and African environments. There is no evidence that hipparions ever adapted to cold and dry Old World Pleistocene environments.
In this study, electrical, thermal and exergy efficiencies of PVT using fins in different materia... more In this study, electrical, thermal and exergy efficiencies of PVT using fins in different materials and configurations were experimentally investigated, and optimization analysis of control parameters affecting thermal and exergy efficiencies was performed. Experiments were carried out according to frequent and sparse configurations of fins made from copper, aluminum and brass materials in both monocrystal and polycrystal panels, and compared to non-fins (empty) status. Efficiency values for both frequent and sparse fin configurations have increased significantly compared to non-fins condition. Also, the ideal number of fins for each fins material according to both electrical and thermal efficiencies were investigated. The Taguchi method was used to determine the best combination of control parameters affecting thermal and exergy efficiencies. Additıonally, analysis of variance (ANOVA) was carried out to determine contribution rates of control parameters affecting both efficiencies. It has been found that for all experiments, the most effective factor on both efficiencies was fins material, and then air velocity and panel temperature, respectively.
In the version of this Article originally published, each of the five panels in Fig. 5 incorrectl... more In the version of this Article originally published, each of the five panels in Fig. 5 incorrectly contained a black diagonal line across the plot. This has now been corrected.
Although there are many fluctuations in energy prices, they seems like rising day by day. Thus en... more Although there are many fluctuations in energy prices, they seems like rising day by day. Thus energy recovery systems have increasingly trend. Photovoltaic systems converts solar radiation directly into electrical energy thanks to semiconductors. But due to the nature of semiconductors, whole of solar energy cannot turn into electrical energy and the remaining energy turns into waste heat. The aim of this research is evaluate this waste heat energy by air cooling system. So, the energy efficiency of the system will be increased using appropriate heat transfer technologies such as fin, turbulator etc.
Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 2016
Although ecometric methods have been used to analyse fossil mammal faunas and environments of Eur... more Although ecometric methods have been used to analyse fossil mammal faunas and environments of Eurasia and North America, such methods have not yet been applied to the rich fossil mammal record of eastern Africa. Here we report results from analysis of a combined dataset spanning east and west Turkana from Kenya between 7 and 1 million years ago (Ma). We provide temporally and spatially resolved estimates of temperature and precipitation and discuss their relationship to patterns of faunal change, and propose a new hypothesis to explain the lack of a temperature trend. We suggest that the regionally arid Turkana Basin may between 4 and 2 Ma have acted as a ‘species factory’, generating ecological adaptations in advance of the global trend. We show a persistent difference between the eastern and western sides of the Turkana Basin and suggest that the wetlands of the shallow eastern side could have provided additional humidity to the terrestrial ecosystems. Pending further research, a ...
This study reports the first recorded discovery of three-rooted mandibular molars (3RM) from a Mi... more This study reports the first recorded discovery of three-rooted mandibular molars (3RM) from a Middle Age archaeological population unearthed in Van, Eastern Anatolia. A historical context is given for the research site, Dilkaya Mound, which has a history of approximately 2500 years. In total 462 permanent first and second teeth, 219 deciduous teeth, and a total of 682 mandibular teeth belonging to 358 individuals from Early Iron Age and Middle Age populations were included in this study. The earliest recorded population on site which dates to the Early Iron Age shows no sign of 3RM1 and 3RM2. The 3RM1 feature first appears in Anatolia at a rate of 1,05% by the Middle Age. The frequency of 3RM2 was found at a rate of 0,67%, and 3RM3 at a rate of 2,44 % in the population. Three rooted deciduous lower first molar teeth (3rm1) were observed at a rate of 2,44%; a new feature in the literature. The results of our study support the existing explanation that genetic drift plays a significant role in the distribution of 3RM via the wave of migration to the west from Asia during the Middle Age.
North American Cormohipparion extended its range into the Old World 11.5 Ma. Hipparion first appe... more North American Cormohipparion extended its range into the Old World 11.5 Ma. Hipparion first appearances are locally recorded at 11.5 Ma in Central Europe, 10.7 Ma in the Siwalik and Turkey, and 10.5 Ma in North and East Africa. Hippotherium is the earliest definable lineage and evolved very slowly in Central Europe and the eastern Mediterranean. On the contrary, Sinap Turkey records a “punctuated” evolutionary burst at 9.9 Ma. including 4-5 species of undefined, perhaps monospecific lineages. Sivalhippus evolved in the Siwalik Hills beginning at 10.3 Ma, underwent a local evolutionary radiation that included 4 defined species, and extended its range into East Africa in the late Miocene. Other major multispecific lineages include Cremohipparion, ranging from the eastern Mediterranean to China in the late Miocene and early Pliocene, Eurygnathohippus, which underwent a late Miocene-Pleistocene radiation in Africa, and Plesiohipparion and Proboscidipparion, which originated in China in...
Annual Review of Earth and Planetary Sciences, 2012
The relative weights of physical forcing and biotic interaction as drivers of evolutionary change... more The relative weights of physical forcing and biotic interaction as drivers of evolutionary change have been debated in evolutionary theory. The recent finding that species, genera, clades, and chronofaunas all appear to exhibit a symmetrical pattern of waxing and waning lends support to the view that biotic interactions shape the history of life. Yet, there is similarly abundant evidence that these primary units of biological evolution arise and wane in coincidence with major climatic change. We review these patterns and the process-level explanations offered for them. We also propose a tentative synthesis, characterized by interdependence between physical forcing and biotic interactions. We suggest that species with evolutionary novelties arise predominantly in "species factories" that develop under harsh environmental conditions, under dominant physical forcing, whereas exceptionally mild environments give rise to "oases in the desert," characterized by strong competition and survival of relics.
An adult maxilla and partial mandibles of a hominoid primate recovered from the late Miocene loca... more An adult maxilla and partial mandibles of a hominoid primate recovered from the late Miocene locality of Çorakyerler (central Anatolia) are recognized as a new species of Ouranopithecus, one of the rare western Eurasian hominoids to have survived well into the late Miocene. This species is distinguished from its sister taxon, and likely ancestor Ouranopithecus macedoniensis, by a constellation of dentognathic features. The new species, in which the male postcanine dentition is larger than that of any other Miocene ape besides Gigantopithecus, is associated with evidence indicating an open, dry environment. Dental features of Ouranopithecus apparently evolved in parallel with later Australopithecus, and suggest that Ouranopithecus was adapted to a diet of tough/abrasive foods.
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