Re: New Ethiopian Find - Oldest Biped At 3.8-4 mya

From: Algis Kuliukas (algis_at_RiverApes.com)
Date: 03/08/05 

Date: 8 Mar 2005 03:52:39 -0800

JAE wrote:
> Algis Kuliukas wrote:
> <snip>
>
> > As some of us hold the view that Miocene apes, living in coastal
> > woodlands on the Med/Tethys were the earliest bipeds, this evidence
> > can hardly be suggested to contradict that assertion in any way.
The
> > only hypotheses that are damaged by earlier evidence of bipedalism
in
> > wetter, more wooded habitats are those that invoke energetically
> > walking on the savanna or in more open woodlands generally. Energy
> > efficiency of bipedalism only works on certain substrates - dense
> > woodland is not one of them.
>
> You are without base in your final statement. You are still
comparing
> a partial study with anecdote. Do be aware that when you say things
> like this, you are not presenting something that has been confirmed,
> but merely your conjecture. That you repeat it as if it were
confirmed
> does not speak well of your commitment to scientific inquiry.

Rubbish. I have the data from my own empiracle study, Jason. Anyone can
repeat the experiments and find the same data. All you need is a
douglas bag and equipment to measure VO2. I've repeated this several
times. If I had repeated a claim that I was making abaseless
assertion, when in fact, I'd actually done the primary study - you'd
have escalated the debate, probaably by calling me a liar.

On flat, firm, relatively vegetation-free substrates humans are
undoubtedly quite efficient. But even in long (< 1m tall) grass that
efficiency is greatly diminished (cost, VO2/kg/min +57%.) In open bush
energy cost is about 64% greater. I haven't yet tried it in extremely
dense bush, but what do you think, Jason? Do you think it's going to
suddenly revert back to the values at walking on a concrete path? I bet
it would be at least double the treadmill values values.

Algis Kuliukas