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Growth rates and life histories in twenty-two small-scale societies Do not cite in any context without permission of the authors. (2006)

Abstract

This study investigates variation in body growth (cross-sectional height and weight velocity) among a sample of 22 small-scale societies. Considerable variation in growth exists among hunter-gatherers that overlaps heavily with growth trajectories present in groups focusing more on horticulture. Intergroup variation tends to track environmental conditions, with societies under more favorable conditions displaying faster growth and earlier puberty. In addition, faster/earlier development in females is correlated with higher mortality. For example, African “Pygmies,” Philippine “Negritos,” and the Hiwi of Venezuela are characterized by relatively fast child-juvenile growth for their adult body size (used as a proxy for energetic availability). In these societies, subadult survival is low, and puberty, menarche, and first reproduction are relatively early (given their adult body size), suggesting selective pressure for accelerated development in the face of higher mortality. In sum, the origin and maintenance of different human ontogenies may require explanations invoking both environmental constraints and selective pressures. Am. J. Hum. Biol. 18:295–311, 2006. © 2006 Wiley-Liss, Inc.. Peer Reviewed. http://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/50664/1/20510_ftp.pdf

Publication details

Download	, http://hdl.handle.net/2027.42/50664 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=retrieve&db=pubmed&list_uids=16634027&dopt=citation http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/ajhb.20510
Publisher	Wiley Subscription Services, Inc., A Wiley Company
Contributors	Department of Pediatrics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, Department of Anthropology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87131 ; Department of Anthropology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131, Department of Anthropology, University of California, Santa Barbara, California, Department of Anthropology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87131, Department of Anthropology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK, Department of Anthropology, University of California, Santa Barbara, California, Department of Anthropology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK, Sao Sebastiao Hospital, Brasilia, Brazil, Department of Anthropology, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, Nebraska, Department of Anthropology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87131, Department of Anthropology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87131, Department of Anthropology, SUNY, Stony Book, New York, Department of Anthropology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Department of Human Ecology, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
Repository	University of Michigan (United States)
Keywords	Life and Medical Sciences, Anthropology, Medicine (General), Health Sciences