Human Paleobiology (Cambridge Studies in Biological and Evolutionary Anthropology, Series Number 26)

Human Paleobiology provides a unifying framework for the study of human populations, both past and present, to a range of changing environments. It integrates evidence from studies of human adaptability, comparative primatology, and molecular genetics to document consistent measures of genetic distance between subspecies, species and other taxonomic groupings. These findings support the interpretation of the biology of humans in terms of a smaller number of populations characterised by higher levels of genetic continuity than previously hypothesised. Using this as a basis, Robert Eckhardt then goes on to analyse problems in human paleobiology including phenotypic differentiation, patterns of species range expansion and phyletic succession in terms of the patterns and processes still observable in extant populations. This book will be a challenging and stimulating read for students and researchers interested in human paleobiology or evolutionary anthropology. Half-title......Page 3 Series-title......Page 5 Title......Page 7 Copyright......Page 8 Dedication......Page 9 Contents......Page 11 Preface......Page 12 Acknowledgments......Page 14 1 Paleobiology: present perspectives on the past......Page 17 Introduction......Page 33 The impact of molecular biology......Page 35 Fossils provide tangible links with the past......Page 36 Ferment in physics......Page 37 Taxonomy as a conceptual framework......Page 42 Taxonomy encounters fossils......Page 49 Fossils imply time......Page 51 Time and change undermine taxonomic categorization......Page 53 Beyond binomials: plural and pragmatic species concepts......Page 54 Introduction......Page 56 Anatomically modern humans......Page 58 Neanderthals......Page 63 Pithecanthropines......Page 67 Australopithecines......Page 72 Paleoanthropology: the end of the beginning......Page 77 Introduction......Page 78 Darwin and natural selection......Page 80 Mendel and particulate inheritance......Page 84 Large gene effects or small? Mendelians vs. biometricians......Page 87 Genes and chromosomes......Page 93 Predicting and measuring evolutionary change......Page 94 Genetic theory and the interpretation of human evolution......Page 96 Microevolutionary transformation and discontinuous human types......Page 98 Beyond the synthesis......Page 100 Discontinuous genetic traits: empirical results and paradigm shifts......Page 102 From present human populations to those of the past......Page 104 Introduction......Page 106 Early adaptability studies in human biology......Page 107 Migration places genotypes against new environmental backgrounds......Page 108 Lasker's classification of adaptive levels......Page 110 Complexities: norm of reaction and genetic assimilation......Page 113 Extension of an adaptability focus in human paleobiology......Page 114 Skeletal biology: a bridge from the present to the past......Page 115 Dental microwear......Page 117 Enamel defects......Page 118 Harris lines......Page 119 Developmental effects visible from hard tissues......Page 121 Bone remodeling with age......Page 122 Bone remodeling in response to activity patterns......Page 123 Genetic adaptations in skeletal features......Page 124 Temporal dimensions shaping the dynamics of skeletal change......Page 129 Introduction......Page 132 Systematics......Page 134 Spatial distribution of papionine populations......Page 136 Phenotypic features of the papionines......Page 139 Short-term acclimations......Page 141 Developmental plasticity......Page 142 Genetic adaptations......Page 143 Papionine population dynamics, adaptation, and evolution......Page 146 Hominoid primates......Page 148 Hominoid systematics......Page 149 Temporal distribution of chimpanzee populations......Page 150 Phenotypic features of chimpanzees......Page 151 Evidence for short-term adaptation among chimpanzees......Page 152 Developmental plasticity in chimpanzees......Page 154 Genetic adaptations......Page 155 The implications of primate patterns of adaptation......Page 157 Introduction......Page 158 How many hominid taxa existed?......Page 159 Genetic similarity of humans and chimpanzees......Page 162 Are molecules and morphologies in conflict?......Page 165 Some molecular perspectives on hominid diversity......Page 167 A papionine perspective on hominid paleobiology......Page 178 Introduction......Page 182 Hominid antecedents: the Eurafrican hominoid fossil record......Page 183 Distribution in time and space......Page 188 Middle Awash, Ethiopia (4.5 to 2.5 Ma)......Page 189 Laetoli, Tanzania (3.7 to 3.2 Ma)......Page 190 Shungura and Usno Formations, Omo Group, Ethiopia (3.3 to 1.4 Ma)......Page 191 Transvaal sites, South Africa (3.0 to 1.0 Ma)......Page 192 Limitations of the evidence......Page 194 Body size......Page 197 Posture and locomotion......Page 203 Limb proportions......Page 205 Craniofacial features......Page 206 Short-term adaptations......Page 213 Developmental plasticity......Page 214 External body covering: skin and hair......Page 215 Chromosomes......Page 218 Blood group polymorphisms......Page 220 Evolutionary patterns and adaptive capacities of Plio-Pleistocene hominids......Page 222 Introduction......Page 224 Systematics......Page 225 Developmental perspectives on postcranial evolution......Page 226 Brain expansion: compounding the hominid heritage......Page 233 Compounding functions in hominid evolution......Page 236 Rates of change: an alternative approach......Page 244 Brains and behavior: acclimative potentials enhanced by evolution......Page 248 Introduction......Page 251 Systematics......Page 252 Temporal and spatial distribution......Page 253 Out of Africa: a population expansion......Page 256 Phenotypic patterns......Page 260 Short-term behavioral and cultural acclimations......Page 262 Environmental influences on bone remodeling......Page 264 Adolescent growth spurt......Page 267 Climate and body form......Page 268 Skin color......Page 269 Prospects for further paleobiological study......Page 272 Introduction......Page 273 Systematics......Page 275 Distribution in time and space......Page 276 Phenotypic features......Page 277 Acclimation......Page 284 Developmental......Page 286 Genetic drift......Page 287 Hybridization vs. mutation......Page 289 Molecular and morphological perspectives on modern human origins......Page 291 Implications of molecular evidence for human paleobiology......Page 295 Alternatives to phylogeny......Page 296 Genetic distance data......Page 298 Gene differences......Page 300 Changing definitions of taxonomic categories......Page 301 Species concepts and human paleobiology......Page 302 Lineages and character states......Page 303 The temporal contexts of hominid fossils......Page 305 Paleobiology's 'two cultures' problem......Page 307 Bibliography......Page 310 Index......Page 360 Human Paleobiology Provides A Unifying Framework For The Study Of Human Populations, Both Past And Present, In A Range Of Changing Environments. It Integrates Evidence From Studies Of Human Adaptability, Comparative Primatology, And Molecular Genetics To Document Consistent Measures Of Genetic Distance Between Subspecies, Species, And Other Taxonomic Groupings. These Findings Support The Interpretation Of The Biology Of Humans In Terms Of A Smaller Number Of Populations Characterized By Higher Levels Of Genetic Continuity Than Previously Hypothesized. Using This As A Basis, Robert Eckhardt Goes On To Analyze Problems In Human Paleobiology Including Phenotypic Differentiation, Patterns Of Species Range Expansion And Phyletic Succession In Terms Of The Patterns And Processes Still Observable In Extant Populations. This Book Will Be A Challenging And Stimulating Read For Students And Researchers Interested In Human Paleobiology Or Evolutionary Anthropology.--jacket. Paleobiology : Present Perspectives On The Past -- Constancy And Change : Taxonomic Uncertainty In A Probabilistic World -- A Century Of Fossils -- About A Century Of Theory -- Human Adaptability Present And Past -- Primate Patterns Of Diversity And Adaptation -- Hominid Phylogeny : Morphological And Molecular Measures Of Diversity -- Plio-pleistocene Hominids : The Paleobiology Of Fragmented Populations -- Character State Velocity In The Emergence Of More Advanced Hominids -- The Paleobiology Of Widely Dispersed Hominids -- Paleobiological Perspectives On Modern Human Origins -- A Future For The Past. Robert B. Eckhardt. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 294-343) And Index. Annotation Human Paleobiology provides a unifying framework for the study of past and present human populations to a range of changing environments. It integrates evidence from studies of human adaptability, comparative primatology, and molecular genetics to document consistent measures of genetic distance among subspecies, species, and other taxonomic groupings. These findings support the interpretation of human biology in terms of fewer number of populations characterized by higher levels of genetic continuity than previously hypothesized. Using this as a basis, Robert Eckhardt goes on to analyze problems in human paleobiology including phenotypic differentiation, patterns of species range expansion, and phyletic succession in terms of the patterns and processes still observable in extant populations. This book will be a challenging and stimulating read for students and researchers interested in human paleobiology or evolutionary anthropology Human Paleobiology provides a unifying framework for the study of past and present human populations to a range of changing environments. It integrates evidence from studies of human adaptability, comparative primatology, and molecular genetics to document consistent measures of genetic distance among subspecies, species, and other taxonomic groupings. These findings support the interpretation of human biology in terms of fewer number of populations characterized by higher levels of genetic continuity than previously hypothesized. Using this as a basis, Robert Eckhardt goes on to analyze problems in human paleobiology including phenotypic differentiation. Human Paleobiology explores the adaptability and variation in past and present human populations under a range of changing environmental conditions. Using a historical approach emphasizing phenotypic features instead of complex taxonomy, it will be a stimulating and challenging read for all those interested in human paleobiology, evolutionary biology and anthropology