The Evolution of Hominin Diets: Integrating Approaches to the Study of Palaeolithic Subsistence (Vertebrate Paleobiology and Paleoanthropology)

This is the first book containing an overall survey of natural product distribution pattern variation. Presented in this book is an overview of geographic patterns in the distribution of plant secondary metabolites in natural populations. Following an introduction that includes definitions of phytochemical and biogeographic ideas, information is presented in five loosely defined categories: (1) trans-oceanic disjunctions; (2) examples within continents; (3) after the ice; (4) oceanic islands; and (5) polar disjunctions. Typical examples include variation in antiherbivore or antifungal properties of plant chemicals; or subtle changes in floral pigmentation and patterning that could affect pollinator behavior. Many systems of this sort have provided challenges for chemical-ecological research, and many of the examples compiled in this book would likely do the same. This book provides an overview of geographic patterns in the distribution of plant secondary metabolites in natural populations. Examples include most common natural product classes: acetylenic derivatives; alkaloids; carotenoids; cyanogenic glycosides; flavonoids; terpenes of various sizes; as well as other structural types less easily categorized. By comparison, earlier reports in the literature on "chemical races" focused either on individual classes of compounds, on specific taxa, or on a particular geographic region. Following an introduction that includes definitions of phytochemical and biogeographic ideas, information is presented in five loosely defined geographic trans-oceanic categories: examples within continents; after the ice; intercontinental disjunctions; oceanic islands; and polar disjunctions. It has often been said that natural variation is the essence of evolution. It seems reasonable to suggest that this is as true with plant secondary metabolites as with any other feature that confers an advantage to one set of individuals over antiherbivore or antifungal activity of plants as they colonize new habitats, and thus meet new challenges; or subtle changes in floral pigmentation and patterning that would affect behavior of pollinators This volume brings together new and important research from the top experts in hominid diets across multiple fields. The objective of the volume is to explore if there is a consensus between the different methods, allowing us to better understand the nature of hominin dietary strategies through time. Contributions focus on modern studies, faunal studies, physical anthropology, archaeological studies, and isotopic studies, all aimed at answering the major questions of the evolution of hominid diets, such as: meat-eating emergence, hunting vs. scavenging, hunting technologies, and resource intensification in later humans. Assembling a rich blend from the realms of archaeology, paleoanthropology and isotopic analysis, this excellent text confronts the perennial question: what was our ancestral diet? --Henry Schwarcz, McMaster University, Ontario, Canada 'This masterful multidisciplinary synthesis of human dietary evolution is simply a must-have reference for all biological anthropologists, archaeologists and palaeoanthropologists interested in our past.' --Leslie Aiello, Wenner-Gren Foundation for Anthropological Research "This book provides an overview of geographic patterns in the distribution of plant secondary metabolites in natural populations. Examples include most common natural product classes: acetylenic derivatives; alkaloids; carotenoids; cyanogenic glycosides; flavonoids; terpenes of various sizes; as well as other structural types less easily categorized. By comparison, earlier reports in the literature on "chemical races" focused either on individual classes of compounds, on specific taxa, or on a particular geographic area. Following an introduction that includes definitions of phytochemical and biogeographic ideas, information is presented in five loosely defined categories." "It is the underlying idea in evolution that natural variation is the raw material upon which selection works. It seems reasonable to suggest that this is as true with plant secondary metabolites as with any other feature that confers an advantage to one set of individuals over antiherbivore or antifungal activity of plants as they colonize new habitats."--Jacket