Growth rates and life histories in twenty-two small-scale societies.
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.
Walker
Robert
R
Department of Anthropology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, 87131, USA. robwal@unm.edu
Gurven
Michael
M
Hill
Kim
K
Migliano
Andrea
A
Chagnon
Napoleon
N
De Souza
Roberta
R
Djurovic
Gradimir
G
Hames
Raymond
R
Hurtado
A Magdalena
AM
Kaplan
Hillard
H
Kramer
Karen
K
Oliver
William J
WJ
Valeggia
Claudia
C
Yamauchi
Taro
T
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001827:Body Height / Q000502:physiology*; D001835:Body Weight / Q000502:physiology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005007:Ethnology; D005260:Female; D006130:Growth Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015996:Survival Rate / Q000639:trends