Evolution of earlyHomo: An integrated biological perspective

Science ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 345 (6192) ◽  
pp. 1236828 ◽  
Author(s):  
Susan C. Antón ◽  
Richard Potts ◽  
Leslie C. Aiello
Keyword(s):  
Life History ◽  
Life History Traits ◽  
Homo Sapiens ◽  
Selective Advantage ◽  
Environmental Data ◽  
Evolutionary Time ◽  
The Past ◽  
Biological Perspective ◽  
Dietary Flexibility ◽  
Hind Limbs

Integration of evidence over the past decade has revised understandings about the major adaptations underlying the origin and early evolution of the genusHomo. Many features associated withHomo sapiens, including our large linear bodies, elongated hind limbs, large energy-expensive brains, reduced sexual dimorphism, increased carnivory, and unique life history traits, were once thought to have evolved near the origin of the genus in response to heightened aridity and open habitats in Africa. However, recent analyses of fossil, archaeological, and environmental data indicate that such traits did not arise as a single package. Instead, some arose substantially earlier and some later than previously thought. From ~2.5 to 1.5 million years ago, three lineages of earlyHomoevolved in a context of habitat instability and fragmentation on seasonal, intergenerational, and evolutionary time scales. These contexts gave a selective advantage to traits, such as dietary flexibility and larger body size, that facilitated survival in shifting environments.

Carbon isotope composition of tree leaves from Guanacaste, Costa Rica: comparison across tropical forests and tree life history

2002 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
pp. 151-159 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. JOSHUA LEFFLER ◽  
BRIAN J. ENQUIST
Keyword(s):  
Life History ◽  
Functional Diversity ◽  
Life History Traits ◽  
Isotope Composition ◽  
Tropical Climate ◽  
Tropical Plants ◽  
The Past ◽  
Physiological Diversity ◽  
Tight Association ◽  
Made In

Despite the progress made in understanding the ecophysiology of tropical plants during the past two decades (Lüttge 1997, Mulkey et al. 1996), questions regarding relationships between the environment and physiological diversity remain. It is now recognized that tropical climate can be quite variable (see Coen 1983) which could lead to significant functional diversity (increased variation in life history traits) among species due to the tight association between gas exchange physiology and the environment (see Enquist & Leffler 2001, Guehl et al. 1998, Huc et al. 1994, Martinelli et al. 1998, Sobrado 1993). It remains unclear, however, how the subtleties of variation in tropical climate and tree life history traits are related to the functional diversity of tropical communities (Borchert 1994, 1998).

scholarly journals Microbiota Influences Fitness and Timing of Reproduction in the Fruit Fly Drosophila melanogaster

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Melinda K. Matthews ◽  
Jaanna Malcolm ◽  
John M. Chaston
Keyword(s):  
Drosophila Melanogaster ◽  
Life History ◽  
Microbial Communities ◽  
Life History Traits ◽  
Fruit Fly ◽  
Clear Definition ◽  
Animal Life ◽  
Timing Of Reproduction ◽  
The Past ◽  
Definition Of

The ability of associated microorganisms (“microbiota”) to influence animal life history traits has been recognized and investigated, especially in the past 2 decades. For many microbial communities, there is not always a clear definition of whether the microbiota or its members are beneficial, pathogenic, or relatively neutral to their hosts’ fitness.

scholarly journals Long-Term Patterns of Amphibian Diversity, Abundance and Nutrient Export from Small, Isolated Wetlands

Diversity ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (11) ◽  
pp. 598
Author(s):  
Carla L. Atkinson ◽  
Daniel D. Knapp ◽  
Lora L. Smith
Keyword(s):  
Life History ◽  
Environmental Conditions ◽  
Life History Traits ◽  
Community Dynamics ◽  
Animal Movement ◽  
Nutrient Content ◽  
Environmental Data ◽  
Spatial And Temporal Variability ◽  
Isolated Wetlands

Seasonally inundated wetlands contribute to biodiversity support and ecosystem function at the landscape scale. These temporally dynamic ecosystems contain unique assemblages of animals adapted to cyclically wet–dry habitats. As a result of the high variation in environmental conditions, wetlands serve as hotspots for animal movement and potentially hotspots of biogeochemical activity and migratory transport of nutrient subsidies. Most amphibians are semi-aquatic and migrate between isolated wetlands and the surrounding terrestrial system to complete their life cycle, with rainfall and other environmental factors affecting the timing and magnitude of wetland export of juveniles. Here we used a long-term drift fence study coupled with system-specific nutrient content data of amphibians from two small wetlands in southeastern Georgia, USA. We couple environmental data with count data of juveniles exiting wetlands to explore the controls of amphibian diversity, production and export and the amphibian life-history traits associated with export over varying environmental conditions. Our results highlight the high degree of spatial and temporal variability in amphibian flux with hydroperiod length and temperature driving community composition and overall biomass and nutrient fluxes. Additionally, specific life-history traits, such as development time and body size, were associated with longer hydroperiods. Our findings underscore the key role of small, isolated wetlands and their hydroperiod characteristics in maintaining amphibian productivity and community dynamics.

scholarly journals Phenotypic selection and covariation in the life-history traits of elephant seals: heavier offspring gain a double selective advantage

Oikos ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 127 (6) ◽  
pp. 875-889 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. Chris Oosthuizen ◽  
Res Altwegg ◽  
Marie Nevoux ◽  
M. N. Bester ◽  
P. J. Nico de Bruyn
Keyword(s):  
Life History ◽  
Life History Traits ◽  
Phenotypic Selection ◽  
Selective Advantage ◽  
Elephant Seals

Coral biodiversity and evolution: recent molecular contributions

2002 ◽  
Vol 80 (10) ◽  
pp. 1723-1734 ◽  
Author(s):  
Uri Frank ◽  
Ofer Mokady
Keyword(s):  
Life History ◽  
Life History Traits ◽  
Recent Literature ◽  
Morphological Characters ◽  
Reticulate Evolution ◽  
The Past ◽  
Tropical Reefs ◽  
New Concepts ◽  
Molecular Studies ◽  
The Subject

Tropical reefs are among the most diverse ecosystems. Corals, as the most prominent members and framework builders of these communities, deserve special attention, especially in light of the recent decline of coral reefs worldwide. The diversity of corals at various levels has been the subject of many studies, and has traditionally been investigated using morphological characters. This approach has proved insufficient, owing to several ecological and life-history traits of corals. The use of molecular/biochemical approaches has been propelling this discipline forward at an ever-increasing rate for the past decade or so. Reticulate evolution in corals, which has challenged traditional views on the ecology, evolution, and biodiversity of these organisms, is only one example of the results of molecular studies supporting the development of new concepts. We review recent literature reporting studies of the biodiversity, ecology, and evolution of corals in which molecular methods have been employed. We anticipate that in the coming years, an increasing number of studies in molecular biology will generate new and exciting ideas regarding the biology of corals.

Does temporal variation in predation risk affect antipredator responses of larval Indian Skipper Frogs (Euphlyctis cyanophlyctis)?

2020 ◽  
Vol 98 (3) ◽  
pp. 202-209
Author(s):  
S.C. Supekar ◽  
N.P. Gramapurohit
Keyword(s):  
Life History ◽  
Temporal Variation ◽  
Predation Risk ◽  
Life History Traits ◽  
Seasonal Cycles ◽  
Evolutionary Time ◽  
Euphlyctis Cyanophlyctis ◽  
Specific Behaviour ◽  
Antipredator Responses ◽  
Long Tails

Predation risk varies on a moment-to-moment basis, through day and night, lunar and seasonal cycles, and over evolutionary time. Hence, it is adaptive for prey animals to exhibit environment-specific behaviour, morphology, and (or) life-history traits. Herein, the effects of temporally varying predation risk on growth, behaviour, morphology, and life-history traits of larval Indian Skipper Frogs (Euphlyctis cyanophlyctis (Schneider, 1799)) were studied by exposing them to no risk, continuous, predictable, and unpredictable risks at different time points. Our results show that larval E. cyanophlyctis could learn the temporal pattern of risk leading to weaker behavioural responses under predictable risk and stronger responses to unpredictable risk. Temporally varying predation risk had a significant impact on tadpole morphology. Tadpoles facing continuous risk had narrow tail muscles. Tadpoles facing predictable risk during the day were heavy with wide and deep tail muscles, whereas those facing predictable risk at night had long tails. Tadpoles facing unpredictable risk were heavy with narrow tail muscles. Metamorphic traits of E. cyanophlyctis were also affected by the temporal variation in predation risk. Tadpoles facing predictable risk during the day emerged at the largest size. However, tadpoles facing predictable risk at night and unpredictable risk metamorphosed earlier, whereas those facing continuous risk metamorphosed later.

The evolution of human life course

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Francesco Suman
Keyword(s):  
Life History ◽  
Phenotypic Plasticity ◽  
Life History Traits ◽  
Homo Sapiens ◽  
Human Life ◽  
Life History Evolution ◽  
Extended Evolutionary Synthesis ◽  
Genetic Accommodation ◽  
Selective Pressures ◽  
Life History Pattern

Homo sapiens’ life history pattern possesses both fast and slow components, in a combination that is unique among the extant great apes. One of the issues debated in current evolutionary research is the role played by phenotypic plasticity as a non-genetic means of adaptation to evolutionary challenges. While life history parameters are shaped at a species level by genetic adaptations via natural selection, they remain very sensitive to changes in the environment. Relying on updated evidence and on key explanatory tools of the Extended Evolutionary Synthesis (phenotypic plasticity, niche construction, and inclusive inheritance), it is likely that environmentally induced plasticity led the way in human life history evolution, promoting subsequent genetic accommodation. To the extent that culturally transmitted behaviors altered the selective pressures that acted on life history traits across generations during human evolution, a culturally driven plasticity dynamic shaping human life history traits can be identified. Two case studies in particular are discussed: the human adaptations to the domestication of fire and the self-domestication hypothesis.

Prey tell: what quillback rockfish early life history traits reveal about their survival in encounters with juvenile coho salmon

2020 ◽  
Vol 650 ◽  
pp. 7-18 ◽  
Author(s):  
HW Fennie ◽  
S Sponaugle ◽  
EA Daly ◽  
RD Brodeur
Keyword(s):  
Life History ◽  
Early Life ◽  
Life History Traits ◽  
Direct Evidence ◽  
Coho Salmon ◽  
Larval Fish ◽  
Early Life History ◽  
In The Wild ◽  
Otolith Microstructure Analysis ◽  
Pelagic Juvenile

Predation is a major source of mortality in the early life stages of fishes and a driving force in shaping fish populations. Theoretical, modeling, and laboratory studies have generated hypotheses that larval fish size, age, growth rate, and development rate affect their susceptibility to predation. Empirical data on predator selection in the wild are challenging to obtain, and most selective mortality studies must repeatedly sample populations of survivors to indirectly examine survivorship. While valuable on a population scale, these approaches can obscure selection by particular predators. In May 2018, along the coast of Washington, USA, we simultaneously collected juvenile quillback rockfish Sebastes maliger from both the environment and the stomachs of juvenile coho salmon Oncorhynchus kisutch. We used otolith microstructure analysis to examine whether juvenile coho salmon were age-, size-, and/or growth-selective predators of juvenile quillback rockfish. Our results indicate that juvenile rockfish consumed by salmon were significantly smaller, slower growing at capture, and younger than surviving (unconsumed) juvenile rockfish, providing direct evidence that juvenile coho salmon are selective predators on juvenile quillback rockfish. These differences in early life history traits between consumed and surviving rockfish are related to timing of parturition and the environmental conditions larval rockfish experienced, suggesting that maternal effects may substantially influence survival at this stage. Our results demonstrate that variability in timing of parturition and sea surface temperature leads to tradeoffs in early life history traits between growth in the larval stage and survival when encountering predators in the pelagic juvenile stage.

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