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Locomotor constraints favour the evolution of the human pygmy phenotype in tropical rainforests
Abstract
The convergent evolution of the human pygmy phenotype in tropical rainforests is widely assumed to reflect adaptation in response to the distinct ecological challenges of this habitat (e.g. high levels of heat and humidity, high pathogen load, low food availability, and dense forest structure), yet few precise adaptive benefits of this phenotype have been proposed. Here, we describe and test a biomechanical model of how the rainforest environment can alter gait kinematics such that short stature is advantageous in dense habitats. We hypothesized that environmental constraints on step length in rainforests alter walking mechanics such that taller individuals are expected to walk more slowly due to their inability to achieve preferred step lengths in the rainforest. We tested predictions from this model with experimental field data from two short-statured populations that regularly forage in the rainforest: the Batek of Peninsular Malaysia and the Tsimane of the Bolivian Amazon. In accordance with model expectations, we found stature-dependent constraints on step length in the rainforest and concomitant reductions in walking speed that are expected to compromise foraging efficiency. These results provide the first evidence that the human pygmy phenotype is beneficial in terms of locomotor performance and highlight the value of applying laboratory-derived biomechanical models to field settings for testing evolutionary hypotheses.
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Shorter individuals may need to make fewer adjustments to their standard walking kinematics in forests, which could provide an additional selective force for reduced stature in forest-dwelling populations alongside reducing constraints on step length.
“This result suggests that shorter individuals may need to make fewer adjustments to their standard walking kinematics in forests, which could provide an additional selective force for reduced stature in forest-dwelling populations alongside reducing constraints on step length (Venkataraman et al., 2018).”
From Forest terrains influence walking kinematics among indigenous Tsimane of the Bolivian Amazon (2022) · cites this paper as Venkataraman et al., 2018
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Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredThe step length decrease in forest was probably made because step length is constrained by the need to find stable foot placement and avoid obstacles like tree roots and other vegetation.
“and we argued that this adjustment was probably made because step length is constrained by the need to find stable foot placement and avoid obstacles like tree roots and other vegetation.”
From Forest terrains influence walking kinematics among indigenous Tsimane of the Bolivian Amazon (2022) · cites this paper as Venkataraman et al., 2018
In both Batek and Tsimane populations, participants decreased their average step length in the forest when compared with walking on even, open field surfaces.
“We found that in both populations, participants decreased their average step length in the forest when compared with walking on even, open field surfaces”
From Forest terrains influence walking kinematics among indigenous Tsimane of the Bolivian Amazon (2022) · cites this paper as Venkataraman et al., 2018
Natural terrains such as rocky ground, savannah brushland and forest floors are characterised by uneven textures, three-dimensional impediments and varying firmness that could cause individuals to alter their standard kinematics to maintain balance and/or avoid stepping on hazardous objects.
“The surfaces of many natural terrains, such as rocky ground, savannah brushland and forest floors, are characterised by uneven textures, three-dimensional impediments (e.g. rocks, roots, vegetation) and varying firmness that could cause individuals to alter their ‘standard’ kinematics to maintain balance and/or avoid stepping on hazardous objects (Matthis, Yates, & Hayhoe, 2018; Venkataraman et al”
From Forest terrains influence walking kinematics among indigenous Tsimane of the Bolivian Amazon (2022) · cites this paper as Venkataraman et al., 2018
In our previous study of forest walking, we found shorter average step lengths over the full transect.
“which stands in contrast to the shorter average step lengths over the full transect that we found in our previous study of forest walking (Venkataraman et al., 2018).”
From Forest terrains influence walking kinematics among indigenous Tsimane of the Bolivian Amazon (2022) · cites this paper as Venkataraman et al., 2018
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“Second, the relationship between walking speed and COT is U-shaped, and the speed at the minimum of this curve (COTmin) is necessarily higher for taller individuals [7].”
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Forest terrains influence walking kinematics among indigenous Tsimane of the Bolivian Amazon
Holowka, N. B., Kraft, T. S., Wallace, I. J., Gurven, M., & Venkataraman, V. V. (2022) · Evolutionary Human Sciences · doi:10.1017/ehs.2022.13 · Cited by 18
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Metadata
- Authors
- Venkataraman, V. V., Yegian, A. K., Wallace, I. J., Holowka, N. B., Tacey, I., Gurven, M., & Kraft, T. S.
- Affiliations
- Institute for Advanced Study in Toulouse, Toulouse, France
- Department of Human Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, USA
- Department of Sociology, Philosophy and Anthropology, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK
- Department of Anthropology, University of California, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, USA
- Venue
- Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences
- Publisher
- The Royal Society
- Published
- 2018-11-07
- Volume
- 285
- Issue
- 1890
- Pages
- 20181492
- ISSN
- 0962-8452
- 1471-2954
- Cited by
- 10
- References
- 1
- Language
- en
- Funders
- American School of Prehistoric Research
- Wenner-Gren Foundation (8551)
- Division of Social and Economic Sciences
- ANR Labex IAST
- National Institutes on Aging (R01AG024119)
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