Mondanaro, A, Melchionna, M, Di Febbraro, M, Castiglione, S, Holden, PB, Edwards, NR, Carotenuto, F, Maiorano, L, Modafferi, M, Serio, C, Diniz-Filho, JAF, Rangel, T, Rook, L, O'Higgins, P, Spikins, P, Profico, A and Raia, P (2020) A Major Change in Rate of Climate Niche Envelope Evolution during Hominid History. iScience, 23 (11). ISSN 2589-0042

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Abstract

Homo sapiens is the only species alive able to take advantage of its cognitive abilities to inhabit almost all environments on Earth. Humans are able to culturally construct, rather than biologically inherit, their occupied climatic niche to a degree unparalleled within the animal kingdom. Precisely, when hominins acquired such an ability remains unknown, and scholars disagree on the extent to which our ancestors shared this same ability. Here, we settle this issue using fine-grained paleoclimatic data, extensive archaeological data, and phylogenetic comparative methods. Our results indicate that whereas early hominins were forced to live under physiologically suitable climatic conditions, with the emergence of H. heidelbergensis, the Homo climatic niche expanded beyond its natural limits, despite progressive harshening in global climates. This indicates that technological innovations providing effective exploitation of cold and seasonal habitats predated the emergence of Homo sapiens.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Science & Technology; Multidisciplinary Sciences; Science & Technology - Other Topics
Subjects:	G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > GE Environmental Sciences G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > GF Human ecology. Anthropogeography G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > GN Anthropology Q Science > QH Natural history > QH301 Biology Q Science > QP Physiology
Divisions:	Biological & Environmental Sciences (from Sep 19)
Publisher:	Cell Press
Related URLs:	Author
Date Deposited:	12 Feb 2021 09:34
Last Modified:	04 Sep 2021 05:57
DOI or ID number:	10.1016/j.isci.2020.101693
URI:	https://researchonline.ljmu.ac.uk/id/eprint/14442

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