Characterizing the Evolutionary Path(s) to Early Homo

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dc.contributor.authorSchroeder, Laurenen_ZA
dc.contributor.authorRoseman, Charles C.en_ZA
dc.contributor.authorCheverud, James M.en_ZA
dc.contributor.authorAckermann, Rebecca Rogersen_ZA
dc.date.accessioned2015-11-09T13:20:47Z
dc.date.available2015-11-09T13:20:47Z
dc.date.issued2014en_ZA
dc.description.abstractNumerous studies suggest that the transition from Australopithecus to Homo was characterized by evolutionary innovation, resulting in the emergence and coexistence of a diversity of forms. However, the evolutionary processes necessary to drive such a transition have not been examined. Here, we apply statistical tests developed from quantitative evolutionary theory to assess whether morphological differences among late australopith and early Homo species in Africa have been shaped by natural selection. Where selection is demonstrated, we identify aspects of morphology that were most likely under selective pressure, and determine the nature (type, rate) of that selection. Results demonstrate that selection must be invoked to explain an Au. africanus -- Au. sediba -- Homo transition, while transitions from late australopiths to various early Homo species that exclude Au. sediba can be achieved through drift alone. Rate tests indicate that selection is largely directional, acting to rapidly differentiate these taxa. Reconstructions of patterns of directional selection needed to drive the Au. africanus -- Au. sediba -- Homo transition suggest that selection would have affected all regions of the skull. These results may indicate that an evolutionary path to Homo without Au. sediba is the simpler path and/or provide evidence that this pathway involved more reliance on cultural adaptations to cope with environmental change.en_ZA
dc.identifier.apacitationSchroeder, L., Roseman, Charles C., Cheverud, James M., & Ackermann, R. R. (2014). Characterizing the Evolutionary Path(s) to Early Homo. <i>PLoS One</i>, http://hdl.handle.net/11427/14787en_ZA
dc.identifier.chicagocitationSchroeder, Lauren, Charles C. Roseman, James M. Cheverud, and Rebecca Rogers Ackermann "Characterizing the Evolutionary Path(s) to Early Homo." <i>PLoS One</i> (2014) http://hdl.handle.net/11427/14787en_ZA
dc.identifier.citationSchroeder, L., Roseman, C. C., Cheverud, J. M., & Ackermann, R. R. (2014). Characterizing the Evolutionary Path (s) to Early Homo. PloS one, 9(12), e114307. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0114307en_ZA
dc.identifier.ris TY - Journal Article AU - Schroeder, Lauren AU - Roseman, Charles C. AU - Cheverud, James M. AU - Ackermann, Rebecca Rogers AB - Numerous studies suggest that the transition from Australopithecus to Homo was characterized by evolutionary innovation, resulting in the emergence and coexistence of a diversity of forms. However, the evolutionary processes necessary to drive such a transition have not been examined. Here, we apply statistical tests developed from quantitative evolutionary theory to assess whether morphological differences among late australopith and early Homo species in Africa have been shaped by natural selection. Where selection is demonstrated, we identify aspects of morphology that were most likely under selective pressure, and determine the nature (type, rate) of that selection. Results demonstrate that selection must be invoked to explain an Au. africanus -- Au. sediba -- Homo transition, while transitions from late australopiths to various early Homo species that exclude Au. sediba can be achieved through drift alone. Rate tests indicate that selection is largely directional, acting to rapidly differentiate these taxa. Reconstructions of patterns of directional selection needed to drive the Au. africanus -- Au. sediba -- Homo transition suggest that selection would have affected all regions of the skull. These results may indicate that an evolutionary path to Homo without Au. sediba is the simpler path and/or provide evidence that this pathway involved more reliance on cultural adaptations to cope with environmental change. DA - 2014 DB - OpenUCT DO - 10.1371/journal.pone.0114307 DP - University of Cape Town J1 - PLoS One LK - https://open.uct.ac.za PB - University of Cape Town PY - 2014 T1 - Characterizing the Evolutionary Path(s) to Early Homo TI - Characterizing the Evolutionary Path(s) to Early Homo UR - http://hdl.handle.net/11427/14787 ER - en_ZA
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/11427/14787
dc.identifier.urihttp://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0114307
dc.identifier.vancouvercitationSchroeder L, Roseman Charles C, Cheverud James M, Ackermann RR. Characterizing the Evolutionary Path(s) to Early Homo. PLoS One. 2014; http://hdl.handle.net/11427/14787.en_ZA
dc.language.isoengen_ZA
dc.publisherPublic Library of Scienceen_ZA
dc.publisher.departmentDepartment of Archaeologyen_ZA
dc.publisher.facultyFaculty of Scienceen_ZA
dc.publisher.institutionUniversity of Cape Town
dc.rightsThis is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the <a href=en_ZA
dc.rights.holder© 2014 Schroeder et alen_ZA
dc.rights.urihttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0en_ZA
dc.sourcePLoS Oneen_ZA
dc.source.urihttp://journals.plos.org/plosoneen_ZA
dc.subject.otherHuman evolutionen_ZA
dc.subject.otherNatural selectionen_ZA
dc.subject.otherPaleoanthropologyen_ZA
dc.subject.otherEvolutionary geneticsen_ZA
dc.subject.otherGenetic driften_ZA
dc.subject.otherFaceen_ZA
dc.subject.otherCovarianceen_ZA
dc.subject.otherEvolutionary processesen_ZA
dc.titleCharacterizing the Evolutionary Path(s) to Early Homoen_ZA
dc.typeJournal Articleen_ZA
uct.type.filetypeText
uct.type.filetypeImage
uct.type.publicationResearchen_ZA
uct.type.resourceArticleen_ZA
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