Strategies of adaptation: interpopulation selection differentials.

Abstract

Spatial and temporal variation of selection intensities has been analyzed using published data on Crow's indices in 278 human populations, representing various anthropological types, religions, cultures and a wide spectrum of environmental conditions. Statistical analysis has shown that populations with different types of economy have different adaptive strategies. In tribal populations both components of selection-differential fertility and differential mortality-have equal contributions, vary according to ecological factors and show no decline with time. Urban populations of the industrially developed countries show dramatic selection relaxation; the second component becomes negligible due to a sharp decrease in childhood mortality; fertility and its variance are reducing due to cultural factors (family planning).