American Journal of Biological Anthropology最新文献_第7页

The Population Problem: Biological Anthropology and the Many Definitions of a Population 人口问题：生物人类学与人口的多种定义。

IF 2 2区生物学 Q1 ANTHROPOLOGY

American Journal of Biological Anthropology

Pub Date : 2025-10-23 DOI: 10.1002/ajpa.70141

Adam P. Van Arsdale, Robin G. Nelson

Objectives

With a focus on variability, biological anthropology has nominally centered the population as a key unit of analysis and node of evolutionary change. In this paper, we examine constructions of the population concept in contemporary research, with particular attention to the challenges they present in typology, the conflation of place and organism, and tractability.

Methods and Materials

We carry out a comprehensive bibliometric analysis of the use of “population” as a term within the AJBA from 2013 to 2022. We identify 739 publications, or approximately one-third of AJBA publications during that time period, that use the term within their abstract. For each of these publications, we categorize the subfield, time period of interest, sample size, and the use of population within the article.

Results

The use of the term population within contemporary biological anthropology is highly variable, with large variation in sample sizes, time range, and the biological characteristics used to identify a population. Although populations are widely employed across subfields, there is no consistency in how that term is used, the variability it represents, or how it might operate as an evolutionary category.

Conclusions

The lack of theoretical and practical coherence is a problem for the discipline. While there is no singular and correct definition of the term, from an evolutionary perspective, populations should be clearly presented and reflective of a hypothesis of evolutionary action.

目的：生物人类学关注变异，名义上把人口作为分析进化变化的关键单位和节点。在本文中，我们考察了当代研究中人口概念的构建，特别关注它们在类型学、地点和有机体的合并以及可追溯性方面所面临的挑战。方法和材料：我们对2013年至2022年AJBA中“人口”一词的使用情况进行了全面的文献计量分析。我们确定了739篇论文，或大约三分之一的AJBA论文在他们的摘要中使用了这个术语。对于这些出版物中的每一篇，我们对子字段、感兴趣的时间段、样本量和文章中人口的使用进行了分类。结果：在当代生物人类学中，“种群”一词的使用是高度可变的，在样本量、时间范围和用于识别种群的生物学特征方面存在很大差异。尽管种群在各个子领域被广泛使用，但在这个术语的使用方式、它所代表的可变性，或者它作为一个进化范畴的运作方式上，并没有一致性。结论：缺乏理论与实践的一致性是该学科的一个问题。虽然这个术语没有单一和正确的定义，但从进化的角度来看，种群应该被清楚地呈现出来，并反映出进化行为的假设。

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引用次数: 0

Evaluating the Evolvability of Paranthropus Cranial Morphology in Relation to Feeding Biomechanics 类人猿颅骨形态的进化与进食生物力学的关系。

IF 2 2区生物学 Q1 ANTHROPOLOGY

American Journal of Biological Anthropology

Pub Date : 2025-10-20 DOI: 10.1002/ajpa.70136

Hyunwoo Jung, Campbell Rolian, David S. Strait, Karen L. Baab

Objective

Although disagreement persists as to the precise nature of the diet of Paranthropus, there is a consensus that the food resources consumed by Paranthropus were in some way mechanically challenging to process (i.e., by being “hard” and/or “tough”). While the highly derived feeding apparatus of Paranthropus likely conferred biomechanical performance advantages while consuming certain types of foods, it may also have limited the ability of these early hominins to respond to selection and evolve rapidly toward new adaptive peaks (i.e., reduced their evolvability).

Materials and Methods

We employed viability selection modeling to test this hypothesis. Viability selection simulations were performed using Paranthropus boisei (OH 5), Australopithecus afarensis (A.L. 444-2), and Homo habilis (KNM-ER 1813) specimens. We simulated the generation-to-generation evolution of biomechanically informative linear dimensions in a population where an individual's probability of survival (i.e., viability) was determined by its distance to a predetermined adaptive peak. The number of generations required for an evolving population to reach a new adaptive peak was used as a measure of evolvability.

Results

The results showed that the mean number of generations from P. boisei to H. habilis was larger than in the reverse direction when modeled using either chimpanzee or human estimates of population variance/covariance. It took longer for P. boisei to evolve toward Au. afarensis than in the reverse direction, but only with the chimpanzee estimates of population variance/covariance.

Discussion

The results suggest that P. boisei faced limitations in cranial evolvability, particularly if selection favored a cranial morphology similar to H. habilis.

目的：尽管对于傍人兽饮食的确切性质存在分歧，但人们一致认为傍人兽消耗的食物资源在某种程度上具有机械挑战性（即“硬”和/或“硬”）。虽然类人猿的高度衍生的进食装置可能在消耗某些类型的食物时赋予生物力学性能优势，但它也可能限制了这些早期人类对选择的反应能力，并迅速进化到新的适应高峰（即降低了它们的可进化性）。材料和方法：我们采用生存力选择模型来验证这一假设。采用boisei副人（OH 5）、afarensis南方古猿（A.L. 444-2）和能人（KNM-ER 1813）标本进行生存力选择模拟。我们模拟了种群中生物力学信息线性维度的代际进化，其中个体的生存概率（即生存能力）由其与预定适应峰值的距离决定。进化种群达到新的适应高峰所需的世代数被用作衡量可进化性的指标。结果：结果表明，当使用黑猩猩或人类的种群方差/协方差估算模型时，从种猪到能人的平均代数大于相反方向的代数。P. boisei向Au进化花了更长的时间。与阿法种相反，但只与黑猩猩种群方差/协方差的估计有关。讨论：结果表明，猿的颅骨进化能力受到限制，特别是如果选择倾向于与能人相似的颅骨形态。

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引用次数: 0

Atlantic Crossings: Biosocial Interventions in African Diasporic Bioarchaeological Thought and Practice 跨大西洋：非洲散居生物考古思想与实践中的生物社会干预。

IF 2 2区生物学 Q1 ANTHROPOLOGY

American Journal of Biological Anthropology

Pub Date : 2025-10-20 DOI: 10.1002/ajpa.70140

Andreana S. Cunningham

Objectives

The African diaspora, or the mass displacement of Africans and their descendants as a result of colonial slave trading, continues to be a topic of methodological and theoretical interest in biological anthropology and bioarchaeology. However, the legacies of racist and exploitative research that are inherent to diasporic burial contexts have prompted questions about the futures of diasporic bioarchaeological practice. This paper presents a biosocial integrative framework as an intervention toward interdisciplinary study of African diasporic biosocial variation.

Materials and Methods

Framing the sea as a site of rupture, possibility, and interconnectivity serves as a theoretical foundation for this framework to outline both the diversity and complications in analyzing enslavement contexts. In operationalizing biosocial integrative approaches, the framework emphasizes critical interrogation and deconstruction of traditional modes of measurement. These considerations are applied to two diasporic island case studies in 19th century Barbados and St. Helena, sites comprising enslaved and “Liberated African” groups, respectively.

Results

The case studies reflect the ways that notions of birthplace can profoundly shape modes of racialization and agency. In Barbados, this emerged in the disparity between creole and African birthplace, while in St. Helena this was demonstrated in biosocial stratification and prominent Southeastern African origins.

Discussion

The case studies reveal ways that shifting 19th century coercive labor systems corresponded with changes to migration flows and Afro-descendants' origins. More broadly, the framework and case studies demonstrate how biosocial integrative approaches may glean a more holistic understanding of historic Afro-descendant variation.

目的：散居的非洲人，或大规模流离失所的非洲人及其后裔作为殖民奴隶贸易的结果，仍然是生物人类学和生物考古学方法论和理论兴趣的主题。然而，种族主义和剥削性研究的遗产是流散埋葬背景所固有的，这引发了对流散生物考古实践未来的质疑。本文提出了一个生物社会整合框架，作为对非洲散居生物社会变异的跨学科研究的干预。材料和方法：将海洋作为一个断裂、可能性和相互联系的场所，作为这个框架的理论基础，勾勒出分析奴役背景的多样性和复杂性。在实施生物社会综合方法时，该框架强调对传统测量模式的批判性质疑和解构。这些考虑适用于19世纪巴巴多斯和圣赫勒拿岛的两个散居岛屿案例研究，分别包括被奴役和“解放的非洲”群体。结果：这些案例研究反映了出生地的概念如何深刻地塑造了种族化和代理模式。在巴巴多斯，这表现在克里奥尔人和非洲出生地之间的差异上，而在圣赫勒拿，这表现在生物社会分层和突出的东南非洲血统上。讨论：案例研究揭示了19世纪强制劳动制度的转变与移民流动和非洲后裔起源的变化相对应的方式。更广泛地说，框架和案例研究表明，生物社会综合方法如何能够更全面地了解历史上的非洲后裔变异。

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引用次数: 0

Human Sexual Polymorphism and Predicted Ranges of Morphological Variation in Human Skeletal Sex Indicators 人类性别多态性与人类骨骼性别指标形态变异预测范围。

IF 2 2区生物学 Q1 ANTHROPOLOGY

American Journal of Biological Anthropology

Pub Date : 2025-10-09 DOI: 10.1002/ajpa.70135

Claudia Marie Astorino

Objective

Humans, while most often considered to be sexually dimorphic by biologists, exhibit a greater range of variation in sex traits than is generally acknowledged. Intersex individuals, or those with a combination of traits traditionally considered male, female, and/or atypical for either, represent some of this variation. While much study has been devoted to characterizing sex differences and estimating sex in the human skeleton, skeletal variation in sex traits is unknown for intersex individuals.

Materials and Methods

Informed predictions of the relative level of skeletal sex indicator expression for nine forms of intersex were created using a recent endocrinological text with a section focused on intersex variations. Predictions of skeletal sex indicator expression in standard sex indicators were defined as low, intermediate, or high.

Results

Results predicted that skeletal sex indicator expression is expected to be low for individuals whose form of intersex is complete androgen insensitivity (CAIS), monosomy X, and XY gonadal dysgenesis; intermediate for those whose form of intersex is 5α-reductase (5α-RD), partial androgen insensitivity (PAIS), congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) (21-hydroxylase variations), Müllerian agenesis, and XXY; and high for those whose form of intersex is CAH (11β-hydroxylase variations) and hypospadias.

Conclusions

These predictions may be used for testing hypotheses on intersex skeletal variation when skeletal remains and/or data are accessible with the consent of intersex individuals.

目的：虽然生物学家通常认为人类是两性二态的，但人类在性别特征上的差异比一般认为的要大。双性人，或那些具有传统上被认为是男性、女性和/或非典型特征的特征组合的人，代表了这种变化的一部分。虽然已经有很多研究致力于描述性别差异和估计人类骨骼的性别，但阴阳人的骨骼性别特征的变化是未知的。材料和方法：对九种双性人的骨骼性别指标表达的相对水平进行知情预测，使用最近的内分泌学文本，其中一节侧重于双性人的变化。骨骼性别指标在标准性别指标中的表达预测被定义为低、中、高。结果：结果预测，阴阳人完全雄激素不敏感（CAIS）、X单体和XY性腺发育不良的个体，骨骼性别指标的表达可能较低；中间体为5α-还原酶（5α-RD）、部分雄激素不敏感（PAIS）、先天性肾上腺增生（CAH）（21-羟化酶变异）、勒氏杆菌发育和XXY；而对于CAH （11β-羟化酶变异）和尿道下裂的双性人来说，这一比例更高。结论：这些预测可能用于测试关于双性人骨骼变异的假设，当骨骼遗骸和/或数据在双性人同意的情况下可获得。

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引用次数: 0

External Long Bone Morphology as a Tool for Sex Identification in Great Apes: The Case of the Humerus and Femur 类人猿外长骨形态作为性别鉴定的工具：肱骨和股骨的案例。

IF 2 2区生物学 Q1 ANTHROPOLOGY

American Journal of Biological Anthropology

Pub Date : 2025-10-09 DOI: 10.1002/ajpa.70139

Julia Aramendi

Objectives

Sexual dimorphism in primates reflects evolutionary, ecological, and social pressures and varies widely across species, complicating its analysis. This study builds on previous research to investigate sexual dimorphism in the long bones of great apes, aiming to improve sex estimation and evaluate the effectiveness of various methods in classifying unsexed specimens.

Materials and Methods

External morphology of humeri and femora from modern great apes—including Homo, Pan, Gorilla, and Pongo—was analyzed using 3D anatomical landmarks and geometric morphometrics. Various statistical approaches and dimensionality reduction techniques were employed alongside classification methods, including supervised machine learning algorithms.

Results

Size, rather than shape, emerged as the main factor distinguishing male and female long bones in great apes—except in Pan, where dimorphism is minimal and classification accuracy remains low. Incorporating size improved classification accuracy for Gorilla, Pongo, and Homo, with results indicating strong dimorphism in Gorilla and Pongo, moderate dimorphism in Homo sapiens, and minimal dimorphism in Pan.

Discussion

This study shows that combining geometric morphometrics with machine learning can enhance sex classification of great ape long bones. Nonetheless, limitations such as small or imbalanced samples highlight the need for larger datasets and further research—including internal bone structure—to better understand skeletal dimorphism and its evolutionary drivers.

目的：灵长类动物的两性二态性反映了进化、生态和社会压力，并且在不同物种之间差异很大，使其分析复杂化。本研究是在前人研究类人猿长骨性别二态性的基础上进行的，旨在提高对类人猿长骨性别的估计，并评估各种方法对无性别的类人猿标本进行分类的有效性。材料和方法：采用三维解剖标志和几何形态测量学对现代类人猿（包括人、猿人、大猩猩和蓬戈猿）肱骨和股骨的外部形态进行了分析。各种统计方法和降维技术与分类方法一起使用，包括监督机器学习算法。结果：在类人猿中，大小而非形状是区分雌雄长骨的主要因素，但Pan地区除外，那里的二态性很小，分类精度也很低。结合体型因素提高了大猩猩、庞戈人和人的分类精度，结果表明大猩猩和庞戈人有很强的二态性，智人有中等的二态性，潘亚人有最小的二态性。讨论：本研究表明，将几何形态计量学与机器学习相结合可以增强类人猿长骨的性别分类。尽管如此，小样本或不平衡样本等局限性突出了对更大数据集和进一步研究（包括内部骨骼结构）的需求，以更好地理解骨骼二态性及其进化驱动因素。

{"title":"External Long Bone Morphology as a Tool for Sex Identification in Great Apes: The Case of the Humerus and Femur","authors":"Julia Aramendi","doi":"10.1002/ajpa.70139","DOIUrl":"10.1002/ajpa.70139","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Objectives</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Sexual dimorphism in primates reflects evolutionary, ecological, and social pressures and varies widely across species, complicating its analysis. This study builds on previous research to investigate sexual dimorphism in the long bones of great apes, aiming to improve sex estimation and evaluate the effectiveness of various methods in classifying unsexed specimens.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Materials and Methods</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>External morphology of humeri and femora from modern great apes—including <i>Homo</i>, <i>Pan</i>, <i>Gorilla</i>, and <i>Pongo</i>—was analyzed using 3D anatomical landmarks and geometric morphometrics. Various statistical approaches and dimensionality reduction techniques were employed alongside classification methods, including supervised machine learning algorithms.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Size, rather than shape, emerged as the main factor distinguishing male and female long bones in great apes—except in <i>Pan</i>, where dimorphism is minimal and classification accuracy remains low. Incorporating size improved classification accuracy for <i>Gorilla</i>, <i>Pongo</i>, and <i>Homo</i>, with results indicating strong dimorphism in <i>Gorilla</i> and <i>Pongo</i>, moderate dimorphism in <i>Homo sapiens</i>, and minimal dimorphism in <i>Pan</i>.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Discussion</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>This study shows that combining geometric morphometrics with machine learning can enhance sex classification of great ape long bones. Nonetheless, limitations such as small or imbalanced samples highlight the need for larger datasets and further research—including internal bone structure—to better understand skeletal dimorphism and its evolutionary drivers.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":29759,"journal":{"name":"American Journal of Biological Anthropology","volume":"188 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2025-10-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145252018","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

Exploring Early Childhood Diet, Stress, Trophic Position and Dietary Protein Quality Using Amino Acid Nitrogen Isotope Compositions of Fingernail Keratin 利用指甲角蛋白氨基酸氮同位素组成研究幼儿饮食、应激、营养地位和膳食蛋白质质量

IF 2 2区生物学 Q1 ANTHROPOLOGY

American Journal of Biological Anthropology

Pub Date : 2025-10-08 DOI: 10.1002/ajpa.70128

Hana Salahuddin, Andrea L. Waters-Rist, Fred J. Longstaffe

Objectives

Evaluate the effectiveness of compound-specific nitrogen isotope analysis of amino acids (CSIA-AA) in reconstructing early childhood diets and detecting episodes of stress. Examine (1) proline's potential for identifying breastfeeding and weaning; (2) the influence of physiological and pathological stress on AA δ¹⁵N; (3) the reliability of trophic position (TP) estimates from phenylalanine (Phe) and glutamate (Glx) δ¹⁵N during dietary transitions; and (4) mother-infant trophic enrichment factors (TEF_Glx-Phe) as indicators of infant dietary protein quality.

Materials and Methods

Three mother-infant dyads provided fingernail clippings (n = 43) for CSIA-AA analysis pre- and post-birth, alongside dietary and health surveys.

Results

Proline δ¹⁵N was elevated by 2.4‰–3.5‰ in exclusively breastfed infants compared to their mothers and decreased by 2.2‰–4.1‰ during weaning. Phenylalanine δ¹⁵N showed large positive shifts (e.g., by 6.7‰) during maternal stress, despite being a source AA expected to remain stable. TP differences between mother-infant pairs were minimal (−0.2 to 0.1), except for one pair with higher infant TP (by 0.6–1.5). The calculated TEF_Glx-Phe for infants ranged from −1.4‰ to 11.3‰.

Discussion

Proline δ¹⁵N reliably tracks nutritional transitions, likely due to its role in arginine synthesis during infancy. The unexpected variability in δ¹⁵N_Phe complicates its use in TP and dietary protein quality assessments. This variability may result from phenylalanine's slow turnover and delayed dietary incorporation during endogenous catabolism. TP is an unreliable marker of breastfeeding or weaning. TEF_Glx-Phe for infants seems indicative of high dietary protein quality, but interpretations must consider the influence of non-dietary factors on δ¹⁵N_Phe.

目的：评价氨基酸化合物特异性氮同位素分析（CSIA-AA）在重建幼儿饮食和检测应激发作中的有效性。检查(1)脯氨酸在确定母乳喂养和断奶方面的潜力；(2)生理和病理应激对AA δ15N的影响；(3)膳食转换过程中苯丙氨酸（Phe）和谷氨酸(Glx) δ15N对营养位置（TP）估计的可靠性；(4)母婴营养富集因子（TEFGlx-Phe）作为婴儿膳食蛋白质质量的指标。材料和方法：3对母婴提供指甲剪报（n = 43），用于产前和产后CSIA-AA分析，同时进行饮食和健康调查。结果：纯母乳喂养的婴儿脯氨酸δ15N比母亲高2.4‰~ 3.5‰，断奶后脯氨酸δ15N比母亲低2.2‰~ 4.1‰。苯丙氨酸δ15N在母体应激期间表现出较大的正变化（例如6.7‰），尽管它是一个预期保持稳定的源AA。除了一对婴儿TP较高（0.6-1.5）外，母婴对之间的TP差异很小（-0.2至0.1）。婴儿计算的TEFGlx-Phe范围为-1.4‰至11.3‰。脯氨酸δ15N可靠地跟踪营养转变，可能是由于它在婴儿期精氨酸合成中的作用。δ15NPhe的意外变异性使其在TP和膳食蛋白质质量评估中的应用复杂化。这种可变性可能是由于苯丙氨酸在内源性分解代谢过程中周转缓慢和饮食摄入延迟所致。TP是母乳喂养或断奶的不可靠标志。婴儿的TEFGlx-Phe似乎表明膳食蛋白质质量高，但解释必须考虑非饮食因素对δ15NPhe的影响。

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引用次数: 0

Incorporating Evolutionary Theory Into Forensic Anthropology Methods and Practice: A Proof-of-Concept Study Using Skeletal Sex Estimation 将进化论纳入法医人类学方法和实践：一项使用骨骼性别估计的概念验证研究。

IF 2 2区生物学 Q1 ANTHROPOLOGY

American Journal of Biological Anthropology

Pub Date : 2025-10-07 DOI: 10.1002/ajpa.70137

An-Di Yim, Michala K. Stock, Allysha P. Winburn

Objectives

This study provides a proof-of-concept for incorporating evolutionary theory into forensic anthropology practice. Specifically, we test whether innominate measurements used in the DSP 2 sex-estimation method reflect known patterns of morphological integration and whether variable redundancy can be reduced without compromising classification accuracy.

Materials and Methods

Innominate measurements were obtained from published datasets totaling 3045 individuals. Principal component analysis (PCA) was used to identify clusters of measurements. Relative standard deviation of eigenvalues was used to assess the degree of morphological integration. Posterior probabilities of sex classification were computed using one variable per cluster (cluster-based approach) and compared to a randomly selected four-variable approach, consistent with the minimum recommended by the original study. Simulations were used to generate posterior distributions of accuracy and the percentage of samples reaching a decision threshold.

Results

Three distinct clusters of innominate measurements were identified, broadly corresponding to known modules of the innominate. The degree of morphological integration was higher within clusters than in the full measurement set or nonintegrated matrices. The cluster-based classification approach showed comparable accuracy (mean = 96.38%) to the randomized approach (mean = 95.64%) despite using only three variables. While fewer individuals were assigned a sex under the cluster-based method, the results demonstrated higher consistency.

Discussion

Results suggest that accounting for morphological integration can streamline sex estimation by reducing variable redundancy without compromising accuracy. This study demonstrates how evolutionary principles can improve the theoretical foundation of forensic anthropology methods and offers a framework for future method development grounded in evolutionary theory.

目的：本研究为将进化论纳入法医人类学实践提供了概念证明。具体来说，我们测试了DSP 2性别估计方法中使用的无名测量是否反映了已知的形态整合模式，以及是否可以在不影响分类准确性的情况下减少变量冗余。材料和方法：从已发表的数据集中获得匿名测量数据，共计3045人。主成分分析（PCA）用于识别测量簇。特征值的相对标准偏差被用来评估形态整合的程度。性别分类的后验概率使用每个聚类一个变量（基于聚类的方法）计算，并与随机选择的四变量方法进行比较，与原始研究推荐的最小值一致。模拟用于生成准确性和达到决策阈值的样本百分比的后验分布。结果：确定了三个不同的无名测量簇，大致对应于已知的无名模块。簇内的形态整合程度高于完整测量集或非整合矩阵。尽管仅使用三个变量，基于聚类的分类方法的准确率（平均值= 96.38%）与随机方法（平均值= 95.64%）相当。虽然在基于聚类的方法下被分配性别的个体较少，但结果显示出更高的一致性。讨论：结果表明，考虑形态整合可以通过减少变量冗余而不影响准确性来简化性别估计。本研究展示了进化原理如何改善法医人类学方法的理论基础，并为基于进化理论的未来方法发展提供了框架。

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引用次数: 0

New Middle Pleistocene Hominin Dental Remains From Velika Balanica, Serbia 塞尔维亚Velika Balanica中更新世古人类牙齿化石。

IF 2 2区生物学 Q1 ANTHROPOLOGY

American Journal of Biological Anthropology

Pub Date : 2025-10-06 DOI: 10.1002/ajpa.70133

Predrag Radović, Joshua Lindal, Petar Milovanović, Dušan Mihailović, Mirjana Roksandic

Objective

The cave site of Velika Balanica in Sićevo Gorge, Serbia, has previously yielded early Neanderthal dental remains from Layer 3a, dated by thermoluminescence to 285 ± 34 and 295 ± 74 ka. We describe and compare four additional dental specimens recovered from the Middle Pleistocene Layers 3a and 3b of the cave: a right I¹ (BH-8), a right I₂ (BH-7), an incisor crown fragment (BH-16), and a left M₃ (BH-15).

Material and Methods

The fossil teeth were scanned using micro-computed tomography (μCT), and the resulting digital models were used to record dimensions and assess internal morphology, including the enamel–dentine junction (EDJ). Morphological traits were analyzed on both outer and internal surfaces. Dental measurements were compared to those of relevant hominin samples.

Results

BH-8 and BH-7 show large, robust crowns and roots, consistent with Pleistocene Eurasian hominins. Linear enamel hypoplasia is present in BH-8 and BH-16. BH-15 displays a continuous middle trigonid crest—a trait considered diagnostic of the Neanderthal lineage. Notably, BH-15 also presents an extreme case of taurodontism, as well as a severe antemortem tooth fracture accompanied by multiple pulp stones, which are rarely recorded in the hominin fossil record.

Discussion

These findings align with earlier results, reinforcing evidence for early Neanderthal presence at Velika Balanica around 300 ka. While Neanderthals may have been present in the region earlier, this represents the earliest dated evidence of their spread into the Balkans.

目的：在塞尔维亚Sićevo峡谷的Velika Balanica洞穴遗址，先前已经发现了来自3a层的早期尼安德特人牙齿遗骸，通过热释光可以追溯到285±34和295±74 ka。我们描述并比较了从洞穴中更新世3a和3b层中发现的另外四个牙齿标本：右I1 (BH-8)，右I2 (BH-7)，门牙冠碎片（BH-16）和左M3 （BH-15）。材料与方法：采用微计算机断层扫描（μCT）对牙化石进行扫描，得到的数字模型用于记录尺寸和评估内部形态学，包括牙釉质-牙本质交界处（EDJ）。外表面和内表面形态特征分析。牙齿测量结果与相关古人类样本进行了比较。结果：BH-8和BH-7具有大而粗壮的冠和根，与更新世欧亚人族一致。BH-8和BH-16出现线状牙釉质发育不全。BH-15显示出一个连续的中间三角嵴，这被认为是尼安德特人谱系的诊断特征。值得注意的是，BH-15还呈现出极端的牛齿症，以及严重的死前牙齿断裂并伴有多处牙髓结石，这在古人类化石记录中很少有记录。讨论：这些发现与早期的结果一致，加强了大约300年前在Velika Balanica早期尼安德特人存在的证据。虽然尼安德特人可能更早出现在该地区，但这是他们传播到巴尔干半岛的最早证据。

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引用次数: 0

Modern Human Dentognathic Remains From MIS 3–2 of Jianshan Cave, Southern China 中国南方尖山洞MIS 3-2现代人类牙颌化石。

IF 2 2区生物学 Q1 ANTHROPOLOGY

American Journal of Biological Anthropology

Pub Date : 2025-10-06 DOI: 10.1002/ajpa.70138

Shengnan Yu, Clément Zanolli, Ping Lai, Qingfeng Shao, Yanyan Yao, Hua Liang, Jiemei Zhong, Jiazhi Li, Qizhi Jiang, Wei Liao, Zhongping Lai, Wei Wang

Objectives

The evolution of modern humans in southern China during the Late Pleistocene is still poorly known. Well-preserved human fossils are scarce, and their chronological framework is often unclear or debated. We report two human teeth (M₁ and M₂) embedded in mandibular fragments from two individuals, recovered from Jianshan Cave. An integrated approach based on a secured stratigraphic and chronological framework has been employed. We test the hypothesis that these teeth exhibit stronger affinities to those of modern humans than to other Late Pleistocene hominins by using morphological comparisons and 3D imaging-based analyses.

Materials and Methods

We applied AMS ¹⁴C dating of charcoals, OSL of sediments, and U-series dating of fossils for chronological constraints. Conventional morphological description and metric analysis were used. In addition, diffeomorphic surface matching analyses of the enamel-dentine junction shape were conducted.

Results

The Jianshan teeth were dated to 33.5–19.5 ka. All analyses indicate that they belong to Homo sapiens. They exhibit similarities and differences with teeth from other sites, highlighting the morphological diversity of Late Pleistocene humans in southern China. Given the significant differences in lithic assemblages between Jianshan Cave and Bailiandong, it is possible that multiple waves of modern human dispersal in the region occurred during MIS 3–2.

Discussion

With this study, Jianshan joins the short list of MIS 3–2 paleoanthropological sites in attesting to the evolution of modern humans in southern China. More evidence with precise dating is needed before more elaborate interpretations can be proposed.

目的：中国南方晚更新世时期现代人类的进化尚不清楚。保存完好的人类化石很少，而且它们的年代框架经常不清楚或有争议。我们报告了两颗人类牙齿（M1和M2）嵌在尖山洞穴中发现的两个人的下颌碎片中。采用了一种基于可靠的地层和年代框架的综合方法。我们通过形态学比较和基于3D成像的分析，验证了这些牙齿与现代人类的牙齿比与其他晚更新世古人类的牙齿更接近的假设。材料和方法：我们使用AMS 14C定年法测定木炭，OSL测定沉积物，u系列定年法测定化石的年代。采用常规形态描述和计量分析。此外，还对釉质-牙本质结合部形状进行了差胚表面匹配分析。结果：尖山齿年龄为33.5 ~ 19.5 ka。所有的分析都表明他们属于智人。它们与其他遗址的牙齿既有相似之处，又有不同之处，突出了中国南方晚更新世人类的形态多样性。鉴于尖山洞与白莲洞的岩石组合存在显著差异，推测该地区在MIS 3-2时期可能发生了多波现代人类迁移。讨论：通过此次研究，尖山加入了MIS 3-2古人类遗址的候选名单，以证明中国南方现代人类的进化。在提出更详细的解释之前，需要更多的精确年代的证据。

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引用次数: 0

Positive Cortisol–Testosterone Hormonal Coupling Among Adolescents in Argentina and Jordan 阿根廷和约旦青少年皮质醇-睾酮激素耦合阳性。

IF 2 2区生物学 Q1 ANTHROPOLOGY

American Journal of Biological Anthropology

Pub Date : 2025-10-01 DOI: 10.1002/ajpa.70134

Delaney J. Glass, Jessica Godwin, Josefin Koehn, Eleanna Bez, Margaret Corley, Rana Dajani, Kristin Hadfield, Catherine Panter-Brick, Claudia Valeggia, Melanie Martin

Objectives

Puberty is regulated by the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) and gonadal (HPG) axes. It has been proposed that if HPA and HPG coactivate during pubertal development, the hormones cortisol and testosterone would be positively coupled during puberty and decoupled postpuberty. Our objective was to test for hormonal coupling in less-studied, non-Western populations.

Materials and Methods

We analyzed longitudinal and cross-sectional data from marginalized populations: Indigenous Qom/Toba females in Argentina (n = 46, 777 urine samples) and Syrian/Jordanian youth (n = 768, dried blood spots). We used Bayesian hierarchical models to assess the hypothesis that cortisol and testosterone are positively coupled during puberty but decouple at later stages.

Results

We found positive, age-specific cortisol–testosterone coupling among adolescents in both populations, with patterns varying by age and sex. Coupling increased across pubertal ages but did not decline at older ages, contradicting the expectation that there is hormonal de-coupling.

Discussion

This is the first study to demonstrate positive cortisol–testosterone coupling across adolescence in two socio-ecologically distinct, non-Western populations. While hormonal decoupling was not observed, coupling patterns suggest population-level differences in pubertal timing. These findings challenge assumptions derived from Western-based research and underscore the need for global, context-sensitive models of adolescent development.

目的：青春期是由下丘脑-垂体-肾上腺（HPA）和性腺（HPG）轴调控的。如果HPA和HPG在青春期发育过程中共同激活，那么皮质醇和睾酮在青春期期间是正偶联的，而在青春期后是解耦的。我们的目的是在研究较少的非西方人群中测试激素偶联。材料和方法：我们分析了来自边缘人群的纵向和横断面数据：阿根廷土著库姆/多巴族女性（n = 46, 777份尿液样本）和叙利亚/约旦青年（n = 768，干血斑）。我们使用贝叶斯层次模型来评估皮质醇和睾酮在青春期正耦合但在后期分离的假设。结果：我们在两种人群中都发现了阳性的、年龄特异性的皮质醇-睾酮偶联，其模式因年龄和性别而异。在青春期，偶联性增加，但随着年龄的增长，偶联性并没有下降，这与激素脱钩的预期相矛盾。讨论：这是第一个在两个社会生态学不同的非西方人群中证明青春期皮质醇-睾酮正耦合的研究。虽然没有观察到激素脱钩，但耦合模式表明青春期时间在人口水平上存在差异。这些发现挑战了基于西方研究的假设，并强调了对青少年发展的全球、情境敏感模型的需求。

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引用次数: 0