Beyond the closed-forest paradigm: Cross-scale vegetation structure in temperate Europe before the late-Quaternary megafauna extinctions

Earth history and biodiversity., Год журнала: 2025, Номер unknown, С. 100022 - 100022

Опубликована: Фев. 1, 2025

Язык: Английский

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Reconstruction of the human amylase locus reveals ancient duplications seeding modern-day variation

Science, Год журнала: 2024, Номер 386(6724)

Опубликована: Окт. 17, 2024

Previous studies suggested that the copy number of human salivary amylase gene, AMY1 , correlates with starch-rich diets. However, evolutionary analyses are hampered by absence accurate, sequence-resolved haplotype variation maps. We identified 30 structurally distinct haplotypes at nucleotide resolution among 98 present-day humans, revealing coding sequences copies evolving under negative selection. Genomic these in archaic hominins and ancient genomes suggest a common three-copy haplotype, dating as far back 800,000 years ago, has seeded rapidly rearrangements through recurrent nonallelic homologous recombination. Additionally, more than three have significantly increased frequency European farmers over past 4000 years, potentially an adaptive response to starch digestion.

Язык: Английский

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A hypothesis-based approach to species identification in the fossil record: a papionin case study

Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution, Год журнала: 2025, Номер 12

Опубликована: Янв. 3, 2025

Modern papionin monkeys are a diverse group that encompasses broad range of morphologies, behaviors, and ecologies. A fossil genus known from African Plio-Pleistocene deposits, Parapapio , is widely regarded as candidate ancestor to later papionins. However, despite general agreement this sits at or near the base clade, taxonomy within remains highly contentious. This project evaluates species-level with an explicit hypothesis-based approach interpreting morphological variation in sample fossils. We tested two hypotheses: (H 1 ) craniodental does not cluster into three groups reflect species, 2 all fossils can be accommodated shape size observed for single extant species papionin. To test first hypothesis, we assessed subset relatively complete well-preserved crania (n=16), intentionally without reference previous taxonomic identifications. Specimens were sorted by similarity cranial features results then compared published classifications. Our demonstrate traits do consistently according current categories failing reject our hypothesis. second examined dental metrics (n=64) relative samples (n=310). fail hypothesis specimens could belong suggest three-species paradigm anatomical genus. recommend subsuming broomi name priority. The hypothesis-testing carry substantial implications well biochronological paleoecological studies more generally, including paleobiology hominids recovered these same deposits.

Язык: Английский

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Reconstructing contact and a potential interbreeding geographical zone between Neanderthals and anatomically modern humans

Scientific Reports, Год журнала: 2024, Номер 14(1)

Опубликована: Сен. 3, 2024

While the interbreeding of Homo neanderthalensis (hereafter Neanderthal) and Anatomically modern human (AMH) has been proven, owing to shortage fossils absence appropriate DNA, timing geography their are not clearly known. In this study, we applied ecological niche modelling (maximum entropy approach) GIS reconstruct palaeodistribution Neanderthals AMHs in Southwest Asia Southeast Europe identify contact potential zone during marine isotope stage 5 (MIS 5), when second wave occurred. We used climatic variables characterizing environmental conditions MIS ca. 120 80 kyr (averaged value) along with topography coordinates Neanderthal archaeological sites characterize each species. Overlapping models revealed that Zagros Mountains were a for two believe acted as corridor connecting Palearctic/Afrotropical realms, facilitating northwards dispersal southwards 5. Our analyses comparable genetic evidence collected recent decades.

Язык: Английский

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A Data-Driven Paradigm Shift for the Middle-to-Upper Palaeolithic Transition and the Neandertal Debate

Quaternary Environments and Humans, Год журнала: 2024, Номер 2(6), С. 100037 - 100037

Опубликована: Ноя. 6, 2024

Язык: Английский

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Stabilizing selection generates selection against introgressed DNA

bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory), Год журнала: 2024, Номер unknown

Опубликована: Авг. 20, 2024

Abstract DNA introgressed from one population into another is often deleterious to the recipient if two populations have diverged genetically another. Previous explanations of this phenomenon posited negative interactions between donor-population alleles and population’s genome or environment, higher genetic load in donor population. Here, we show that stabilizing selection on quantitative traits—even around same optimal trait values when are demographically identical—generates against minor-parent ancestry a formed via unequal admixture populations. We calculate rate at which purged under mechanism, both early generations after long term, verify these calculations with whole-genome simulations. Because its ubiquity, offers general mechanism for effect ancestry.

Язык: Английский

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Neanderthal ancestry through time: Insights from genomes of ancient and present-day humans

Science, Год журнала: 2024, Номер 386(6727)

Опубликована: Дек. 12, 2024

Gene flow from Neanderthals has shaped genetic and phenotypic variation in modern humans. We generated a catalog of Neanderthal ancestry segments more than 300 genomes spanning the past 50,000 years. examined how is shared among individuals over time. Our analysis revealed that vast majority gene attributable to single, extended period occurred between 50,500 43,500 years ago, as evidenced by correlation, colocalization across individuals, divergence sequenced Neanderthals. Most natural selection-positive negative-on variants rapidly after flow. findings provide new insights into contact with human origins adaptation.

Язык: Английский

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Semicircular canals shed light on bottleneck events in the evolution of the Neanderthal clade

Nature Communications, Год журнала: 2025, Номер 16(1)

Опубликована: Фев. 20, 2025

Revealing the evolutionary processes which resulted in derived morphologies that characterize Neanderthal clade has been an important task for paleoanthropologists. One critical method to quantify changes morphology of hominin populations is through evaluating morphological phenotypic diversity (i.e., disparity) phylogenetically informative bones as a close proxy neutral processes. The goal this study degree disparity clade. We hypothesize reduction bony labyrinth indicative underlying genetic variation resulting from bottleneck events. apply deformation-based geometric morphometric approach investigate semicircular canal and vestibule shape chronologically broad sample individuals belonging lineage. Our results identify significant after start Marine Isotope Stage 5 supporting our hypothesis late bottleneck, possibly leading Late Pleistocene Neanderthals.

Язык: Английский

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Climate change in Europe between 90 and 50 kyr BP and Neanderthal territorial habitability

PLoS ONE, Год журнала: 2025, Номер 20(2), С. e0308690 - e0308690

Опубликована: Фев. 26, 2025

After having lived as the dominant human species in Europe for over 200 kyr, Homo neanderthalensis (the Neanderthals) disappeared around 40 kyr BP (Before Present) Higham T (2014). Competition with sapiens , who arrived same time, is often invoked to explain this extinction. Others have argued that climate change may reduced living space of population making its disappearance more rapid. In order test hypothesis we modelled Neanderthals’ ecological niches between 90 and 50 through paleoenvironmental reconstructions Eco-Cultural Niche Modelling. We selected five environmental variables (orographic height, mean annual precipitation, temperature coldest month, carrying capacity friction, see below) from model simulations 5 periods Europe. used Structural Similarity (SSIM) index compare probability maps suitable Neanderthals performed by Maxent. a strong initial first (P1 = 83 BP) second (P2 69 periods, our results show large areas highly Neanderthal occupation persisted across As an increase/stability Neanderthals, question cause decrease or displacement towards southern after climatic remains open.

Язык: Английский

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Evidence from Tinshemet Cave in Israel suggests behavioural uniformity across Homo groups in the Levantine mid-Middle Palaeolithic circa 130,000–80,000 years ago

Nature Human Behaviour, Год журнала: 2025, Номер unknown

Опубликована: Март 11, 2025

The south Levantine mid-Middle Palaeolithic (mid-MP; ~130–80 thousand years ago (ka)) is remarkable for its exceptional evidence of human morphological variability, with contemporaneous fossils Homo sapiens and Neanderthal-like hominins. Yet, it remains unclear whether these hominins adhered to discrete behavioural sets or regional-scale intergroup interactions could have homogenized mid-MP behaviour. Here we report on our discoveries at Tinshemet Cave, Israel. site yielded articulated in association rich assemblages ochre, fauna stone tools dated ~100 ka. Viewed from the perspective other key regional sites this period, findings indicate consolidation a uniform set mid-MP, consisting similar lithic technology, an increased reliance large-game hunting range socially elaborated behaviours, comprising intentional burial use ochre contexts. We suggest that development uniformity due intensified inter-population admixture between groups Middle southwest Asia witnessed knowledge sharing archaic modern humans ~130,000–80,000 ago. These led complexity across region.

Язык: Английский

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