Ecology and Energetics of Encephalization in Hominid Evolution [and Discussion]

Hominid evolution is marked by very significant increase in relative brain size. Because relative brain size has been linked to energetic requirements it is possible to look at the pattern of encephalization as a factor in the evolution of human foraging and dietary strategies. Major expansion of th...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Philosophical transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B. Biological sciences 1991-11, Vol.334 (1270), p.223-232
Main Authors: Foley, R. A., Lee, P. C., Widdowson, E. M., Knight, C. D., Jonxis, J. H. P.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Biological Evolution
Body Constitution
Brain - anatomy & histology
Brain - physiology
Chimpanzees
Diet
Ecological genetics
Ecology
Energy Metabolism
Evolution
Evolution of Hominid Foraging and Diet
Feeding Behavior
Food
Food Preferences
Foraging
Fossils
Hominidae - anatomy & histology
Hominidae - physiology
Human ecology
Humans
Maintenance costs
Meat
Organ Size
Paleontology
Primates
Primates - anatomy & histology
Primates - physiology
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Summary:Hominid evolution is marked by very significant increase in relative brain size. Because relative brain size has been linked to energetic requirements it is possible to look at the pattern of encephalization as a factor in the evolution of human foraging and dietary strategies. Major expansion of the brain is associated with Homo rather than the Hominidae as a whole, and the energetic costs are likely to have forced a prolongation of growth rates and secondary altriciality. It is calculated here that modern human infants have energetic requirements approximately 9% greater than similar size apes due to their large brains. Consideration of energetic costs of brain allow the prediction of growth rates in hominid taxa and an examination of the implications for life-history strategy and foraging behaviour.
ISSN:0962-8436
1471-2970
DOI:10.1098/rstb.1991.0111