"I think there is a great potential to use the theory to understand changes in body size during hominid evolution, such as the size of the hobbits and the relatively larger size of erectus," Migliano says. "But my main objective is to apply the theory to the understanding of the current human diversity."

9 Comments

1. 1. deowll 12:07 AM 12/13/07

   It is dubius that reproducing first at 15 or sixteen is earyly reproduction compared to most historic populations.
   
   Having populations normally living to be 75 or 80 is purely a recent event due to better medicine and a higher standard of living than was at all common in the past.
   
   The basic thought may be right but I'm not sure they proved it. I'd say they put forward an idea that might be fairly hard to prove to be a historical fact for long enough to explain the height of populations.

   Reply | Report Abuse | Link to this

2. 2. Erik John Bertel 01:24 PM 12/13/07

   Interesting theory but I need a few more facts before I buy all of the assumptions asserted by these researchers. I have read a lot about Homo floresiensis and I talk about the find at my www.Floresgirl.com site but this is the first time mortality has been raised as the driving issue in the evolution of their dimunitive stature. It would be interested to compare mortality rates of other mammals that have been down-sized.
   
   As to lies, the greatest lies are the ones coming from men who claim to be speaking for God!
   
   Erik John Bertel

   Reply | Report Abuse | Link to this

3. 3. Jim Lacey 04:10 PM 12/13/07

   Might this account for the apparent slower aging process of individuals who mature late sexually?

   Reply | Report Abuse | Link to this

4. 4. H2Oguy 04:22 PM 12/13/07

   To Fisher; do NOT confuse faith with fact!!

   Reply | Report Abuse | Link to this

5. 5. mcbfarm 11:27 AM 12/15/07

   Living at the margins of productive land as a survival strategy appears to have a big toll. An extreme example of the worst jobs having the lowest pay. Aside from considering the evolutionary mechanism in action, I'm saddened by the fate of these people. As for Fisher, even the dim bulb should recognize this article draws on, rather than being intended simply to support mechanisms of evolution. Scary part is how fast creationists reproduce.

   Reply | Report Abuse | Link to this

6. 6. swammygardeep 07:52 AM 12/16/07

   hey fisher , how do you know evolution is a lie??how do you know if the world is round or even flat. Have you read any of the science or are you too blinded by your mythogical based belief system to investigate the truth. Gods language is numbers. Learn math and you will be closer to god than you could ever imagine.

   Reply | Report Abuse | Link to this

7. 7. R. A. Gerrits 10:10 AM 12/16/07

   If comparatively smaller body size would be related to lower life expectancy or mortality rates, this relation should also be observed among other animal species (such as dogs, for instance, to stay near home), but this is certainly not the case. I think it is rather an evolutionary adaptation to the jungle environment, where a smaller body size allows a better displacement through the thicket. This is probably also the case among jungle elephants en rhinos, for instance, which are both smaller than their counterparts from the African savannas.
   
   --
   Edited by R. A. Gerrits at 12/16/2007 5:06 AM
   
   --
   Edited by R. A. Gerrits at 12/16/2007 5:08 AM

   Reply | Report Abuse | Link to this

8. 8. DMC2004 01:27 AM 12/19/07

   Presumably, this result should only apply to larger animals that must make a significant investment in growing to a large body size. Even domestic dogs live ~15 or so years anyhow.

   Reply | Report Abuse | Link to this

9. 9. Ronald Pridgen 03:24 AM 12/22/07

   An interesting article. I have read many explorer and hunter accounts in which pygmies had described taller peoples as being "clumsy", in the forrest. There may be many hidden benifits to a smaller stature.

   Reply | Report Abuse | Link to this