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Development of a Mobile Mitochondrial Physiology Laboratory for Measuring Mitochondrial Energetics in the Field
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Economy and Endurance in Human Evolution.

Herman Pontzer1

  • 1Hunter College, City University of New York, New York Consortium for Evolutionary Primatology, New York, NY 10065, USA.

Current Biology : CB
|June 21, 2017
PubMed
Summary

Human evolution shows bipedalism developed early, but economical walking and endurance running evolved later. Key anatomical changes in hominins improved locomotion economy and endurance over millions of years.

Area of Science:

  • Paleoanthropology
  • Human Evolution
  • Biomechanics

Background:

  • Human bipedalism's evolutionary pressures are studied since Darwin.
  • Origins of economical walking and endurance running remain unclear.
  • Locomotor economy and endurance are shaped by anatomical and physiological factors.

Purpose of the Study:

  • Review anatomical and physiological determinants of locomotor economy and endurance.
  • Investigate the development of these traits in the hominin fossil record.

Main Methods:

  • Review of anatomical and physiological determinants of locomotion.
  • Analysis of hominin fossil record for skeletal traits related to bipedalism, economy, and endurance.

Main Results:

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  • Early hominins were bipedal but had ape-like hind limb features limiting walking economy and endurance.
  • Australopithecus showed improved economy (longer limbs, extended posture, stiff midfoot) but limited endurance.
  • Homo species display a mosaic of endurance-related traits, with the full suite appearing around 1 million years ago.

Conclusions:

  • Locomotor economy and endurance evolved gradually in hominins.
  • The evolution of endurance capabilities in Homo correlates with increased brain size, cognitive sophistication, and metabolic rate.