Influence of climatic stress on nonmetric sexually dimorphic features of the skull and pelvis

Abstract

Objectives: Human sexual dimorphism is frequently assessed through skull and pelvic size and shape. Researchers suggest that climatic variation and the associated stress may be significant factors in sexual dimorphism's etiology.However, little research has specifically investigated climatic effects on nonmetric skeletal indicators of sex. To further appreciate the plasticity of human biology, a comparative study of standard skull and pelvic nonmetric sex indicators is presented. Methods: A Native Alaskan archeological sample (n = 104) and a component of the Terry collection (n = 99) represent populations originating from different climatic environments in recent history. These sex-balanced groups are compared through Tukey-Kramer's method and Greene's t-test to determine any variation in degree of sexual dimorphism within and between samples.Results: The results reinforce the complex and multifaceted relationship between climate and sexual dimorphism. The Terry sample demonstrated a greater degree of sexual dimorphism with statistically significant differences in robusticity of the mastoid process and nuchal crest compared with the Native Alaskans. A more "male" morphotype and reduced dimorphism are appreciated in the pelves of Native Alaskans than the Terry sample.Conclusions: This research highlights a reduction in sexual dimorphism in populations under greater climatic stress and contributes to the production of more accurate skeletal assessments in future investigations. Discussion of confounding factors suggest more research is necessary to untangle climate and human morphology's complex relationship. This study contributes to a greater appreciation of human biological plasticity, ecogeographic variation, and the evolution of modern human diversity.

Woman the hunter: The physiological evidence

“…There is a growing body of anthropological evidence that females are more durable than males when it comes to environmental perturbations (Cho et al., 2022; Gray, Straftis, and Anderson, 2021; Ocobock et al., 2020; Stinson, 1985; Waxenbaum and Feiler, 2021). For example, females do not experience the same levels of growth disruption and body‐mass loss observed in males during a childhood negative‐energy balance, and this has been shown both anthropologically (e.g., Bogin, Scheffler, and Hermanussen, 2017) and physiologically (e.g., Cortright, 1999).…”

Testing of morphological sex estimation traits with a sex‐known collection: Ottoman period skulls

“…Females mature earlier and have shorter growth processes in comparison to males. This contributes to their smaller/gracile body size when compared to males (Waxenbaum & Feiler, 2021). Testosterone affects both the musculoskeletal system and other tissues' growth, making males tend to have more robust structures (Mays, 2021).…”

Ethnic variability of growth processes through the prism of sexual dimorphism of body dimensions (based on data of early and first childhood children)

“…Половые соматические различия суть следствие дифференцированного влияния факторов среды на морфологические показатели мужчин и женщин, разной по полу экочувствительности и фенотипической пластичности. Ряд иследований подтверждает факт неслучайности половых различий соматических размеров и их изменчивости в процессе адаптации к комплексу факторов среды Stinton, 1985;Wells еt al., 2019;Waxenbaum, Feiler, 2020].…”