Long bone cross‐sectional properties reflect changes in locomotor behavior in developing chimpanzees

Sarringhaus, Lauren; MacLatchy, Laura; Mitani, John C.

doi:10.1002/ajpa.22930

Cited by 62 publications

(84 citation statements)

References 66 publications

(148 reference statements)

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“…Among great apes, forelimb to hind limb strength proportions parallel the degree of arboreality, from orangutans to chimpanzees to Western lowland gorillas to mountain gorillas, the most terrestrial nonhuman hominoid [43, 94]. Furthermore, within both mountain gorillas and common chimpanzees, ontogenetic declines in arboreal locomotion are associated with declines in forelimb to hind limb strength [31, 32]. It should be noted that these trends are not simply a function of differences or changes in overall limb bone size, e.g., length, as lowland and mountain gorillas have similar limb length proportions but different strength proportions, and ontogenetic changes in limb length proportions in mountain gorillas do not parallel those in strength proportions [31].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…One such trait is the cross-sectional structure of long bone diaphyses, which is known from both experimental and observational studies to be responsive to changes in mechanical loadings during life [27–29]. Thus, for example, changes in inter-limb bone diaphyseal strength proportions accurately reflect changes in locomotor behavior during development in humans, gorillas, and chimpanzees [30–32]. Limb bone strength proportions in early Homo erectus (KNM-ER 1808 and KNM-WT 15000) are similar to those in modern humans [33], supporting other evidence for completely modern terrestrial locomotor behavior in this taxon [34].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Limb Bone Structural Proportions and Locomotor Behavior in A.L. 288-1 ("Lucy")

et al. 2016

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While there is broad agreement that early hominins practiced some form of terrestrial bipedality, there is also evidence that arboreal behavior remained a part of the locomotor repertoire in some taxa, and that bipedal locomotion may not have been identical to that of modern humans. It has been difficult to evaluate such evidence, however, because of the possibility that early hominins retained primitive traits (such as relatively long upper limbs) of little contemporaneous adaptive significance. Here we examine bone structural properties of the femur and humerus in the Australopithecus afarensis A.L. 288–1 ("Lucy", 3.2 Myr) that are known to be developmentally plastic, and compare them with other early hominins, modern humans, and modern chimpanzees. Cross-sectional images were obtained from micro-CT scans of the original specimens and used to derive section properties of the diaphyses, as well as superior and inferior cortical thicknesses of the femoral neck. A.L. 288–1 shows femoral/humeral diaphyseal strength proportions that are intermediate between those of modern humans and chimpanzees, indicating more mechanical loading of the forelimb than in modern humans, and by implication, a significant arboreal locomotor component. Several features of the proximal femur in A.L. 288–1 and other australopiths, including relative femoral head size, distribution of cortical bone in the femoral neck, and cross-sectional shape of the proximal shaft, support the inference of a bipedal gait pattern that differed slightly from that of modern humans, involving more lateral deviation of the body center of mass over the support limb, which would have entailed increased cost of terrestrial locomotion. There is also evidence consistent with increased muscular strength among australopiths in both the forelimb and hind limb, possibly reflecting metabolic trade-offs between muscle and brain development during hominin evolution. Together these findings imply significant differences in both locomotor behavior and ecology between australopiths and later Homo.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Limb Bone Structural Proportions and Locomotor Behavior in A.L. 288-1 ("Lucy")

et al. 2016

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“…This is of particular relevance for African apes, as the percentage of knuckle‐walking and suspension change significantly during development (Doran, , ; Sarringhaus et al. , ), although long bone cross‐sectional geometry in African apes continues to change into adulthood and reflect locomotor behaviour at different life stages (Ruff et al. ; Sarringhaus et al.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…As the rate of remodelling of bone is higher during growth, behaviours during development may be more important for explaining trabecular morphology than those during adulthood (Bertram & Swartz, 1991;Pettersson et al 2010). This is of particular relevance for African apes, as the percentage of knuckle-walking and suspension change significantly during development (Doran, 1992(Doran, , 1997Sarringhaus et al 2014Sarringhaus et al , 2016, although long bone cross-sectional geometry in African apes continues to change into adulthood and reflect locomotor behaviour at different life stages (Ruff et al 2013;Sarringhaus et al 2016; but see Demes et al 1998Demes et al , 2001Lieberman et al 2004;Carlson, 2005). Trabecular morphology may differ due to anatomical location (Morgan & Keaveny, 2001;Eckstein et al 2007;Wallace et al 2015); for example, distal limb elements may be adapted to have a lower bone mass (bone mineral density measured using pQCT and multiplied by joint size) and BV/TV than more proximal limb elements (Chirchir, 2015;Saers et al 2016).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Systemic patterns of trabecular bone across the human and chimpanzee skeleton

et al. 2018

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Aspects of trabecular bone architecture are thought to reflect regional loading of the skeleton, and thus differ between primate taxa with different locomotor and postural modes. However, there are several systemic factors that affect bone structure that could contribute to, or be the primary factor determining, interspecific differences in bone structure. These systemic factors include differences in genetic regulation, sensitivity to loading, hormone levels, diet, and activity levels. Improved understanding of inter-/intraspecific variability, and variability across the skeleton of an individual, is required to interpret properly potential functional signals present within trabecular structure. Using a whole-region method of analysis, we investigated trabecular structure throughout the skeleton of humans and chimpanzees. Trabecular bone volume fraction (BV/TV), degree of anisotropy (DA) and trabecular thickness (Tb.Th) were quantified from high resolution micro-computed tomographic scans of the humeral and femoral head, third metacarpal and third metatarsal head, distal tibia, talus and first thoracic vertebra. We found that BV/TV is, in most anatomical sites, significantly higher in chimpanzees than in humans, suggesting a systemic difference in trabecular structure unrelated to local loading regime. Differences in BV/TV between the forelimb and hindlimb did not clearly reflect differences in locomotor loading in the study taxa. There were no clear systemic differences between the taxa in DA and, as such, this parameter might reflect function and relate to differences in joint loading. This systemic approach reveals both the pattern of variability across the skeleton and between taxa, and helps identify those features of trabecular structure that may relate to joint function.

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“…For the purposes of analyzing developmental change, infant chimpanzees were categorized into 4 age groups, based on those used in the previous literature, and consistent with locomotor development [e.g., Plooij, 1984;Hiraiwa-Hasegawa, 1989;Sarringhaus et al, 2016;Matsumoto, 2017]: < 7 months, 8-18 months, 19-36 months, and 37-69 months. Note that 25 of 37 dyads contributed more than one data point.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Wild Chimpanzees Show a Decrease in Pant Grunting over Their First 6 Years of Life

Dunphy-Lelii

Mitani

2019

Folia Primatol

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Data from a large cross-sectional sample of wild chimpanzee mother-infant dyads yield evidence that young chimpanzees’ pant grunting unfolds nonlinearly over the early developmental period. Though infants begin pant grunting early, and mothers’ rates did not decrease, infant pant grunting declined as infants aged through infancy. Mother-infant dyadic pant grunting discordance therefore increased over infancy, with some discordance observed at even the earliest ages. In half of 90 observed instances involving infants ranging in age from 2 weeks to 69 months, only one member of the mother-infant dyad pant grunted; infants’ pant grunting was not influenced by their mother’s age, their position on their mother’s body at the time of the greeting, or the dominance status of the male greeted. Male infants were more likely to pant grunt than female infants. We discuss the developmental trend in the context of infants’ increasing independence, changing social motivations, and male-dominated social hierarchy.

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Long bone cross‐sectional properties reflect changes in locomotor behavior in developing chimpanzees

Cited by 62 publications

References 66 publications

Limb Bone Structural Proportions and Locomotor Behavior in A.L. 288-1 ("Lucy")

Limb Bone Structural Proportions and Locomotor Behavior in A.L. 288-1 ("Lucy")

Systemic patterns of trabecular bone across the human and chimpanzee skeleton

Wild Chimpanzees Show a Decrease in Pant Grunting over Their First 6 Years of Life

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