The Evolution of <i>Zinjanthropus boisei</i>

Constantino, Paul J.; Wood, Bernard

doi:10.1002/evan.20130

Cited by 33 publications

(30 citation statements)

References 79 publications

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“…Beyond a sample of 15 individuals, there is very little change in the error associated with estimating the mean. A similar conclusion was reached by Constantino and Wood (2007) on the basis of dentognathic variables of Paranthropus boisei. Even more recently, Schillaci and Schillaci (2009) suggest that a mean derived from a sample size of 10 is likely to be within 0.5 standard deviations of the true population mean 89% of the time.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 77%

“…Even more recently, Schillaci and Schillaci (2009) suggest that a mean derived from a sample size of 10 is likely to be within 0.5 standard deviations of the true population mean 89% of the time. The concordance of independent studies on PlioPleistocene hominins (Constantino and Wood, 2007), modern humans (Schillaci and Schillaci, 2009), and papionin monkeys provides strong support for their shared general conclusions.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 55%

“…Specimens TP9, T89-154, and T17 are recognized here and elsewhere as belonging to a separate papionin genus, Procercocebus (Gilbert, 2007;personal observation). sampling alone? Constantino and Wood (2007) have suggested that a relatively small sample size (n 10) is adequate to accurately reflect larger population means for some craniodental characters. We use a large sample of a generalized papionin species by which to assess the limitations imposed by the small sample sizes typically encountered in the fossil record.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Morphometric variation in the papionin muzzle and the biochronology of the South African Plio‐Pleistocene karst cave deposits

Gilbert

Grine

2009

American J Phys Anthropol

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Papionin monkeys are widespread, relatively common members of Plio-Pleistocene faunal assemblages across Africa. For these reasons, papionin taxa have been used as biochronological indicators by which to infer the ages of the South African karst cave deposits. A recent morphometric study of South African fossil papionin muzzle shape concluded that its variation attests to a substantial and greater time depth for these sites than is generally estimated. This inference is significant, because accurate dating of the South African cave sites is critical to our knowledge of hominin evolution and mammalian biogeographic history. We here report the results of a comparative analysis of extant papionin monkeys by which variability of the South African fossil papionins may be assessed. The muzzles of 106 specimens representing six extant papionin genera were digitized and interlandmark distances were calculated. Results demonstrate that the overall amount of morphological variation present within the fossil assemblage fits comfortably within the range exhibited by the extant sample. We also performed a statistical experiment to assess the limitations imposed by small sample sizes, such as typically encountered in the fossil record. Results suggest that 15 specimens are sufficient to accurately represent the population mean for a given phenotype, but small sample sizes are insufficient to permit the accurate estimation of the population standard deviation, variance, and range. The suggestion that the muzzle morphology of fossil papionins attests to a considerable and previously unrecognized temporal depth of the South African karst cave sites is unwarranted.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 77%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 55%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Morphometric variation in the papionin muzzle and the biochronology of the South African Plio‐Pleistocene karst cave deposits

Gilbert

Grine

2009

American J Phys Anthropol

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“…For instance, among Plio-Pleistocene hominins, Paranthropus is distinguished by a heavily developed masticatory complex widely considered as adapted for producing and countering increased masticatory stresses associated with hard and/or tough food items (Tobias, 1967;du Brul, 1977;Walker, 1981;Rak, 1983;Demes and Creel, 1988;Hylander, 1988;Daegling, 1989;Constantino and Wood, 2007). Current understanding of the primate face from experimental data supports assertions that this region is under strong selective pressures related to masticatory activity (Hylander, 1979a(Hylander, ,b,c, 1988(Hylander, , 1992Hylander and Johnson, 1997;Ravosa et al, , 2007aRavosa et al, ,b, 2008a.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Phenotypic Plasticity and Function of the Hard Palate in Growing Rabbits

Menegaz

Sublett

Figueroa

et al. 2008

The Anatomical Record

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Morphological variation related to differential loading is well known for many craniomandibular elements. Yet, the function of the hard palate, and in particular the manner in which cortical and trabecular bone of the palate respond to masticatory loads, remains more ambiguous. Here, experimental data are presented that address the naturalistic influence of biomechanical loading on the postweaning development and structure of the hard palate. A rabbit model was used to test the hypothesis that variation in the morphology of the hard palate is linked to variation in masticatory stresses. Rabbit siblings were divided as weanlings into soft and hard/tough dietary treatment groups of 10 subjects each and were raised for 15 weeks until subadulthood. MicroCT analyses indicate that rabbits subjected to elevated masticatory loading developed hard palates with significantly greater bone area, greater cortical bone thickness along the oral lamina, and thicker anterior palates. Such diet-induced levels of palatal plasticity are comparable to those for other masticatory elements, which likely reflect osteogenic responses for maintaining the functional integrity of the palate vis-à -vis elevated stresses during unilateral mastication. These data support a role for mechanical loading in the determination of palatal morphology, especially its internal structure, in living and fossil mammals such as the hominin Paranthropus. Furthermore, these findings have potential implications for the evolution of the mammalian secondary hard palate as well as for clinical considerations of human oral pathologies.

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“…P. aethiopicus is succeeded in the eastern African fossil record by Paranthropus boisei (Leakey 1959) at 2.3 million years ago (Suwa et al 1996; although a fragmentary fossil from south central Africa may belong to this species and may be as old as 2.5 million years ago; Kullmer et al 1999). This species (see review in Constantino and Wood 2007), discovered by Mary Leakey in 1959, is known from multiple localities across eastern Africa, and its disappearance after 1.4 million years ago marks the end of the australopith fossil record. P. boisei is in many respects the most derived of the australopiths.…”

Section: Pre-australopithsmentioning

confidence: 99%