Trabecular architecture of the great ape and human femoral head

Georgiou, Leoni; Kivell, Tracy L.; Pahr, Dieter H.; Buck, Laura T.; Skinner, Matthew M.

doi:10.1111/joa.12957

Cited by 18 publications

(33 citation statements)

References 148 publications

(228 reference statements)

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“…S2B), the BV/TV distribution pattern of this specimen is almost identical to H. sapiens. Contrary to single trabecular parameters (33), BV/TV distribution patterns in the femur (30) and other bones (28,34), have been shown to distinguish between great apes with different locomotor repertoires; therefore, these results suggest that StW 522 used a similar bipedal gait to H. sapiens.…”

Section: Trabecular Distribution Patterns and Locomotor Reconstructiomentioning

confidence: 57%

“…Investigation of trabecular architecture in long bones has proven integral in reconstructing behaviors in both extant and fossil humans, as well as other primates (27)(28)(29)(30)(31). This is because trabecular bone responds to load via modeling and remodeling, mainly altering the orientation of its struts, as well as the distribution and volume of bone (32).…”

Section: Significancementioning

confidence: 99%

“…This is because trabecular bone responds to load via modeling and remodeling, mainly altering the orientation of its struts, as well as the distribution and volume of bone (32). Analysis of trabecular architecture has revealed behavioral signals in the femoral head of primates (29,30,33). Our previous work has shown that within the femoral head, trabecular bone distribution differs between humans, African apes, and orangutans (30) and correlates with predicted pressure from habitual postures.…”

Section: Significancementioning

confidence: 99%

“…Analysis of trabecular architecture has revealed behavioral signals in the femoral head of primates (29,30,33). Our previous work has shown that within the femoral head, trabecular bone distribution differs between humans, African apes, and orangutans (30) and correlates with predicted pressure from habitual postures. Furthermore, within the femoral head, modern humans have highly aligned struts (expressed as high degree of anisotropy [DA]) and distinct strut orientation compared to other apes (29), traits that are consistent with obligate bipedalism.…”

Section: Significancementioning

confidence: 99%

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Evidence for habitual climbing in a Pleistocene hominin in South Africa

Georgiou

Dunmore

Bardo

et al. 2020

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

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Bipedalism is a defining trait of the hominin lineage, associated with a transition from a more arboreal to a more terrestrial environment. While there is debate about when modern human-like bipedalism first appeared in hominins, all known South African hominins show morphological adaptations to bipedalism, suggesting that this was their predominant mode of locomotion. Here we present evidence that hominins preserved in the Sterkfontein Caves practiced two different locomotor repertoires. The trabecular structure of a proximal femur (StW 522) attributed to Australopithecus africanus exhibits a modern human-like bipedal locomotor pattern, while that of a geologically younger specimen (StW 311) attributed to either Homo sp. or Paranthropus robustus exhibits a pattern more similar to nonhuman apes, potentially suggesting regular bouts of both climbing and terrestrial bipedalism. Our results demonstrate distinct morphological differences, linked to behavioral differences between Australopithecus and later hominins in South Africa and contribute to the increasing evidence of locomotor diversity within the hominin clade.

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Section: Trabecular Distribution Patterns and Locomotor Reconstructiomentioning

confidence: 57%

Section: Significancementioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Significancementioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Significancementioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Evidence for habitual climbing in a Pleistocene hominin in South Africa

Georgiou

Dunmore

Bardo

et al. 2020

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

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“…Highly diagnostic examples of such repeated adaptations can be found in tetrapod bone microanatomy. Lifestyles can thus be inferred from the analysis of trabecular networks [ 3 , 4 ] and cross-sections of long bone diaphyses [ 5 , 6 ], ribs [ 7 , 8 ], and vertebrae [ 9 , 10 ]. The secondary acquisition of an aquatic lifestyle in tetrapods, for instance, correlates with a non-pathological increase in bone compactness (i.e.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

First evidence of convergent lifestyle signal in reptile skull roof microanatomy

et al. 2020

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Background The study of convergently acquired adaptations allows fundamental insight into life’s evolutionary history. Within lepidosaur reptiles—i.e. lizards, tuatara, and snakes—a fully fossorial (‘burrowing’) lifestyle has independently evolved in most major clades. However, despite their consistent use of the skull as a digging tool, cranial modifications common to all these lineages are yet to be found. In particular, bone microanatomy, although highly diagnostic for lifestyle, remains unexplored in the lepidosaur cranium. This constitutes a key gap in our understanding of their complexly interwoven ecology, morphology, and evolution. In order to bridge this gap, we reconstructed the acquisition of a fossorial lifestyle in 2813 lepidosaurs and assessed the skull roof compactness from microCT cross-sections in a representative subset (n = 99). We tested this and five macroscopic morphological traits for their convergent evolution. Results We found that fossoriality evolved independently in 54 lepidosaur lineages. Furthermore, a highly compact skull roof, small skull diameter, elongate cranium, and low length ratio of frontal and parietal were repeatedly acquired in concert with a fossorial lifestyle. Conclusions We report a novel case of convergence that concerns lepidosaur diversity as a whole. Our findings further indicate an early evolution of fossorial modifications in the amphisbaenian ‘worm-lizards’ and support a fossorial origin for snakes. Nonetheless, our results suggest distinct evolutionary pathways between fossorial lizards and snakes through different contingencies. We thus provide novel insights into the evolutionary mechanisms and constraints underlying amniote diversity and a powerful tool for the reconstruction of extinct reptile ecology.

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Using point clouds to investigate the relationship between trabecular bone phenotype and behavior: An example utilizing the human calcaneus

DeMars

Stephens

Saers

et al. 2020

American J Hum Biol

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Objectives The objective of this study is to demonstrate a new method for analyzing trabecular bone volume fraction and degree of anisotropy in three dimensions. Methods We use a combination of automatic mesh registration, point‐cloud correspondence registration, and P‐value corrected univariate statistical tests to compare bone volume fraction and degree of anisotropy on a point by point basis across the entire calcaneus of two human groups with different subsistence strategies. Results We found that the patterns of high and low bone volume fraction and degree of anisotropy distribution between the Black Earth (hunter‐gatherers) and Norris Farms (mixed‐strategy agriculturalists) are very similar, but differ in magnitude. The hunter‐gatherers exhibit higher levels of bone volume fraction and less anisotropic trabecular bone organization. Additionally, patterns of bone volume fraction and degree of anisotropy in the calcaneus correspond well with biomechanical expectations of relative forces experienced during walking and running. Conclusions We conclude that comparing site‐specific, localized differences in trabecular bone variables such as bone volume fraction and degree of anisotropy in three‐dimensions is a powerful analytical tool. This method makes it possible to determine where similarities and differences between groups are located within the whole skeletal element of interest. The visualization of multiple variables also provides a way for researchers to see how the trabecular bone variables interact within the morphology, and allows for a more nuanced understanding of how they relate to one another and the broader mechanical environment.

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Trabecular architecture of the great ape and human femoral head

Cited by 18 publications

References 148 publications

Evidence for habitual climbing in a Pleistocene hominin in South Africa

Evidence for habitual climbing in a Pleistocene hominin in South Africa

First evidence of convergent lifestyle signal in reptile skull roof microanatomy

Using point clouds to investigate the relationship between trabecular bone phenotype and behavior: An example utilizing the human calcaneus

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