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Human and Primate Behaviour Ecology
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Lecture notes covering behavioural ecology, including optimal foraging theory, hominin expenditure, dietary reconstructions and diet breadth definitions.
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Human and Primate Behavioural EcologyThemes
- What are optimality and Human Behavioural Ecology? - used to be known as
Optimality Theory
- Not totally useless but has its place, pros and cons - gives useful framework
and some quantitative elements, but focuses on one topic at a time rather
than a multivariate, holistic view
- Testing and evaluating risk
- HBE in an evolutionary context
- Palaeoenvironmental reconstructions and Behavioural Ecology
Abbreviations
HBE - Human Behavioural Ecology
PBE - Primate Behavioural Ecology
NCT - Niche Construction Theory
DBD - Diet Breadth Definition
DB - Diet Breadth
OFT - Optimal Foraging Theory
HG - hunter-gatherers
Units of analysis
- Sharing of resources and information bridges gap between individuals
- Individuals and group relations?
Niche construction theory
- When an organism modifies the feature-factor relationship between itself and its e
environment by actively changing one or more of the factors in its environment
- Physically perturbing factors at its current location in space and time
- Relocating to a different space-time address, exposing itself to different
factors
Human Behaviour Ecology and Niche Construction Theory
- Optimality in the NCT context - not just responding to environmental conditions but
also directly affecting them?
- Ability to assess effectiveness of behaviours - reflexive monitoring - allows
manipulation of social rules and institutions - affecting future generations and
behaviours
- When does NC become apparent in the hominin record?
- With the earliest tools and control of fire?
- Sustained and developed by the high-fidelity transmission of information
across generations - enhanced social learning and creation of social worlds?
- Does it predate Homo sapiens?
Passive niches vs NCT
- NC allows a more active engagement with resources - diversification or specialisation
can be chosen - versatilism
Fitness and environmental adaptation
, - Measure of its ability, relative to others, to leave viable offspring
- Differential reproductive sex
Optimal behaviour
- HBE
- Increasing reproductive success
- Enhancing fitness
- Minimising risk through foraging behaviour
Currencies
- HBE runs on measurable currencies
- Energy - as a measure of efficiency?
- Proxy 1 ethnography
- Time
- Proxy 2 archaeology
- Distance
- Goal of maximising energetic return
- Cost-to-benefit analysis
Definition of uncertainty
- Failure to acquire adequate information to avoid risk
Adaptive principles
- Seek food resources when they are most readily and abundantly available
- Locate and distribute human population to minimise time and energy spent on travel
and transport
- Have contingency plans that can supersede the above rules
Competition in seasonally-variable environments
- Times of competitive optimality in times of scarcity
- More options and freedom of movement in times of plenty
Diet Breadth Definition
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