A5027096509- Linguistic Variation and Morphology
- Plant and animal studies
- Ecology and Vegetation Dynamics Studies
- Pleistocene-Era Hominins and Archaeology
- Evolutionary Game Theory and Cooperation
- Language and cultural evolution
- Primate Behavior and Ecology
- Pacific and Southeast Asian Studies
- Natural Language Processing Techniques
- Archaeology and ancient environmental studies
- Species Distribution and Climate Change
- Land Use and Ecosystem Services
- Conservation, Biodiversity, and Resource Management
- Plant Diversity and Evolution
- Rangeland Management and Livestock Ecology
- Space Science and Extraterrestrial Life
- Zoonotic diseases and public health
- Architecture and Cultural Influences
- Plant Parasitism and Resistance
- Plant and Fungal Species Descriptions
- Innovation and Socioeconomic Development
- Economic and Environmental Valuation
- Botany and Plant Ecology Studies
- Insect and Arachnid Ecology and Behavior
- Wildlife Ecology and Conservation
Ministry for the Environment
2024
Colorado State University
2016-2024
Victoria University of Wellington
2011-2016
Several plant traits are known to evolve in predictable ways on islands. For example, herbaceous species often become woody and frequently larger leaves, regardless of growth form. However, our understanding how seed sizes might islands lags far behind other traits. Here, we conduct the first test for macroevolutionary patterns size We tested differences between 40 island-mainland taxonomic pairings from four island groups surrounding New Zealand. Seed data were collected field then...
Recent investigations have suggested that some plants are aposematic. Our understanding of how aposematism varies through plant ontogeny, however, is incomplete. Furthermore, the potential for lower leaf surfaces to signal vertebrate herbivores viewing leaves from below has not been investigated. Here, we investigate ontogenetic changes in colour Pseudopanax crassifolius (Araliaceae), a tree species endemic New Zealand. We demonstrate P. produces lateral spines peak size during sapling stage...
Abstract Many island plants are characterized by unique morphology. For example, the high branching angles and small leaves of divaricate a common feature N ew Z ealand flora. The growth form may be an adaptation to deter browsing extinct avian herbivores (moa); alternatively aspects insular climate responsible. However, our understanding selective pressures responsible for is incomplete. Here, I tested differences in traits associated with between from Chatham Island mainland. Moa never...
Although many hypotheses have been proposed to explain why humans speak so languages and are unevenly distributed across the globe, factors that shape geographical patterns of cultural linguistic diversity remain poorly understood. Prior research has tended focus on identifying universal predictors language diversity, without accounting for how local multiple interact. Here, we use a unique combination path analysis, mechanistic simulation modelling, geographically weighted regression...
How humans obtain food has dramatically reshaped ecosystems and altered both the trajectory of human history characteristics societies. Our species' subsistence varies widely, from predominantly foraging strategies, to plant-based agriculture animal husbandry. The extent which environmental, social historical factors have driven such variation is currently unclear. Prior attempts resolve long-standing debates on this topic been hampered by an over-reliance narrative arguments, small...
Rensch's rule refers to a pattern in sexual size dimorphism (SSD) which SSD decreases with body when females are the larger sex and increases males sex. Many animal taxa conform rule, but it has yet be investigated plants. Using herbarium collections from New Zealand, we characterized of leaves stems 297 individuals 38 dioecious plant species belonging three distantly related phylogenetic lineages. Statistical comparisons leaf sizes between showed evidence for two lineages, indicating...
Mistletoes are parasitic plants, the spatial distributions of which poorly understood on macroecological scales. Because their highly unusual life history, investigating mistletoe macroecology may provide new insight into broad-scale patterns in species distributions. We collated data distribution and host use 65 Loranthaceous mistletoes across continent Australia, tested two predictions. First, we predicted diversity would be unrelated to productivity (i.e. evapotranspiration...
The niche variation hypothesis predicts insular populations exhibit increased sexual size dimorphism (SSD), to minimize intraspecific competition. Although many animal taxa conform this prediction, patterns of SSD have yet be investigated in plants. Here, we tested for differences dioecious plants that colonised four island groups (Kermadec, Three Kings, Chatham and Auckland Islands) from New Zealand. Using herbarium collections, quantified leaf stem sizes 263 individuals 28 taxa. We...
Land ownership shapes natural resource management and social–ecological resilience, but the factors determining norms in human societies remain unclear. Here we conduct a global empirical test of long‐standing theories from ecology, economics anthropology regarding potential drivers land territoriality. Prior theory suggests that defensibility, subsistence strategies, population pressure, political complexity cultural transmission mechanisms may all influence ownership. We applied...
Social inequality is ubiquitous in contemporary human societies, and has deleterious social ecological impacts. However, the factors that shape emergence maintenance of remain widely debated. Here we conduct a global analysis pathways to by comparing 408 non-industrial societies anthropological record (described largely between 1860 1960) vary degree inequality. We apply structural equation modelling open-access environmental ethnographic data explore two alternative models varying links...
The evolution of agriculture improved food security and enabled significant increases in the size complexity human groups. Despite these positive effects, some societies never adopted practices, became only partially reliant on them, or even reverted to foraging after temporarily adopting them. Given critical importance climate biotic interactions for modern agriculture, it seems likely that ecological conditions could have played a major role determining degree which different farming....
Globally, human house types are diverse, varying in shape, size, roof type, building materials, arrangement, decoration and many other features. Here we offer the first rigorous, global evaluation of factors that influence construction traditional (vernacular) houses. We apply macroecological approaches to analyse data describing features from 1900 1950 across 1000 societies. Geographic, social linguistic descriptors for each society were used test extent which key architectural may be...
Aotearoa New Zealand is experiencing continued environmental degradation despite its regulatory settings intended to improve outcomes. A lack of clear limits has made it hard protect ecological integrity and reduce pressures from the cumulative effects human activities, even more so in a changing climate. This article outlines an evidence-informed process for selecting attributes – i.e. measurable characteristics use by policy makers resource management across Zealand. It describes criteria...
Abstract Aim Land ownership norms are well documented and play a central role in social–ecological systems. Yet only recently has the spatial temporal distribution of land been examined using biogeographical evolutionary approaches. We incorporate modelling to test associations between environmental, subsistence cultural contact predictors. Location Africa. Taxon Bantu Bantoid ethnolinguistic groups (73 societies). Methods Based on ethnographies for 73 societies, we coded as none, group, kin...
Land ownership norms play a central role in social-ecological systems, and have been studied extensively as component of ethnographies. Yet only recently has the distribution land across cultures examined from evolutionary ecological perspectives. Here we incorporate macroecological modelling to test associations between environmental, subsistence, cultural contact predictors for societies Bantu language family. We find that likely evolved on unilinear trajectory, but not necessarily one...
Social inequality is now pervasive in human societies, despite the fact that humans lived relatively egalitarian, small-scale societies across most of our history. Prior literature highlights importance environmental conditions, economic defensibility, and wealth transmission for shaping early Holocene origins social inequality. However, it remains untested whether mechanisms drive evolution recent follow a similar trajectory. We conduct first global analysis pathways to within modern using...