Human adaptation to diverse biomes over the past 3 million years

• DOI: 10.1126/science.abq1288
• Publication Date: 2023-05-11T17:58:26Z
• Authors: Elke Zeller; Axel Timmermann; Kyung-Sook Yun; Pasquale Raia; Karl Stein; Jiaoyang Ruan
• Keywords: Biome; Homo sapiens; Shrubland; Out of africa; Hominidae

To investigate the role of vegetation and ecosystem diversity on hominin adaptation migration, we identify past human habitat preferences over time using a transient 3-million-year earth system-biome model simulation an extensive fossil archaeological database. Our analysis shows that early African hominins predominantly lived in open environments such as grassland dry shrubland. Migrating into Eurasia, adapted to broader range biomes time. By linking location age sites with corresponding simulated regional biomes, also find our ancestors actively selected for spatially diverse environments. The quantitative results lead new hypothesis: Homo species, particular sapiens, were specially equipped adapt landscape mosaics.