Climate shifts orchestrated hominin interbreeding events across Eurasia

• DOI: 10.1126/science.add4459
• Publication Date: 2023-08-10T18:00:36Z
• Authors: Jiaoyang Ruan; Axel Timmermann; Pasquale Raia; Kyung-Sook Yun; Elke Zeller; Alessandro Mondanaro; Mirko Di Febbraro; Danielle Lemmon; Silvia Castiglione; Marina Melchionna
• Keywords: Last Glacial Maximum; Biome; Hominidae

When, where, and how often hominin interbreeding happened is largely unknown. We study the potential for Neanderthal-Denisovan admixture using species distribution models that integrate extensive fossil, archaeological, genetic data with transient coupled general circulation model simulations of global climate biomes. Our Pleistocene hindcast past hominins' habitat suitability reveals pronounced climate-driven zonal shifts in main overlap region Denisovans Neanderthals central Eurasia. These shifts, which influenced timing intensity events, can be attributed to response vegetation variations atmospheric carbon dioxide Northern Hemisphere ice-sheet volume. Therefore, glacial-interglacial swings likely played an important role favoring gene flow between archaic humans.