Natural Selection on Female Life-History Traits in Pre-Industrial Human Populations
Author Information
Author(s): Pettay Jenni E., Helle Samuli, Jokela Jukka, Lummaa Virpi
Primary Institution: University of Turku
Hypothesis
Resource availability affects the selection pressure on female life-history traits in pre-industrial human populations.
Conclusion
Wealth significantly influenced the selection pressure on female life-history traits, with poorer women experiencing stronger selection for early reproduction.
Supporting Evidence
- The poorest women had the lowest age-specific survival throughout their lives.
- Selection favored older age at reproductive cessation in wealthier mothers.
- Women from the Poor families had lower survival rates compared to the Rich and Middle-class families.
Takeaway
This study shows that women from poorer families had to start having babies earlier to survive, while richer women could wait longer to have children.
Methodology
The study used demographic data from Finnish population registers and applied Cox survival analysis and path analysis to assess selection on life-history traits.
Potential Biases
Potential biases may arise from the reliance on historical records and the categorization of wealth based on husbands' occupations.
Limitations
The study is limited to historical data from specific Finnish populations, which may not generalize to other contexts.
Participant Demographics
The study focused on pre-industrial Finnish women from three wealth classes: rich, middle-class, and poor.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.0001
Statistical Significance
p<0.0001
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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