Electronic Resource
Springer
Human evolution
14 (1999), S. 255-259
ISSN:
1824-310X
Keywords:
human morphology
;
thermoregulation
;
Bergmann's rule
;
cylinder hypothesis
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Biology
Notes:
Abstract Ruff's cylinder hypothesis equates the human body with a cylinder as the simplest possible geometric model and predicts that to fulfil basic thermoregulatory principles populations of different mean height within any given climatic zone will have similar mean bi-iliac breadths. Three problems with Ruff's analysis are identified. First, the equating of the human body with a cylinder is only an approximation and a cylinder may be inappropriate as a descriptor. Second, the small range of readings for the mean pelvic breadths makes it difficult to identify the relation of pelvic breadth with height in subsets. Third, small numbers make it impossible to comment on the relation of bi-iliac breadth and stature for three out of four of Ruff's population subsets. An estimate for a common least squares slope for the combined population samples demonstrates a positive association between bi-iliac breadth and height (coefficient 0.05). It is concluded that Ruff's data are inadequate for rejecting the null hypothesis.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF02438930
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