Seasonality and Human Ecology

This volume examines the effect of climatic and human-made seasonality on human biology and behaviour.

S. J. Ulijaszek (Edited by), S. S. Strickland (Edited by)

9780521431477, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 28 October 1993

264 pages, 80 b/w illus. 31 tables
23.5 x 15.6 x 2 cm, 0.504 kg

..." includes several innovative analyses that set new standards in the collection, handling and interpretation of seasonal data and move some way towards both proximate and ultimate explanation...an excellent starting point for ecologists, anthropologists, nutritionists, epidemiologists, and clinicians interested in accelerating progress in this area..." Daniel Sellen, TREE

Seasonality has effects on a wide range of human functions and activities, and is important in the understanding of human-environment relationships. In this volume, distinguished contributors including human biologists, anthropologists, physiologists and nutritionists consider many of the different ways in which seasonality influences human biology and behaviour. Topics addressed include the influence of seasonality on hominid evolution, seasonal climatic effects on human physiology, fertility and physical growth, seasonality in morbidity, mortality and nutritional state, and seasonal factors in food production, modernization and work organization in Third World economies. This book will be of interest to graduate students and researchers in human biology, anthropology and nutrition.

1. Introduction S. J. Ulijaszek and S. S. Strickland
2. Seasonality and human biology Francis E. Johnston
3. The influence of seasonality on hominid evolution R. A. Foley
4. Environmental temperature and physiological function M. A. Stroud
5. Physiological responses to variations in daylength D. L. Ingram and M. J. Dauncey
6. Seasonality and fertility Lyliane Rosetta
7. Seasonality of reproductive performance in rural Gambia Stanley J. Ulijaszek
8. Seasonal effects on physical growth and development T. J. Cole
9. Seasonal variation in the birth prevalence of polygenic multifactorial diseases A. H. Bittles and L. Sanz
10. Environment, season and infection Andrew Tomkins
11. Seasonal mortality in the elderly K. J. Collins
12. Nutritional seasonality: the dimensions of the problem Anna Ferro-Luzzi and Francesco Branca
13. Seasonal variation in nutritional status of adults and children in rural Senegal Kirsten B. Simondon, Eric Benefice, Francois Simondon, Valerie Delaunay and Anouch Chahnzarin
14. Culture, seasons and stress in two traditional African cultures (Massa Mussey) Igor de Garine
15. Agriculture, modernisation and seasonality Rebecca A. Huss-Ashmore
16. Seasonal organisation of work patterns C. Panter-Brick.

Subject Areas: Human biology [PSX], Physical anthropology [JHMP]