Neanderthal Thermoregulation and the Glacial Climate

Aiello - Wheeler 2003 Climate and Cold Adaptation.pdf

Main questions:

1. In terms of both energetic cost and survival, what quantitative advantage did the Neanderthal cold adapted body form provide at low environmental temperatures?
   
2. What were the actual environmental conditions that prevailed in Europe and European Russia at the time of Neanderthal occupation?

Kleiber equation (1961):

BMR(W) = 3.4 × mass(kg)^0.75

The values predicted by this equation show good agreement with those of living humans and other primates (Aiello & Wheeler 1995).

Based on the inferred body mass and stature data presented in Table 9.1 and the assumptions outlined above, the three hominin body forms show very little difference in the ambient temperature at which thermoregulatory thermogenesis must be initiated or in the minimum sustainable ambient temperature at which a heat production equivalent to 3 times BMR is reached (Table 9.2; Fig. 9.1). Neanderthals with a BMR predicted by the Kleiber equation would need to initiate additional heat production at 27.3°C (81.2°F) 1 , Homo erectus at 28.5°C (83.3°F) and Homo sapiens at 28.2°C (82.7°F). The minimum sustainable ambient temperature for Neanderthals would be 8.0°C (46.5°F), for Homo erectus 11.6°C (52.8°F) and for Homo sapiens 10.5°C (50.9°F).