Overview

• Interspecies competition was a key driver in the evolutionary dynamics of hominins, challenging the traditional emphasis on climate.
• The Homo lineage exhibited unusual evolutionary patterns, with increased speciation rates when ecological niches were filled, contrary to other vertebrates.
• Technological advancements, such as the use of stone tools and fire, allowed Homo species to rapidly adapt and occupy new ecological niches.
• New data modeling techniques have led to revised start and end dates for several hominin species, indicating more complex evolutionary relationships than previously understood.
• The study, published in Nature Ecology & Evolution, underscores the unique role of competition in the evolution of human ancestors, comparing it to island-dwelling beetles.