A phylogenetic analysis of the relationship between sub-adult mortality and mode of subsistence

The hypothesis that measures of sub-adult mortality rates in natural fertil ity populations are associated with subsistence practices in a selected cro ss-cultural sample (n = 39) was tested. After controlling for both distance from the equator and the general likelihood of cultural similarities betwe en genetically closely related cultures using phylogenetic comparative meth ods, it was found that dependence on extractive modes of subsistence (hunti ng, gathering and fishing) was a significant positive correlate of total ch ild mortality ((15)q(0)). Both increases in dependence on foraging and perm anent settlement were associated with increases in child mortality between pairs of historically related cultures. The results indicated little associ ation between infant mortality ((1)q(0)) and either dependence on foraging or settlement.