How much is enough? Hunters and limited needs

Kristen Hawkes; James F. O'Connell; Kim Hill; Eric L. Charnov

doi:10.1016/0162-3095(85)90037-8

How much is enough? Hunters and limited needs

Kristen Hawkes, James F. O'Connell, Kim Hill, Eric L. Charnov

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

27 Scopus citations

Abstract

The notion that hunter-gatherers need little and so limit what they take from available resources has been extremely influential in anthropology. We present an optimal foraging model that suggests testable predictions that are inconsistent with the postulate of "limited needs". We evaluate these predictions in light of data from the Aché of eastern Paraguay and other groups, and find that the hypotheses based on the limited needs postulate are generally falsified, whereas those derived from the optimal foraging model are generally supported.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	3-15
Number of pages	13
Journal	Ethology and Sociobiology
Volume	6
Issue number	1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/0162-3095(85)90037-8
State	Published - 1985
Externally published	Yes

Keywords

Hunter-gatherers
Hunting effort
Limited needs
Lowland South America
Optimal foraging

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics
Environmental Science(all)
Earth and Planetary Sciences(all)

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10.1016/0162-3095(85)90037-8

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AU - Hawkes, Kristen

AU - O'Connell, James F.

AU - Hill, Kim

AU - Charnov, Eric L.

PY - 1985

Y1 - 1985

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AB - The notion that hunter-gatherers need little and so limit what they take from available resources has been extremely influential in anthropology. We present an optimal foraging model that suggests testable predictions that are inconsistent with the postulate of "limited needs". We evaluate these predictions in light of data from the Aché of eastern Paraguay and other groups, and find that the hypotheses based on the limited needs postulate are generally falsified, whereas those derived from the optimal foraging model are generally supported.

KW - Hunter-gatherers

KW - Hunting effort

KW - Limited needs

KW - Lowland South America

KW - Optimal foraging

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How much is enough? Hunters and limited needs

Abstract

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

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