The Ecology and Human Biology of Pastoralists: Building on the Contributions of Michael A. Little

Human biologists have long studied the ecology, health, and adaptive patterns of pastoralist populations around the world. Over the last 20 years, research among pastoralists has increasingly focused on how ongoing climatic and socioeconomic changes are influencing these populations and threatening this lifeway. Additionally, with the development and broader use of “field friendly” methods for measuring energy expenditure, metabolism, and diverse biomarkers of physiological health, we are now able to gain a much more detailed and dynamic picture of the adaptive strategies of pastoralists. This Virtual Special Issue of the American Journal of Human Biology , “Human Biology of Pastoralists Populations” (Edited by Benjamin Campbell), showcases important advancements in this research domain and highlights the foundational contributions of Michael A. Little to our understanding of the biology and health of pastoralist societies.