A recent study published in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences suggests that wolves may have contributed to their own domestication by gravitating towards human settlements in search of food scraps. The research indicates that this self-domestication process could have occurred without human intervention, challenging previous assumptions about how dogs evolved from their wolf ancestors.
The researchers used mathematical and computer models to simulate how self-domestication could have taken place within a realistic timeframe. They considered the possibility that tamer wolves, more tolerant of humans, naturally selected mates with similar traits, promoting a gradual shift towards domesticated dogs. According to Terra, the simulations showed that if these tamer wolves preferentially mated, they could transform into dogs in 74% of cases.
One of the main objections to the self-domestication hypothesis has been the time constraints, with some scientists arguing that natural selection without human intervention could not have occurred quickly enough. However, the new study addresses this concern. News18 reports that the researchers demonstrated through statistical models that self-domestication could indeed have occurred within the 15,000-year period generally accepted for dog domestication.
The study’s findings support the scavenging hypothesis, which posits that wolves began to frequent human camps to scavenge for food, leading to a mutually beneficial alliance. La Stampa notes that wolves more inclined to seek food near humans had a greater chance of surviving and reproducing, as this strategy provided a consistent and relatively easy food source compared to hunting in the wild.
While it is widely accepted that dogs are descendants of gray wolves, the exact process of domestication has been a topic of debate among scientists. Some theories suggest that humans actively captured and bred wolves for specific traits, while others propose that wolves self-domesticated by taking advantage of resources around human settlements. The recent simulations lend credence to the latter theory, showing that the self-domestication hypothesis cannot be dismissed based on time constraints.
According to the study, the initial phase of domestication, occurring between 30,000 and 15,000 years ago, could have been driven by natural selection favoring less aggressive wolves that were more tolerant of humans. In the later phase, starting about 15,000 years ago, humans may have begun selectively breeding dogs for specific traits such as hunting, guarding, and companionship. This led to the wide variety of dog breeds seen today. Different evolutionary forces likely influenced each phase of dog domestication.
The idea that wolves self-domesticated by taking advantage of human food waste suggests that this preference for food may have left a mark on the behavior of modern dogs. Dogs today often beg for food everywhere, which could be a direct legacy of those early wolves that chose to live alongside humans to secure a safe meal.
However, not all scientists agree with the self-domestication hypothesis. Kompas reports that some argue this process would have been too slow and unlikely without human intervention. Critics also question whether prehistoric humans would have tolerated the proximity of wild predators near their settlements, as they might have viewed wolves as competitors or threats.
Despite these objections, the study provides evidence that self-domestication was at least possible within the given timeframe. “The proto-domestication hypothesis cannot be dismissed based on time constraints,” stated the researchers, according to Gizmodo.
Researchers emphasize that domestication is a two-way street, with both humans and wolves contributing to the relationship we know today. While more aggressive wolves may have stayed away, those more tolerant of humans survived and reproduced, gradually leading to the dogs we are familiar with.
The article was written with the assistance of a news analysis system.
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