Humans exhibit considerable diversity in timing and rate of reproduction. Life-history theory
(LHT) suggests that ecological cues of resource richness and survival probabilities shape
human phenotypes across populations. Populations experiencing high extrinsic mortality
due to uncertainty in resources should exhibit faster life histories. Here we use a path
analytic (PA) approach informed by LHT to model the multiple pathways between resources,
mortality rates, and reproductive behavior in 191 countries. Resources that account for the …

Humans exhibit considerable diversity in timing and rate of reproduction. Theory suggests
that ecological cues of resource richness and survival probabilities shape human life
histories across populations. Populations experiencing high extrinsic mortality due to
uncertainty in resources should exhibit faster life histories. A path analytic approach
informed by life history theory models the multiple pathways between resources, mortality
rates, and reproductive behavior in 191 countries. Resources that account for the most …