Human Ecology of Reproduction in Nomadic Turkana Pastoralists

在这个项目中，莱斯利博士和他的同事将进行一个 对生活在北方的图尔卡纳牧民的生物学研究 肯尼亚的沙漠地区。 研究的目的是 了解图尔卡纳的生育能力， 协调的研究。 通过月经日记和唾液 孕酮测定将有可能确定是否以及何时 女性是有生育能力的，决定了个体的周期长度， 成年女性人口中有生育能力的比例。 到 了解观察到的模式的原因，一些辅助 并会进行研究。 数据将收集于 健康和营养状况，并将确定这些 在一年中变化。 将采取措施， 确定身体成分和活动模式以及能量 支出将得到观察。 自从建立联系以来 母乳喂养和生育之间的关系， 也将被研究。 图尔卡纳人是一个非常有趣的族群， 从人口角度看。 他们是牧民， 他们的骆驼群，牛，山羊和绵羊作为食物。 他们生活 在恶劣的沙漠环境中， 只在一年中的特定时间下雨。 因此它们 在某些季节受到严重的压力， 在其他人。 先前的研究表明，它们的能量摄入 低. 然而（也许是因为高蛋白质摄入量）， 平均生育水平极高。 它也是非常 季节性的 本研究的目的是进一步记录这一点 并确定原因。 这项研究之所以重要，有几个原因。 应当 提供更多的自然过程的理解， 控制生育。 其次，虽然图尔卡纳人生活在一个 高度紧张的沙漠环境，它们已经适应了 非常好。 在其他环境相似的地区， 非洲，当干旱来袭，人们挨饿，除非 国际社会提供粮食。 美国政府 为此花费了大量的钱。 希望学到的东西 关于图尔卡纳适应可以在其他地方发挥有用的作用， 非洲

In this project Dr. Leslie and his colleagues will conduct a biological study of Turkana pastoralists who live in the northern desert region of Kenya. The goal of the research is to understand Turkana fertility and the team will conduct a number of coordinated studies. Through menstrual diaries and salivary progesterone assay it will be possible to determine if and when women are fertile, determine individual cycle length and what percentage of the adult female population is fertile. To understand the causes of observed patterns a number of ancillary studies will also be carried out. Data will be collected on health and nutritional status and it will be determined how these vary over the course of the year. Measurement will be taken to determine body composition and activity patterns and energy expenditure will be observed. Since ties have been established between breast-feeding and fertility, breast-feeding patterns will also be studied. The Turkana are an extremely interesting population from a demographic perspective. They are pastoralists who depend on their herds of camels, cows, goats and sheep for food. They live in a harsh desert environment which receives limited amounts of rain only at specific times of the year. Therefore they are subjected to severe stress during some seasons and milder stress during others. Previous work has shown that their energy intake is low. However (perhaps because of high protein intake) the average fertility level is extremely high. Also it is extremely seasonal. The purpose of this study is to document this further and determine the causes. This research is important for several reasons. It should provide additional understanding of the natural processes which control fertility. Secondly, although the Turkana live in a highly stressful desert environment, they have adapted to it extremely well. In other environmentally similar areas of Africa, when drought strikes, people starve unless the international community provides food. The U.S. government expends large sums for this purpose. Hopefully what is learned about Turkana adaptation can serve a useful function elsewhere in Africa.