Richard Bribiescas, PhD
Clayton Stephenson / Yale Class of 1954 Professor of Anthropology and Professor of Ecology and Evolutionary BiologyCards
Contact Info
Yale University
Department of Anthropology, 10 Sachem Street
New Haven, CT 06520-8277
United States
About
Titles
Clayton Stephenson / Yale Class of 1954 Professor of Anthropology and Professor of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
Biography
Richard Bribiescas is Professor of Anthropology and Chair of the Anthropology Department. He is also Director of the Yale Reproductive Ecology Laboratory and the Program in Reproductive Ecology, a YIBSsponsored research initiative. His most notable research involves the evolutionary biology and endocrinology of human and comparative life histories, reproduction, aging, and metabolism. He has conducted field research among the Ache of Paraguay as well as populations in Venezuela, Japan, Ecuador, and the United States as well as various species of non-human primates. He is presently collaborating with Professors Larry Sugiyamaand Josh Snodgrass of the Department of Anthropology at the University of Oregon, as well as Professor Felicia Madimenos of the Department of Anthropology at Queen’s College CUNY on the Shuar Health and Life History Project in Ecuador.
Bribiescas received his B.A. in Anthropology and Psychology (double major) from the University of California, Los Angeles, afterwards earning an A.M. and Ph.D. in Anthropology from Harvard University. Prior to his position at Yale, he was a Post-Doctoral Research Fellow in the Reproductive Endocrine Unit of Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. He is author of Men: Evolutionary and Life History (Harvard University Press, 2006), a comprehensive examination of the evolutionary biology of human males which was awarded the 2007 Bronze Medal in the category of science by the Independent Book Publishers Association. In 2007 he was also awarded the Medal of 600 Years Anniversary of the Restoration of the Krakow Academy by Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland, for his research in human reproductive ecology.
Professor Bribiescas serves on the editorial board of the American Journal of Human Biology, Evolution, Medicine, and Public Health, and the Annual Review of Anthropology. Current courses taught by Professor Bribiescas include Human Evolutionary Biology and Life History, as well as graduate seminars in behavioral endocrinology, reproductive ecology, aging, and life history theory. A list of publications and laboratory information can be found here.
Appointments
Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology
ProfessorSecondary
Other Departments & Organizations
Education & Training
- Post Doctoral Researcher
- Massachusetts General Hospital (1998)
- PhD
- Harvard University, Anthropology (1997)
- MA
- Harvard University, Anthropology (1994)
- BA
- University of California, Los Angeles, Anthropology and Psychology (double major) (1988)
Research
Overview
Richard Bribiescas received his M.A. and Ph.D. at Harvard University. His work on Leptin associations with age, weight, and sex among chimpanzees was featured in the Journal of Medical Primatology. In addition to published articles, Dr. Bribiescas has written a book titled “Men: Evolutionary Life and History.”
- View Lab Website
Reproductive Ecology Laboratory
Research at a Glance
Yale Co-Authors
Publications Timeline
Catherine Panter-Brick
Claudia Valeggia, PhD
Nicola Hawley, PhD
Victoria Harries
Courtney Choy, MPH, PhD
Publications
2024
The milk study protocol: A longitudinal, prospective cohort study of the relationship between human milk metabolic hormone concentration, maternal body composition, and early growth and satiety development in Samoan infants aged 1–4 months
Harries V, Abraham J, Vesi L, Reupena A, Faaselele-Savusa K, Duckham R, Bribiescas R, Hawley N. The milk study protocol: A longitudinal, prospective cohort study of the relationship between human milk metabolic hormone concentration, maternal body composition, and early growth and satiety development in Samoan infants aged 1–4 months. PLOS ONE 2024, 19: e0292997. PMID: 38728264, PMCID: PMC11086876, DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0292997.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchAltmetricMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsMaternal body compositionEarly infant growthBody compositionInfant growthProspective longitudinal cohortMother-infant dyadsBreastfeeding mother-infant dyadsHuman milkFingerpick blood sampleInfants aged 1Longitudinal cohortBody composition measurementsProspective cohort studyInfant feeding patternsSatiety developmentUndernourished womenSatiety responsivenessInfant satietyInfant hungerHormone leptinCohort studyHigh-income settingsMultivariate analysisEating patternsHormone transferVariation in diurnal cortisol patterns among the Indigenous Shuar of Amazonian Ecuador
Liebert M, Urlacher S, Madimenos F, Gildner T, Cepon‐Robins T, Harrington C, Bribiescas R, Sugiyama L, Snodgrass J. Variation in diurnal cortisol patterns among the Indigenous Shuar of Amazonian Ecuador. American Journal Of Human Biology 2024, e24056. PMID: 38517108, DOI: 10.1002/ajhb.24056.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchAltmetricConceptsDiurnal cortisol productionIndigenous ShuarAmazonian EcuadorCortisol patternsHypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axisBody mass indexLife courseHigh-income populationsHPA axis activityCortisol awakening responseDiurnal cortisol patternsDiurnal salivary cortisol patternsHuman stress responseHuman evolutionSalivary cortisol patternsBiological sexDiurnal cortisol declineAwakening responseHigh-income settingsHPA axisCortisol parametersCortisol productionDiurnal slopeAxis activityResource context
2021
C‐reactive protein in adult Samoans: Population variation and physiological correlates
Rivara AC, Corley M, Choy CC, Duckham RL, Pomer A, Reupena MS, Viali S, Naseri T, Kershaw EE, Crouter SE, McGarvey ST, Bribiescas RG, Valeggia C, Hawley NL. C‐reactive protein in adult Samoans: Population variation and physiological correlates. American Journal Of Human Biology 2021, 34: e23646. PMID: 34260111, PMCID: PMC8758804, DOI: 10.1002/ajhb.23646.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchAltmetricMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsC-reactive proteinBody mass indexCardiometabolic disease riskMeasures of adiposityAdult SamoansCRP correlateDisease riskSerum C-reactive proteinMeasures of BMICardiometabolic risk markersPercent body fatSex-dependent associationsCardiometabolic markersCardiometabolic riskCRP quartileMass indexUnadjusted analysesRisk markersBody fatKruskal-Wallis testAdiposityPacific Islander populationsSpearman rank correlationFirst examinationRank correlationReplicability of leptin associations with testosterone, estradiol, follicle‐stimulating hormone, and luteinizing hormone in healthy Ache men of Paraguay: A multiple daily assessment
Harries V, Bribiescas R. Replicability of leptin associations with testosterone, estradiol, follicle‐stimulating hormone, and luteinizing hormone in healthy Ache men of Paraguay: A multiple daily assessment. American Journal Of Human Biology 2021, 34: e23638. PMID: 34213036, DOI: 10.1002/ajhb.23638.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchAltmetricMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsFollicle-stimulating hormoneLeptin's associationsMale reproductive hormone levelsSerum follicle-stimulating hormoneMale reproductive hormonesReproductive hormone levelsMultiple daily assessmentsLeptin levelsEstradiol levelsHealthy menHormone levelsReproductive hormonesLeptinSeparate daysTestosteroneDaily assessmentHormoneSmall sample sizeAche menSalivary testosteroneMenLifestyle variationsSpan of daysEstradiolLHLow prevalence of anemia among Shuar communities of Amazonian Ecuador
DeLouize A, Liebert M, Madimenos F, Urlacher S, Schrock J, Cepon‐Robins T, Gildner T, Blackwell A, Harrington C, Amir D, Bribiescas R, Snodgrass J, Sugiyama L. Low prevalence of anemia among Shuar communities of Amazonian Ecuador. American Journal Of Human Biology 2021, 34: e23590. PMID: 33749068, DOI: 10.1002/ajhb.23590.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsAnemia prevalenceBody mass indexImportant global health challengeGlobal health challengeAnemia preventionHemoglobin levelsMass indexAnemia ratesLow prevalenceRisk populationsAdult menAdult womenHealth challengesPrevalenceAnemiaAmerican indigenous populationsShuar of EcuadorSouth American indigenous populationsTotal sampleIndigenous populationsPopulationEvolutionary and Life History Insights into Masculinity and Warfare
Bribiescas R. Evolutionary and Life History Insights into Masculinity and Warfare. Current Anthropology 2021, 62: s38-s53. DOI: 10.1086/711688.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetric
2020
Oxidative stress as a hidden cost of attractiveness in postmenopausal women
Marcinkowska U, Ziomkiewicz A, Kleisner K, Galbarczyk A, Klimek M, Sancilio A, Jasienska G, Bribiescas R. Oxidative stress as a hidden cost of attractiveness in postmenopausal women. Scientific Reports 2020, 10: 21970. PMID: 33319813, PMCID: PMC7738509, DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-76627-9.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricMeSH Keywords and ConceptsAccelerated senescence as a cost of reproduction: Testing associations between oxidative stress and reproductive effort in rural and urban women
Sancilio A, Jasienska G, Panter‐Brick C, Ziomkiewicz A, Nenko I, Bribiescas RG. Accelerated senescence as a cost of reproduction: Testing associations between oxidative stress and reproductive effort in rural and urban women. American Journal Of Human Biology 2020, 33: e23537. PMID: 33190335, PMCID: PMC8843032, DOI: 10.1002/ajhb.23537.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricAging, Life History, and Human Evolution
Bribiescas R. Aging, Life History, and Human Evolution. Annual Review Of Anthropology 2020, 49: 1-21. DOI: 10.1146/annurev-anthro-010220-074148.BooksCitationsAltmetricConceptsLife history variablesTissue-specific patternsPhylogenetic historyReproductive effortEnergetic investmentPopulation variationLife historyFossil recordHuman evolutionHominin lineageGreat apesCurrent understandingSpeciesLife spanEnvironmental influencesLineagesMammalsContemporary health challengesDegradationEvolutionGeneticsOrganismsSignificant variationHumansApesThe Developmental Origins of Risk and Time Preferences Across Diverse Societies
Amir D, Jordan MR, McAuliffe K, Valeggia CR, Sugiyama LS, Bribiescas RG, Snodgrass JJ, Dunham Y. The Developmental Origins of Risk and Time Preferences Across Diverse Societies. Journal Of Experimental Psychology General 2020, 149: 650-661. PMID: 31512902, DOI: 10.1037/xge0000675.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricMeSH Keywords and Concepts
Academic Achievements and Community Involvement
activity Shuar Health and Life History Project
ResearchDetails01/01/2012 - PresentEcuadorAbstract/SynopsisA collaborative longitudinal study of the health and biocultural effects of market integration and acculturation among native Shuar people of southeastern Ecuador.
activity Chimpanzee Behavior in Kibale National Park, Uganda
ResearchDetails01/01/2008 - PresentUgandaAbstract/SynopsisThis project involves long-term field research on the behavior and ecology of a chimpanzee community at Ngogo, one of two research sites maintained by the Makerere University Biological Field Station in Kibale National Park, and associated research on other primate species and on forest ecology. (Africa)
activity Ovarian Function Study
ResearchDetails01/01/2008 - PresentPolandAbstract/SynopsisProfessor Bribiescas is involved in a collaborative investigation with colleagues at Jagiellonian University into the effects of aging and energetics on ovarian function in rural Polish women.
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Contacts
Yale University
Department of Anthropology, 10 Sachem Street
New Haven, CT 06520-8277
United States
Locations
10 Sachem Street
Academic Office
Ste 232
New Haven, CT 06511