Spatial cognitive ability is associated with longevity in food-caching chickadees

Science, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 385(6713), P. 1111 - 1115

Published: Sept. 5, 2024

Cognitive abilities are hypothesized to affect survival and life span in nonhuman animals. However, most tests of this hypothesis have relied on interspecific comparisons indirect measures cognitive ability, such as brain size. We present direct evidence that individual variation is associated with differences a wild food caching bird. measured the spatial tracked 227 mountain chickadees (

Language: Английский

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Four errors and a fallacy: pitfalls for the unwary in comparative brain analyses

Biological reviews/Biological reviews of the Cambridge Philosophical Society, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 98(4), P. 1278 - 1309

Published: March 31, 2023

ABSTRACT Comparative analyses are the backbone of evolutionary analysis. However, their record in producing a consensus has not always been good. This is especially true attempts to understand factors responsible for evolution large brains, which have embroiled an increasingly polarised debate over past three decades. We argue that most these disputes arise from number conceptual errors and associated logical fallacies result failure adopt biological systems‐based approach hypothesis‐testing. identify four principal classes error: heed Tinbergen's Four Questions when testing hypotheses, misapplying Dobzhansky's Dictum hypotheses adaptation, poorly chosen behavioural proxies underlying use inappropriate statistical methods. In interests progress, we urge more careful considered comparative analyses, adoption broader, rather than narrower, taxonomic perspective.

Language: Английский

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Anthropogenic nest material use in a global sample of birds

Journal of Animal Ecology, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 93(6), P. 691 - 704

Published: March 25, 2024

As humans increasingly modify the natural world, many animals have responded by changing their behaviour. Understanding and predicting extent of these responses is a key step in conserving species. For example, tendency for some species birds to incorporate anthropogenic items-particularly plastic material-into nests increasing concern, as cases, this behaviour has harmful effects on adults, young eggs. Studies phenomenon, however, date been largely limited geographic taxonomic scope. To investigate global correlates (including plastic) nest material use, we used Bayesian phylogenetic mixed models data set recorded materials 6147 birds. We find that, after controlling research effort proximity human landscape modifications, use correlated with synanthropic (artificial) nesting locations, breeding environment number different use. also demonstrate that body mass, range size, conservation status brain size do not explain variation materials. These results indicate are more likely be included when they readily available, well potentially flexible choice.

Language: Английский

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Evolution of cellular architecture and function of the hippocampus: insights from the artificial selection experiment

Biology Letters, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 21(4)

Published: April 1, 2025

Inter-specifically, mammalian species with larger brains built of numerous neurons have higher cognitive abilities (CA) but at the expense metabolic costs. It is unclear, however, how this pattern emerged since evolutionary mechanisms act intra-specifically, not inter-specifically. Here, we tested existence above level in hippocampus—the brain structure underlying CA. We used an artificial selection experiment consisting lines laboratory mice divergently selected for basal rate (BMR)—a trait implicated size evolution, its costs and Selection on BMR did affect hippocampus as a correlated response to selection. However, high had superior CA manifested increased neuronal density, cytochrome c oxidase density (indexing activity) dendritic spine connectivity between neurons). Thus, our study calls into question generality patterns evolution apparent interspecifically. At level, may arise through rearrangement architecture function without conspicuous increase their metabolism.

Language: Английский

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Pair-bond strength is consistent and related to partner responsiveness in a wild corvid

Proceedings of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 292(2040)

Published: Feb. 1, 2025

The need to maintain strong social bonds is widely thought be a key driver of cognitive evolution. Cognitive abilities track and respond information about partners may favoured by selection if they vary within populations confer fitness benefits. Here we evaluate four assumptions this argument in wild jackdaws (Corvus monedula), corvids whose long-term pair exemplify one the putative drivers evolution birds. Combining observational experimental behavioural data with breeding records, found support for three assumptions: (i) pair-bond strength varies across population, (ii) consistent pairs over time (iii) positively associated partner responsiveness, measure socio-cognitive performance. However, (iv) did not find clear evidence that stronger lead better outcomes. Strongly bonded were able adjust hatching synchrony environmental conditions but fledge more or higher quality offspring. Together, these findings suggest maintaining linked performance facilitate effective coordination between partners. also imply benefits are insufficient explain how acts on cognition. We argue evaluating animals navigate trade-offs investing relationships versus optimizing interactions their wider networks will crucial avenue future research.

Language: Английский

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From the sea to the city: explaining gulls’ use of urban habitats

Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 12

Published: April 25, 2024

The expansion of urban areas affects wild animals in a variety ways. Why members closely-related species respond differently to urbanisation is often unclear, but an understanding the factors that lead habitat use or avoidance will have important implications for conservation. Previous research has suggested habitats could favour larger-brained, behaviourally flexible species, which can more readily cope with novel challenges imposed by urbanisation. However, opportunity colonise areas, and similarities between species’ natural habitats, may also explain use. We phylogenetic path analysis investigate promote breeding foraging gull subfamily, group several urbanised species. While we find little evidence support relationship brain size foraging, reveal indirect breeding: cliff-nesting relatively larger brains these are likely breed areas. show cliff nesting gulls derived trait therefore reflect plasticity choice, facilitating buildings as sites. Finally, less be international conservation concern decreasing population size, exposing need on causes consequences

Language: Английский

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Information Ecology: an integrative framework for studying animal behavior

Trends in Ecology & Evolution, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 38(11), P. 1041 - 1050

Published: July 21, 2023

Language: Английский

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Short-term memory, attentional control and brain size in primates

Royal Society Open Science, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 11(5)

Published: May 1, 2024

Brain size variability in primates has been attributed to various domain-specific socio-ecological factors. A recently published large-scale study of short-term memory abilities 41 primate species (ManyPrimates 2022 Anim. Behav. Cogn. 9, 428–516. (doi: 10.26451/abc.09.04.06.2022 )) did not find any correlations with 11 different proxies external cognitive demands. Here, we found that the interspecific variation test performance shows correlated evolution total brain size, relationship becoming tighter as small sample sizes were successively removed, whereas it was predicted by often-used encephalization quotient. In a subsample, also regions thought be involved predict better than overall size. The dependence on suggests domain-general processes underlie tested ManyPrimates. These results support emerging notion comparative studies do generally identify adaptations but rather reveal varying selections abilities. Finally, because attentional beyond affect performance, suggest delayed response can refined.

Language: Английский

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Brain energy metabolism as an underlying basis to slow-fast cognitive phenotypes in honeybees

Journal of Experimental Biology, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 227(17)

Published: Aug. 2, 2024

In the context of slow-fast behavioral variation, fast individuals are hypothesized to be those who prioritize speed over accuracy while slow which do opposite. Since energy metabolism is a critical component neural and cognitive functioning, this predicts such differences in style reflected at level brain. We tested idea honeybees by first classifying into phenotypes based on learning assay then measuring their brain respiration with high-resolution respirometry. Our results broadly show that inter-individual cognition mass accompanying use whole animal. Larger brains had lower mass-specific usage bees larger higher metabolic rate. These were, turn, associated differences, were whereas smaller phenotypes. discuss these role functioning decision making trade-off.

Language: Английский

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The selfish preen: absence of allopreening in Palaeognathae and its socio-cognitive implications

Animal Cognition, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 26(5), P. 1467 - 1476

Published: May 31, 2023

Abstract Preening behaviours are widespread in extant birds. While most birds appear to autopreen (self-directed preening), allopreening (preening directed at conspecifics) seems have emerged only certain species, but across many families. Allopreening has been hypothesised reinforce mutual relationships and cooperation between individuals, underpin various socio-cognitive abilities. Palaeognathae is a bird group exhibiting neurocognitively plesiomorphic traits compared other They share features with non-avian paravian dinosaurs thus important for the study of cognitive evolution Despite this, correlation complicated social behaviours, not systematically studied Palaeognathae. Therefore, we examined preening four species palaeognaths: common ostriches ( Struthio camelus ), greater rheas Rhea americana emus Dromaius novaehollandiae elegant crested tinamous Eudromia elegans ). We findings ravens Corvus corax neognath known its complex cognition. found autopreening, no allopreening, palaeognath while both autopreening was ravens. The absence suggests an emergence this behaviour within Neognathae. contextualise our results relation underpinnings implications understanding abilities early

Language: Английский

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