Alternative ecological strategies lead to avian brain size bimodality in variable habitats
Large brains are expected to be beneficial in variable environments by enabling flexible behavioral responses. Here, the authors show that relative brain size in birds is bimodally distributed in colder, seasonal environments, suggesting that both large and small brains can be adaptive solutions to...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Nature Portfolio
2019-08-01
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| Series: | Nature Communications |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-019-11757-x |
| _version_ | 1818991997530144768 |
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| author | Trevor S. Fristoe Carlos A. Botero |
| author_facet | Trevor S. Fristoe Carlos A. Botero |
| author_sort | Trevor S. Fristoe |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Large brains are expected to be beneficial in variable environments by enabling flexible behavioral responses. Here, the authors show that relative brain size in birds is bimodally distributed in colder, seasonal environments, suggesting that both large and small brains can be adaptive solutions to harsh conditions. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-20T20:19:09Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-67c8abd78ae14b5f922962c4542cb341 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2041-1723 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-20T20:19:09Z |
| publishDate | 2019-08-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Nature Communications |
| spelling | doaj.art-67c8abd78ae14b5f922962c4542cb3412022-12-21T19:27:37ZengNature PortfolioNature Communications2041-17232019-08-011011910.1038/s41467-019-11757-xAlternative ecological strategies lead to avian brain size bimodality in variable habitatsTrevor S. Fristoe0Carlos A. Botero1Department of Biology, University of KonstanzDepartment of Biology, Washington University in St. LouisLarge brains are expected to be beneficial in variable environments by enabling flexible behavioral responses. Here, the authors show that relative brain size in birds is bimodally distributed in colder, seasonal environments, suggesting that both large and small brains can be adaptive solutions to harsh conditions.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-019-11757-x |
| spellingShingle | Trevor S. Fristoe Carlos A. Botero Alternative ecological strategies lead to avian brain size bimodality in variable habitats Nature Communications |
| title | Alternative ecological strategies lead to avian brain size bimodality in variable habitats |
| title_full | Alternative ecological strategies lead to avian brain size bimodality in variable habitats |
| title_fullStr | Alternative ecological strategies lead to avian brain size bimodality in variable habitats |
| title_full_unstemmed | Alternative ecological strategies lead to avian brain size bimodality in variable habitats |
| title_short | Alternative ecological strategies lead to avian brain size bimodality in variable habitats |
| title_sort | alternative ecological strategies lead to avian brain size bimodality in variable habitats |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-019-11757-x |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT trevorsfristoe alternativeecologicalstrategiesleadtoavianbrainsizebimodalityinvariablehabitats AT carlosabotero alternativeecologicalstrategiesleadtoavianbrainsizebimodalityinvariablehabitats |