Evolution of Avian Eye Size Is Associated with Habitat Openness, Food Type and Brain Size
The eye is the primary sensory organ that obtains information from the ecological environments and specifically bridges the brain with the extra environment. However, the coevolutionary relationships between eye size and ecological factors, behaviours and brain size in birds remain poorly understood...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-05-01
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| Series: | Animals |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/13/10/1675 |
| _version_ | 1827742357739536384 |
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| author | Yating Liu Ying Jiang Jiliang Xu Wenbo Liao |
| author_facet | Yating Liu Ying Jiang Jiliang Xu Wenbo Liao |
| author_sort | Yating Liu |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The eye is the primary sensory organ that obtains information from the ecological environments and specifically bridges the brain with the extra environment. However, the coevolutionary relationships between eye size and ecological factors, behaviours and brain size in birds remain poorly understood. Here, we investigate whether eye size evolution is associated with ecological factors (e.g., habitat openness, food type and foraging habitat), behaviours (e.g., migration and activity pattern) and brain size among 1274 avian species using phylogenetically controlled comparative analyses. Our results indicate that avian eye size is significantly associated with habitat openness, food type and brain size. Species living in dense habitats and consuming animals exhibit larger eye sizes compared to species living in open habitats and consuming plants, respectively. Large-brained birds tend to possess larger eyes. However, migration, foraging habitat and activity pattern were not found to be significantly associated with eye size in birds, except for nocturnal birds having longer axial lengths than diurnal ones. Collectively, our results suggest that avian eye size is primarily influenced by light availability, food need and cognitive ability. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T04:00:50Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-a680c0fc55b14a29a109b71c268cde19 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-2615 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T04:00:50Z |
| publishDate | 2023-05-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Animals |
| spelling | doaj.art-a680c0fc55b14a29a109b71c268cde192023-11-18T00:10:36ZengMDPI AGAnimals2076-26152023-05-011310167510.3390/ani13101675Evolution of Avian Eye Size Is Associated with Habitat Openness, Food Type and Brain SizeYating Liu0Ying Jiang1Jiliang Xu2Wenbo Liao3School of Ecology and Nature Conservation, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, ChinaSchool of Ecology and Nature Conservation, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, ChinaSchool of Ecology and Nature Conservation, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, ChinaKey Laboratory of Southwest China Wildlife Resources Conservation (Ministry of Education), China West Normal University, Nanchong 637009, ChinaThe eye is the primary sensory organ that obtains information from the ecological environments and specifically bridges the brain with the extra environment. However, the coevolutionary relationships between eye size and ecological factors, behaviours and brain size in birds remain poorly understood. Here, we investigate whether eye size evolution is associated with ecological factors (e.g., habitat openness, food type and foraging habitat), behaviours (e.g., migration and activity pattern) and brain size among 1274 avian species using phylogenetically controlled comparative analyses. Our results indicate that avian eye size is significantly associated with habitat openness, food type and brain size. Species living in dense habitats and consuming animals exhibit larger eye sizes compared to species living in open habitats and consuming plants, respectively. Large-brained birds tend to possess larger eyes. However, migration, foraging habitat and activity pattern were not found to be significantly associated with eye size in birds, except for nocturnal birds having longer axial lengths than diurnal ones. Collectively, our results suggest that avian eye size is primarily influenced by light availability, food need and cognitive ability.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/13/10/1675birdseye sizebrain sizeecologyevolution |
| spellingShingle | Yating Liu Ying Jiang Jiliang Xu Wenbo Liao Evolution of Avian Eye Size Is Associated with Habitat Openness, Food Type and Brain Size Animals birds eye size brain size ecology evolution |
| title | Evolution of Avian Eye Size Is Associated with Habitat Openness, Food Type and Brain Size |
| title_full | Evolution of Avian Eye Size Is Associated with Habitat Openness, Food Type and Brain Size |
| title_fullStr | Evolution of Avian Eye Size Is Associated with Habitat Openness, Food Type and Brain Size |
| title_full_unstemmed | Evolution of Avian Eye Size Is Associated with Habitat Openness, Food Type and Brain Size |
| title_short | Evolution of Avian Eye Size Is Associated with Habitat Openness, Food Type and Brain Size |
| title_sort | evolution of avian eye size is associated with habitat openness food type and brain size |
| topic | birds eye size brain size ecology evolution |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/13/10/1675 |
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