Brain size evolution in pipefishes and seahorses: the role of feeding ecology, life history and sexual selection
Brain size varies greatly at all taxonomic levels. Feeding ecology, life history and sexual selection have been proposed as key components in generating contemporary diversity in brain size across vertebrates. Analyses of brain size evolution have, however, been limited to lineages where males predo...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Published: |
Wiley
2016
|
| Subjects: |
| _version_ | 1796961714640519168 |
|---|---|
| author | Tsuboi, Masahito Lim, Adam Chee Ooi Ooi, Boon Leong Yip, M.Y. Chong, Ving Ching Ahnesjö, Ingrid Kolm, Niclas |
| author_facet | Tsuboi, Masahito Lim, Adam Chee Ooi Ooi, Boon Leong Yip, M.Y. Chong, Ving Ching Ahnesjö, Ingrid Kolm, Niclas |
| author_sort | Tsuboi, Masahito |
| collection | UM |
| description | Brain size varies greatly at all taxonomic levels. Feeding ecology, life history and sexual selection have been proposed as key components in generating contemporary diversity in brain size across vertebrates. Analyses of brain size evolution have, however, been limited to lineages where males predominantly compete for mating and females choose mates. Here, we present the first original data set of brain sizes in pipefishes and seahorses (Syngnathidae) a group in which intense female mating competition occurs in many species. After controlling for the effect of shared ancestry and overall body size, brain size was positively correlated with relative snout length. Moreover, we found that females, on average, had 4.3% heavier brains than males and that polyandrous species demonstrated more pronounced (11.7%) female-biased brain size dimorphism. Our results suggest that adaptations for feeding on mobile prey items and sexual selection in females are important factors in brain size evolution of pipefishes and seahorses. Most importantly, our study supports the idea that sexual selection plays a major role in brain size evolution, regardless of on which sex sexual selection acts stronger. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-06T05:58:15Z |
| format | Article |
| id | um.eprints-22871 |
| institution | Universiti Malaya |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-06T05:58:15Z |
| publishDate | 2016 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | dspace |
| spelling | um.eprints-228712019-10-26T06:51:50Z http://eprints.um.edu.my/22871/ Brain size evolution in pipefishes and seahorses: the role of feeding ecology, life history and sexual selection Tsuboi, Masahito Lim, Adam Chee Ooi Ooi, Boon Leong Yip, M.Y. Chong, Ving Ching Ahnesjö, Ingrid Kolm, Niclas Q Science (General) QH Natural history Brain size varies greatly at all taxonomic levels. Feeding ecology, life history and sexual selection have been proposed as key components in generating contemporary diversity in brain size across vertebrates. Analyses of brain size evolution have, however, been limited to lineages where males predominantly compete for mating and females choose mates. Here, we present the first original data set of brain sizes in pipefishes and seahorses (Syngnathidae) a group in which intense female mating competition occurs in many species. After controlling for the effect of shared ancestry and overall body size, brain size was positively correlated with relative snout length. Moreover, we found that females, on average, had 4.3% heavier brains than males and that polyandrous species demonstrated more pronounced (11.7%) female-biased brain size dimorphism. Our results suggest that adaptations for feeding on mobile prey items and sexual selection in females are important factors in brain size evolution of pipefishes and seahorses. Most importantly, our study supports the idea that sexual selection plays a major role in brain size evolution, regardless of on which sex sexual selection acts stronger. Wiley 2016 Article PeerReviewed Tsuboi, Masahito and Lim, Adam Chee Ooi and Ooi, Boon Leong and Yip, M.Y. and Chong, Ving Ching and Ahnesjö, Ingrid and Kolm, Niclas (2016) Brain size evolution in pipefishes and seahorses: the role of feeding ecology, life history and sexual selection. Journal of Evolutionary Biology, 30 (1). pp. 150-160. ISSN 1010-061X, DOI https://doi.org/10.1111/jeb.12995 <https://doi.org/10.1111/jeb.12995>. https://doi.org/10.1111/jeb.12995 doi:10.1111/jeb.12995 |
| spellingShingle | Q Science (General) QH Natural history Tsuboi, Masahito Lim, Adam Chee Ooi Ooi, Boon Leong Yip, M.Y. Chong, Ving Ching Ahnesjö, Ingrid Kolm, Niclas Brain size evolution in pipefishes and seahorses: the role of feeding ecology, life history and sexual selection |
| title | Brain size evolution in pipefishes and seahorses: the role of feeding ecology, life history and sexual selection |
| title_full | Brain size evolution in pipefishes and seahorses: the role of feeding ecology, life history and sexual selection |
| title_fullStr | Brain size evolution in pipefishes and seahorses: the role of feeding ecology, life history and sexual selection |
| title_full_unstemmed | Brain size evolution in pipefishes and seahorses: the role of feeding ecology, life history and sexual selection |
| title_short | Brain size evolution in pipefishes and seahorses: the role of feeding ecology, life history and sexual selection |
| title_sort | brain size evolution in pipefishes and seahorses the role of feeding ecology life history and sexual selection |
| topic | Q Science (General) QH Natural history |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT tsuboimasahito brainsizeevolutioninpipefishesandseahorsestheroleoffeedingecologylifehistoryandsexualselection AT limadamcheeooi brainsizeevolutioninpipefishesandseahorsestheroleoffeedingecologylifehistoryandsexualselection AT ooiboonleong brainsizeevolutioninpipefishesandseahorsestheroleoffeedingecologylifehistoryandsexualselection AT yipmy brainsizeevolutioninpipefishesandseahorsestheroleoffeedingecologylifehistoryandsexualselection AT chongvingching brainsizeevolutioninpipefishesandseahorsestheroleoffeedingecologylifehistoryandsexualselection AT ahnesjoingrid brainsizeevolutioninpipefishesandseahorsestheroleoffeedingecologylifehistoryandsexualselection AT kolmniclas brainsizeevolutioninpipefishesandseahorsestheroleoffeedingecologylifehistoryandsexualselection |