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According to Washington University researchers in St. Louis this study is the first to show a possible link between cognition, animal response to human-made temperature change, and cognition.
According to research, the relative brain size of birds is often used as an indicator of their behavioral flexibility. Baldwin stated that while the idea may be controversial when applied to other animals it is effective for birds.
Baldwin stated that relative brain size correlates to higher learning ability, greater memory, longer lifespans, and more stable population dynamics.
“In this instance, a larger-brained bird species might be capable of reducing its exposure to warm temperatures by seeking out microhabitats that have cooler temperatures,” he stated.
Researchers analyzed data from 70,000 birds who died in collisions with Chicago buildings between 1978 and 2016. They also added brain volume measurements as well as data on life span for 49 of 52 species to the database.
The study found that birds with large brains had body sizes that were only one-third that of birds with smaller brains. Parulidae wood warblers had smaller brains and tend to shrink more.
Baldwin sent an email stating that Baldwin shared the raw data from this amazing study with us, which allowed us to enrich it and learn more.
Shape-shifters
It’s not clear why birds are shrinking. A larger body size helps animals in cold areas stay warm, while a smaller one retains heat.
Researchers also found that birds’ wingspans may have increased to compensate their smaller bodies, which produce less energy for the long distances they have to travel during migration.
However, downsizing can be costly for birds. It increases the risk of being prey to predators and makes it more difficult for other bird species to compete for resources, said Carlos Botero, an assistant professor of biology at Washington University.
He said that having a larger brain could offer options that are not available for small-brained species.
Botero said, “One of the first things I notice from these findings it that we can already see thatclimate change is having an disproportionate effect species that have less ability to deal with environmental changes through their behaviour.”
“This does not mean that climate change isn’t affecting brainy bird… or that brainy bird are going to do just fine.” Our findings suggest that climate change may have a stronger effect on brainy birds.
