Phylogenetically controlled life history trait meta-analysis in cetaceans reveals unexpected negative brain size and longevity correlation

The identification of patterns in trait evolution is essential to understand the interaction of evolutionary forces, and provides useful information for species management. Cetaceans are a phylogenetically well-resolved infraorder that exhibit distinct trait variation across behavioral, molecular, a...

Full description

Saved in:

Bibliographic Details
Published in:	Evolution Vol. 77; no. 2; pp. 534 - 549
Main Authors:	Groot, Nikita E, Constantine, Rochelle, Garland, Ellen C, Carroll, Emma L
Format:	Journal Article
Language:	English
Published:	United States 04-02-2023
Subjects:	Animals Biological Evolution Brain Carnivora Cetacea - genetics Life History Traits Longevity Organ Size Phylogeny Primates phylogenetic analysis cognitive buffer hypothesis behavioral evolution review
Online Access:	Get full text
Tags:	Add Tag No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!

Description
Summary:	The identification of patterns in trait evolution is essential to understand the interaction of evolutionary forces, and provides useful information for species management. Cetaceans are a phylogenetically well-resolved infraorder that exhibit distinct trait variation across behavioral, molecular, and life history dimensions, yet few researchers have applied a meta-analytic or comparative approach to these traits. To understand cetacean trait evolution, we used a phylogenetic generalized least squares approach to examine the cognitive buffer hypothesis (CBH). A large brain should buffer individuals against environmental challenges through increasing survival rates, and a longer lifespan should buffer individuals against the cost of extended development for larger brains according to the CBH, leading to an expected positive correlation between brain size and lifespan. In contrast to this expectation, previously observed in taxa including primates, we found a negative correlation between brain size and lifespan in cetaceans. This suggests cetaceans experience selective pressures different from most other mammals in these traits but may be more similar to some social mammalian carnivores that display alloparenting. We also provide a comprehensive dataset to explore additional aspects of trait evolution but which would greatly benefit from studies on behavioral ecology across cetaceans and increased focus on data deficient species.
Bibliography:	ObjectType-Article-2 SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1 ObjectType-Feature-1 content type line 23
ISSN:	0014-3820 1558-5646
DOI:	10.1093/evolut/qpac050