 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Big-Brained Birds Survive Better
UPI Correspondent Bath (UPI) Jan 16, 2007 A British-led study has found birds with brains that are large in relation to their body size have a lower mortality rate than those with smaller brains. The researchers say their findings provide the first evidence for what is called the "cognitive buffer" hypothesis -- the idea that having a large brain enables animals to have more flexible behaviors and survive environmental challenges. The scientists from the University of Bath, Spain's Autonomous University of Barcelona, Hungary's Pannon University and Canada's McGill University compared the brain size, body mass and mortality rates in more than 200 species of birds from polar, temperate and tropical regions. They found birds with larger brains relative to body size survived better in nature than birds with small brains. "The idea that large brains are associated with reduced mortality has never been scientifically tested," said Tamas Szekely of the University of Bath. "Our findings suggest that large-brained animals might be better prepared to cope with environmental challenges such as climate change and habitat destruction." The research appears in the Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences.
Source: United Press International Related Links University of Bath Darwin Today At TerraDaily.com Darwin Today At TerraDaily.com
Scientists Discover New Life Forms In The Arctic Ocean
Quebec City, Canada (SPX) Jan 15, 2007An international team of scientists including Universite Laval biologist Connie Lovejoy has discovered new life forms in the Arctic Ocean. The team's findings are reported in the January 12 edition of the journal Science. |
|
|
| The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright Space.TV Corporation. AFP and UPI Wire Stories are copyright Agence France-Presse and United Press International. ESA Portal Reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space.TV Corp on any Web page published or hosted by Space.TV Corp. Privacy Statement |
