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Re-evaluating the link between brain size and behavioural ecology in primates

Powell, Lauren E.; Isler, Karin; Barton, Robert A.

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Authors

Lauren E. Powell

Karin Isler



Abstract

Comparative studies have identified a wide range of behavioural and ecological correlates of relative brain size, with results differing between taxonomic groups, and even within them. In primates for example, recent studies contradict one another over whether social or ecological factors are critical. A basic assumption of such studies is that with sufficiently large samples and appropriate analysis, robust correlations indicative of selection pressures on cognition will emerge. We carried out a comprehensive re-examination of correlates of primate brain size using two large comparative datasets and phylogenetic comparative methods. We found evidence in both datasets for associations between brain size and ecological variables (home range size, diet and activity period), but little evidence for an effect of social group size, a correlation which has previously formed the empirical basis of the Social Brain Hypothesis. However, reflecting divergent results in the literature, our results exhibited instability across datasets, even when they were matched for species composition and predictor variables. We identify several potential empirical and theoretical difficulties underlying this instability and suggest that these issues raise doubts about inferring cognitive selection pressures from behavioural correlates of brain size.

Citation

Powell, L. E., Isler, K., & Barton, R. A. (2017). Re-evaluating the link between brain size and behavioural ecology in primates. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 284(1865), https://doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2017.1765

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date Sep 25, 2017
Online Publication Date Oct 18, 2017
Publication Date Oct 18, 2017
Deposit Date Oct 23, 2017
Publicly Available Date Oct 23, 2017
Journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences
Print ISSN 0962-8452
Electronic ISSN 1471-2954
Publisher The Royal Society
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 284
Issue 1865
DOI https://doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2017.1765
Public URL https://durham-repository.worktribe.com/output/1345996

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