Predation pressure shapes brain anatomy in the wild

• DOI: 10.1007/s10682-017-9901-8
• Publication Date: 2017-05-12T07:21:03Z
• Authors: Alexander Kotrschal; Amy E. Deacon; Anne E. Magurran; Niclas Kolm
• Keywords: Poecilia; Guppy; Animal ecology; Predatory fish

There is remarkable diversity in brain anatomy among vertebrates and evidence accumulating that predatory interactions are crucially important for this diversity. To test hypothesis, we collected female guppies (Poecilia reticulata) from 16 wild populations related their to several aspects of predation pressure ecosystem, such as the biomass four major predators (one prawn three fish species), predator (number species each site). We found localities with higher had relatively larger telencephalon size well brains. Optic tectum was positively associated one predator's overall However, both olfactory bulb hypothalamus were negatively another predators. Hence, while occurrence variation anatomy, size. Our results suggest cognitive challenges posed by local differences communities may lead changes prey wild.