Journal article
Brain Size and Visual Environment Predict Species Differences in Paper Wasp Sensory Processing Brain Regions (Hymenoptera: Vespidae, Polistinae)
Brain, behavior and evolution, v 82(3), pp 177-184
01 Jan 2013
PMID: 24192228
Featured in Collection : UN Sustainable Development Goals @ Drexel
Abstract
The mosaic brain evolution hypothesis predicts that the relative volumes of functionally distinct brain regions will vary independently and correlate with species' ecology. Paper wasp species (Hymenoptera: Vespidae, Polistinae) differ in light exposure: they construct open versus enclosed nests and one genus (Apoica) is nocturnal. We asked whether light environments were related to species differences in the size of antennal and optic processing brain tissues. Paper wasp brains have anatomically distinct peripheral and central regions that process antennal and optic sensory inputs. We measured the volumes of 4 sensory processing brain regions in paper wasp species from 13 Neotropical genera including open and enclosed nesters, and diurnal and nocturnal species. Species differed in sensory region volumes, but there was no evidence for trade-offs among sensory modalities. All sensory region volumes correlated with brain size. However, peripheral optic processing investment increased with brain size at a higher rate than peripheral antennal processing investment. Our data suggest that mosaic and concerted (size-constrained) brain evolution are not exclusive alternatives. When brain regions increase with brain size at different rates, these distinct allometries can allow for differential investment among sensory modalities. As predicted by mosaic evolution, species ecology was associated with some aspects of brain region investment. Nest architecture variation was not associated with brain investment differences, but the nocturnal genus Apoica had the largest antennal: optic volume ratio in its peripheral sensory lobes. Investment in central processing tissues was not related to nocturnality, a pattern also noted in mammals. The plasticity of neural connections in central regions may accommodate evolutionary shifts in input from the periphery with relatively minor changes in volume. (C) 2013 S. Karger AG, Basel
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Details
- Title
- Brain Size and Visual Environment Predict Species Differences in Paper Wasp Sensory Processing Brain Regions (Hymenoptera: Vespidae, Polistinae)
- Creators
- Sean O'Donnell - Drexel UniversityMarie R. Clifford - Univ Washington, Dept Biol, Seattle, WA 98195 USASara DeLeon - Drexel Univ, Dept Biodivers Earth & Environm Sci, Philadelphia, PA 19104 USAChristopher Papa - Drexel Univ, Dept Biodivers Earth & Environm Sci, Philadelphia, PA 19104 USANazaneen Zahedi - Drexel Univ, Dept Biodivers Earth & Environm Sci, Philadelphia, PA 19104 USASusan J. Bulova - Drexel Univ, Dept Biodivers Earth & Environm Sci, Philadelphia, PA 19104 USA
- Publication Details
- Brain, behavior and evolution, v 82(3), pp 177-184
- Publisher
- Karger
- Number of pages
- 8
- Grant note
- DGE-0718124; IOS-1209072 / NSF; National Science Foundation (NSF)
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- Biodiversity, Earth, and Environmental Science (BEES)
- Web of Science ID
- WOS:000326935000005
- Scopus ID
- 2-s2.0-84886742633
- Other Identifier
- 991019167934904721
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- Collaboration types
- Domestic collaboration
- Web of Science research areas
- Behavioral Sciences
- Neurosciences
- Zoology