Brain contrasts between migratory and nonmigratory North American lark sparrows (Chondestes grammacus)

Neuroreport. 2015 Dec 2;26(17):1011-6. doi: 10.1097/WNR.0000000000000460.

Abstract

The impact of evolving migratory behavior on brain organization in birds has been a foundational question in the emerging field of neuroecology. One generalization that seems to be approaching consensus is that migratory species/populations have smaller brain volumes than their nonmigratory comparison groups. The lark sparrow (Chondestes grammacus) is a North American species characterized by migratory and nonmigratory populations. Consistent with what has been observed in other species/population comparisons, we found that, relative to body weight, migratory females from Nebraska have smaller brain volumes than nonmigratory females from Texas. We also carried out an exploratory, higher-order analysis of possible differences in the volumes of a number of telencephalic subdivisions. Although our small sample size precluded statistical verification of any difference, noteworthy was that, although there seemed to be no indication of a difference in the relative hippocampal volume between the two populations, the migratory birds from Nebraska showed a clear trend toward a smaller nidopallium. The importance of higher-resolution, brain subdivisional analyses has been discussed.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animal Migration*
  • Animals
  • Brain / anatomy & histology*
  • Female
  • Globus Pallidus / anatomy & histology
  • Organ Size
  • Sparrows / anatomy & histology*
  • Sparrows / physiology*
  • Telencephalon / anatomy & histology