Allometric relationships and the evolution of the avian brain

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dc.contributor.authorBarros da Cunha, Felipe
dc.contributor.authorUniversity of Lethbridge. Faculty of Arts and Science
dc.contributor.supervisorIwaniuk, Andrew N.
dc.contributor.supervisorWylie, Douglas R.
dc.date.accessioned2021-12-22T18:34:00Z
dc.date.available2021-12-22T18:34:00Z
dc.date.issued2021
dc.degree.levelPh.Den_US
dc.description.abstractA relatively larger brain is thought to have relatively more neurons and thus higher processing capacity. However, to what extent brain region volumes, and numbers and sizes of neurons vary with brain size remains uncertain. Here, I provide quantitative measurements on the cerebellum, telencephalon, and oculomotor nuclei across different bird species. Within the cerebellum, different neuronal populations increase in number and size at different rates relative to brain size, but there is little variation across clades. Using evolutionary path analysis, I show that the relationship between telencephalon and cerebellum size is a function of migration. Last, the oculomotor nuclei differ in volume across clades, but these differences are not driven by neuron numbers. I conclude that grade shifts in brain size are not always driven by changes in neuron numbers. I suggest that neuron size better explains changes in the size of brainstem motor nuclei than neuron number.en_US
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/10133/6117
dc.language.isoen_USen_US
dc.proquest.subject0317en_US
dc.proquestyesYesen_US
dc.publisherLethbridge, Alta. : University of Lethbridge, Dept. of Neuroscienceen_US
dc.publisher.departmentDepartment of Neuroscienceen_US
dc.publisher.facultyArts and Scienceen_US
dc.relation.ispartofseriesThesis (University of Lethbridge. Faculty of Arts and Science)en_US
dc.subjectbrain allometryen_US
dc.subjectneuroanatomyen_US
dc.subjectevolutionary neuroscienceen_US
dc.subjectcerebellumen_US
dc.subjectoculomotor nucleusen_US
dc.subjectAllometryen_US
dc.subjectBirds--Nervous system--Researchen_US
dc.subjectBirds--Nervous system--Evolution--Researchen_US
dc.subjectBrain--Evolution--Researchen_US
dc.subjectBrain--Size--Researchen_US
dc.subjectBirds--Migrationen_US
dc.subjectNervous system--Evolutionen_US
dc.subjectDissertations, Academicen_US
dc.titleAllometric relationships and the evolution of the avian brainen_US
dc.typeThesisen_US
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