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A Comparative Approach for Quantitative Cell Counting Studies in Widely Different Mammalian Brains
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HOW MAMMALS PRODUCE LARGE-BRAINED OFFSPRING.

Mark D Pagel1, Paul H Harvey1

  • 1Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford, OX1 3PS, U.K.

Evolution; International Journal of Organic Evolution
|June 6, 2017
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Species differences in neonatal brain size are not linked to maternal metabolic rate. Instead, larger neonatal brains in mammals evolve with longer gestation periods and smaller litter sizes, reflecting diverse life-history strategies.

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Area of Science:

  • Evolutionary biology
  • Comparative physiology
  • Mammalian reproduction

Background:

  • Two hypotheses link neonatal brain size in eutherian mammals to maternal metabolic rate.
  • Martin (1981, 1983) proposed maternal basal metabolic rate limits fetal energy supply, constraining neonatal brain size.
  • Hofman (1983) suggested maternal metabolic rate constrains gestation length, indirectly affecting neonatal brain size.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the relationship between maternal metabolic rate and neonatal brain size across eutherian mammal species.
  • To test whether metabolic rate constrains neonatal brain size or gestation length, as proposed by Martin and Hofman.
  • To determine the primary evolutionary drivers of species differences in neonatal brain size.

Main Methods:

  • Analyzed data from 116 mammal species across 13 orders.
  • Examined correlations between neonatal brain size, gestation length, litter size, and maternal metabolic rate, controlling for maternal body size.
  • Conducted analyses within mammalian orders to confirm findings.

Main Results:

  • Neonatal brain size and gestation length are not correlated with maternal metabolic rate after accounting for maternal body size.
  • No significant difference in metabolic rates exists between precocial and altricial species, despite differences in neonatal brain size.
  • Neonatal brain size strongly correlates with gestation length and litter size, independent of maternal size and metabolic rate.

Conclusions:

  • Species differences in neonatal brain size are primarily driven by life-history tactics, specifically gestation length and litter size.
  • Maternal metabolic rate does not appear to be a primary constraint on neonatal brain size evolution in eutherian mammals.
  • Large-brained offspring are associated with long gestation periods and small litter sizes, reflecting distinct reproductive strategies.