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Spatial cognitive ability is associated with longevity in food-caching chickadees.

Joseph F Welklin¹, Benjamin R Sonnenberg¹, Carrie L Branch²

¹University of Nevada Reno, Reno, NV, USA.

Science (New York, N.Y.)

|September 5, 2024

Summary

Cognitive abilities in wild animals, like spatial memory in mountain chickadees, are directly linked to longer life spans. This study provides evidence that better cognitive function can enhance survival and longevity in natural populations.

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Area of Science:

Behavioral Ecology
Cognitive Ecology
Animal Behavior

Background:

Cognitive abilities are theorized to influence survival and lifespan in animals.
Previous research often used indirect measures like brain size for interspecific comparisons.
Direct evidence linking individual cognitive variation to lifespan in wild populations is limited.

Purpose of the Study:

To directly investigate the relationship between individual cognitive abilities and lifespan in a wild animal population.
To test the hypothesis that enhanced cognitive function is associated with increased longevity.
To provide empirical evidence for selection on cognitive traits influencing life span.

Main Methods:

Studied 227 wild mountain chickadees (Poecile gambeli).
Measured individual spatial cognitive abilities, including learning and memory related to food caching.
Tracked the lifespan of each individual in their natural environment.

Main Results:

Found a positive association between better spatial cognitive abilities and longer lifespan.
Individuals with superior spatial learning and memory lived longer.
Demonstrated that variation in cognitive traits directly impacts survival and life span.

Conclusions:

Enhanced cognitive abilities, specifically spatial memory, are linked to increased life span in wild mountain chickadees.
This study provides direct evidence supporting the cognitive-lifespan hypothesis in a natural setting.
Selection on cognitive abilities can drive increases in life span within wild animal populations.