Smart moves: effects of relative brain size on establishment success of invasive amphibians and reptiles.

ABSTRACT: Brain size relative to body size varies considerably among animals, but the ecological consequences of that variation remain poorly understood. Plausibly, larger brains confer increased behavioural flexibility, and an ability to respond to novel challenges. In keeping with that hypothesis, successful invasive species of birds and mammals that flourish after translocation to a new area tend to have larger brains than do unsuccessful invaders. We found the same pattern in ectothermic terrestrial vertebrates. Brain size relative to body size was larger in species of amphibians and reptiles reported to be successful invaders, compared to species that failed to thrive after translocation to new sites. This pattern was found in six of seven global biogeographic realms; the exception (where relat

SUBMITTER: Amiel JJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3071803 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature