Brain size in neonatal and adult Weddell seals: Costs and consequences of having a large brain
Abstract Little is known about the ontogeny of brain size in pinnipeds despite potential functional implications of brain substrate (glucose, oxygen) requirements for diving, fasting, growth, and lactation strategies. We measured brain mass (brM) and cranial capacity ( CC ) in newborn and adult Wedd...
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crwiley:10.1111/mms.12033 2023-12-03T10:31:37+01:00 Brain size in neonatal and adult Weddell seals: Costs and consequences of having a large brain Eisert, Regina Potter, Charles W. Oftedal, Olav T. 2013 http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/mms.12033 https://api.wiley.com/onlinelibrary/tdm/v1/articles/10.1111%2Fmms.12033 https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/mms.12033 en eng Wiley http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/termsAndConditions#vor Marine Mammal Science volume 30, issue 1, page 184-205 ISSN 0824-0469 1748-7692 Aquatic Science Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics journal-article 2013 crwiley https://doi.org/10.1111/mms.12033 2023-11-09T14:09:32Z Abstract Little is known about the ontogeny of brain size in pinnipeds despite potential functional implications of brain substrate (glucose, oxygen) requirements for diving, fasting, growth, and lactation strategies. We measured brain mass (brM) and cranial capacity ( CC ) in newborn and adult Weddell seals. Neonatal Weddell seals had brM that represented ~70% of adult brM. Weddell seals have the largest neonatal brain, proportional to adult brain, reported for any mammal to date, which is remarkable considering the relatively small size of Weddell seal pups at birth (6%–7% of maternal body mass) compared to neonates of other highly precocial mammals. Provision of sufficient glucose to maintain the large, well‐developed brain of the neonatal Weddell seal has a nontrivial metabolic cost to both pup and mother. We therefore hypothesize that this phenomenon must have functional significance, such as allowing pups to acquire complex under‐ice navigation skills during the period of maternal attendance. Article in Journal/Newspaper Weddell Seal Weddell Seals Wiley Online Library (via Crossref) Weddell Marine Mammal Science 30 1 184 205 |
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Wiley Online Library (via Crossref) |
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English |
topic |
Aquatic Science Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics |
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Aquatic Science Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics Eisert, Regina Potter, Charles W. Oftedal, Olav T. Brain size in neonatal and adult Weddell seals: Costs and consequences of having a large brain |
topic_facet |
Aquatic Science Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics |
description |
Abstract Little is known about the ontogeny of brain size in pinnipeds despite potential functional implications of brain substrate (glucose, oxygen) requirements for diving, fasting, growth, and lactation strategies. We measured brain mass (brM) and cranial capacity ( CC ) in newborn and adult Weddell seals. Neonatal Weddell seals had brM that represented ~70% of adult brM. Weddell seals have the largest neonatal brain, proportional to adult brain, reported for any mammal to date, which is remarkable considering the relatively small size of Weddell seal pups at birth (6%–7% of maternal body mass) compared to neonates of other highly precocial mammals. Provision of sufficient glucose to maintain the large, well‐developed brain of the neonatal Weddell seal has a nontrivial metabolic cost to both pup and mother. We therefore hypothesize that this phenomenon must have functional significance, such as allowing pups to acquire complex under‐ice navigation skills during the period of maternal attendance. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Eisert, Regina Potter, Charles W. Oftedal, Olav T. |
author_facet |
Eisert, Regina Potter, Charles W. Oftedal, Olav T. |
author_sort |
Eisert, Regina |
title |
Brain size in neonatal and adult Weddell seals: Costs and consequences of having a large brain |
title_short |
Brain size in neonatal and adult Weddell seals: Costs and consequences of having a large brain |
title_full |
Brain size in neonatal and adult Weddell seals: Costs and consequences of having a large brain |
title_fullStr |
Brain size in neonatal and adult Weddell seals: Costs and consequences of having a large brain |
title_full_unstemmed |
Brain size in neonatal and adult Weddell seals: Costs and consequences of having a large brain |
title_sort |
brain size in neonatal and adult weddell seals: costs and consequences of having a large brain |
publisher |
Wiley |
publishDate |
2013 |
url |
http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/mms.12033 https://api.wiley.com/onlinelibrary/tdm/v1/articles/10.1111%2Fmms.12033 https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/mms.12033 |
geographic |
Weddell |
geographic_facet |
Weddell |
genre |
Weddell Seal Weddell Seals |
genre_facet |
Weddell Seal Weddell Seals |
op_source |
Marine Mammal Science volume 30, issue 1, page 184-205 ISSN 0824-0469 1748-7692 |
op_rights |
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/termsAndConditions#vor |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1111/mms.12033 |
container_title |
Marine Mammal Science |
container_volume |
30 |
container_issue |
1 |
container_start_page |
184 |
op_container_end_page |
205 |
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1784257969655906304 |