New study finds evolution mostly driven by brawn, not brains

October 15, 2012, University College London


relative to body size has been used by generations of scientists to predict an animal's intelligence. For example, although the is not the largest in the in terms of volume or mass, it is exceptionally large considering our moderate body mass.


Crucially, researchers have found that the most significant factor in determining relative brain size is often evolutionary pressure on body size, and not brain size. For example, the of bats reveals they decreased body size much faster than brain size, leading to an increase in relative brain size. As a result, small bats were able to evolve improved flying manoeuvrability while maintaining the to handle foraging in cluttered environments.







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not rated yet Oct 16, 2012
I find this approach oversimplifies the dimensionality of evolution to 'size matters.'
In the real world, the dictum is 'adapt or die.' Brain complexity (only indirectly related to size) permits adaptability.
Body size changes are less driven by genetics (and thus less a matter of 'evolution') than by direct environmental effects.
If body size was as important as suggested here, the Megafauna would still be with us.


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