Presentation Details
| From Brains to Biological Invasions: Investigating Cognition Across Scales in a Polyphenic Beetle Rebecca R.Westwick, Miranda J.Towse, Armin P.Moczek. Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, USA |
Abstract
Cognition and behavior are critically important as animals make decisions that affect survival and reproduction. Individual variation in cognition can therefore generate differential fitness consequences for individuals when this variation causes them to make different choices. We used the bull-headed dung beetle (Onthophagus taurus) to test whether sex, body size, and reproductive morph are associated with variation in performance on multiple cognition tests. We additionally measured their baseline brain gene expression using RNAseq. And finally, we assessed how these dynamics shape and are shaped by two evolutionarily relevant contexts: biological invasions and anthropogenic heavy metal pollution. We found that sex and body size were each important for performance on different cognition assays. RNAseq results allowed us to identify both distinct and shared brain gene expression repertoires across our groups. Next, we found that beetles from the invasive range showed complex changes to their cognitive performance compared to native range beetles. Finally, while sublethal cadmium exposure had detrimental effects, we showed that mothers facultatively avoid contaminated surface soils
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No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the author.
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