Project description
The impact of brain size and behaviour on species diversity
Organism behaviour represents a fundamental link between each species morphology and its ecological role. However, it is still not clear if the evolution of novel behaviours can assist niche expansions and alter diversification dynamics. The EU-funded BRAINY project will use global data sets on bird brain size and foraging behaviour to explore the role of behavioural flexibility in the generation and preservation of species diversity. The project will use recent phylogenetic comparative methods to i) explore the role of behavioural flexibility on the link between morphology and ecology, ii) understand the effect of behavioural flexibility on niche evolution and diversification dynamics, and iii) study the effect of niche position and behavioural flexibility on species vulnerability to extinction under global change.
Objective
Organism behaviour represents the key link between the morphology of a species and its ecological role (i.e. niche) within a community. Classic examples of species developing novel feeding behaviours to utilize previously unexploited niches (e.g. the use of sticks by Darwin’s ‘woodpecker’ finch on the Galapagos islands) suggest that variation in behavioural flexibility—and underlying differences in intelligence—may be an important diver of variation in rates of niche evolution and thus species diversification. However, because information on both species ecological niches and intelligence are generally lacking, the role of behavioural flexibility in structuring biodiversity remains unclear. Here I will use new global datasets on both brain size and foraging behaviour, available for 1000’s of avian species, alongside state of the art phylogenetic methods, to explore the role of behavioural flexibility in the generation and maintenance of species diversity. The analysis will establish the influence of intelligence on the link between morphology and the ecological niche and examine how differences in cognition impact different stages in the speciation cycle, from initiating population divergence, to driving morphological evolution, and finally in the attainment of coexistence and the completion of speciation. Through this I will develop an integrated understanding of the role of behavioural flexibility in the driving the spectacular radiation of life.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
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Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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H2020-EU.1.3. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions
MAIN PROGRAMME
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H2020-EU.1.3.2. - Nurturing excellence by means of cross-border and cross-sector mobility
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Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
MSCA-IF-EF-ST - Standard EF
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Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) H2020-MSCA-IF-2018
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
WC1E 6BT LONDON
United Kingdom
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.