Zurich Open Repository and Archive University of Zurich Main Library Strickhofstrasse 39 CH-8057 Zurich www.zora.uzh.ch Year: 2011 The influence of seasonality on brain size evolution in primates van Woerden, J T Posted at the Zurich Open Repository and Archive, University of Zurich ZORA URL: https://doi.org/10.5167/uzh-60000 Dissertation Originally published at: van Woerden, J T. The influence of seasonality on brain size evolution in primates. 2011, University of Zurich, Faculty of Science. THE INFLUENCE OF SEASONALITY ON BRAIN SIZE EVOLUTION IN PRIMATES Dissertation zur Einladung der naturwissenschaftlichen Doktorwürde (Dr. sc. nat.) Vorlegt der Mathematisch-naturwissenschaftlichen Fakultät der Universität Zürich von Janneke T. van Woerden aus den Niederlanden Promotionskomitee Prof. Dr. Carel. P. van Schaik (Vorsitz) Dr. Karin Isler (Leitung der Dissertation) Zürich 2011 The Influence of Seasonality on Brain Size Evolution in Primates Table of Contents Acknowledgements ..................................................................................................................................... iii Zusammenfassung ....................................................................................................................................... v Abstract ...................................................................................................................................................... vii Chapter 1. ..................................................................................................................................................... 1 General Introduction .................................................................................................................................. 1 Theories on brain size evolution ............................................................................................................... 1 Dealing with seasonal habitats ................................................................................................................. 5 Testing two hypotheses .............................................................................................................................. 7 Organization of this thesis ......................................................................................................................... 9 Chapter 2. ................................................................................................................................................... 11 Effects of Seasonality on Brain Size Evolution: Evidence from Strepsirrhine Primates .................... 11 Abstract ................................................................................................................................................... 11 Introduction ............................................................................................................................................. 12 Methods ................................................................................................................................................... 16 Results ..................................................................................................................................................... 21 Discussion ............................................................................................................................................... 24 Acknowledgements .................................................................................................................................. 27 Appendix Chapter 2 .................................................................................................................................. 29 References appendix Chapter 2 ............................................................................................................... 36 Chapter 3. ................................................................................................................................................... 41 Large Brains Buffer Energetic Effects of Seasonal Habitats in Catarrhine Primates ........................ 41 Abstract ................................................................................................................................................... 41 Introduction ............................................................................................................................................. 42 Methods ................................................................................................................................................... 45 Results ..................................................................................................................................................... 49 Discussion ............................................................................................................................................... 52 Acknowledgements .................................................................................................................................. 56 Appendix Chapter 3 .................................................................................................................................. 57 Supplementary Text A3.1: Confounding variables .................................................................................. 63 References appendix Chapter 3 ............................................................................................................... 71 PhD Thesis, Janneke van Woerden, 2011 i The Influence of Seasonality on Brain Size Evolution in Primates Chapter 4. ................................................................................................................................................... 77 What Enables Cognitive Buffering in Primates? ................................................................................... 77 Abstract ................................................................................................................................................... 77 Introduction ............................................................................................................................................. 78 Methods ................................................................................................................................................... 82 Results ..................................................................................................................................................... 84 Discussion ............................................................................................................................................... 88 Acknowledgements .................................................................................................................................. 90 Appendix Chapter 4 .................................................................................................................................. 91 References appendix Chapter 4 ............................................................................................................... 97 Chapter 5. ................................................................................................................................................. 101 General Discussion .................................................................................................................................. 101 Limitations of the current approach ...................................................................................................... 102 Suggestions for future research ............................................................................................................. 103 Exceptions to Marsh’s Rule ................................................................................................................... 106 Integrating the costs and the benefits of encephalization ...................................................................... 108 Bibliography ............................................................................................................................................ 113 PhD Thesis, Janneke van Woerden, 2011 ii The Influence of Seasonality on Brain Size Evolution in Primates Acknowledgements There are a countless number of people I have to thank for making this thesis possible, some of whom I will forget and I apologize ahead of time. I would like to take this space to say: thank you! Two people I would like to thank first and farmost are my supervisors Karin and Carel. Thank you so much for your patience and support! I could not have asked for a better combination of supervisors. Karin, I have learned so much from you these past couple of years. You were always available when I needed you with a perfect balance of giving the feeling I have the freedom to do what I want, but always making sure that it still made sense. Carel, your fantastic ideas, enthusiasm and (questionable, just kidding!) great sense of humor made interactions with you always something to look forward to. Both of your brilliance, encouragement, input and cooperation have made this thesis something I am very proud of. I would also like to thank Andrea Taylor, for volunteering to be a part of this project and for the valuable discussions during conferences. Then some people that I could not have done without throughout this time, but especially in the end. Their friendship is incredibly valuable to me, and I have to thank them for putting up with me all this time.