Interpopulation comparisons in species that show behavioural variations associated with particula... more Interpopulation comparisons in species that show behavioural variations associated with particular ecological disparities offer good opportunities for assessing how environmental factors may foster specific functional adaptations in the brain. Yet, studies on the neural substrate that can account for interpopulation behavioural adaptations are scarce. Predation is one of the strongest driving forces for behavioural evolvability and, consequently, for shaping structural and functional brain adaptations. We analysed the escape response of crabs ITALIC! Neohelice granulatafrom two isolated populations exposed to different risks of avian predation. Individuals from the high-risk area proved to be more reactive to visual danger stimuli (VDS) than those from an area where predators are rare. Control experiments indicate that the response difference was specific for impending visual threats. Subsequently, we analysed the response to VDS of a group of giant brain neurons that are thought to...
Infaunal biota faces the compromise between predation avoidance and contact with the surface to m... more Infaunal biota faces the compromise between predation avoidance and contact with the surface to maintain such biological functions as feeding, excretion, respiration, and reproduction. A compromise is attained, in the case of bivalves, through the siphons, optimising the interaction with the superficial environment (McLachlan et al., 1995). However, the exposure of these structures can enhance the risk for predation, making infaunal bivalves more vulnerable to tissue cropping by browsing feeders, such as crabs ( ...
Interpopulation comparisons in species that show behavioural variations associated with particula... more Interpopulation comparisons in species that show behavioural variations associated with particular ecological disparities offer good opportunities for assessing how environmental factors may foster specific functional adaptations in the brain. Yet, studies on the neural substrate that can account for interpopulation behavioural adaptations are scarce. Predation is one of the strongest driving forces for behavioural evolvability and, consequently, for shaping structural and functional brain adaptations. We analysed the escape response of crabs ITALIC! Neohelice granulatafrom two isolated populations exposed to different risks of avian predation. Individuals from the high-risk area proved to be more reactive to visual danger stimuli (VDS) than those from an area where predators are rare. Control experiments indicate that the response difference was specific for impending visual threats. Subsequently, we analysed the response to VDS of a group of giant brain neurons that are thought to...
Infaunal biota faces the compromise between predation avoidance and contact with the surface to m... more Infaunal biota faces the compromise between predation avoidance and contact with the surface to maintain such biological functions as feeding, excretion, respiration, and reproduction. A compromise is attained, in the case of bivalves, through the siphons, optimising the interaction with the superficial environment (McLachlan et al., 1995). However, the exposure of these structures can enhance the risk for predation, making infaunal bivalves more vulnerable to tissue cropping by browsing feeders, such as crabs ( ...
Uploads
Papers by Jesus Nuñez