A paradox of vertebrate brain evolution is the unexplained variability in the size of the
olfactory bulb (OB), in contrast to other brain regions, which scale predictably with brain size …

Sexual selection hypotheses stipulate that the major histocompatibility complex genes
(MHC) constitute a key molecular underpinning for mate choice in vertebrates. The last four …

How consciousness appeared much earlier in evolutionary history than is commonly
assumed, and why all vertebrates and perhaps even some invertebrates are conscious …

Recent palaeontological data and novel physiological hypotheses now allow a timescaled
reconstruction of the evolution of endothermy in birds and mammals. A three‐phase iterative …

Why do some animals mate with one partner rather than many? Here, I investigate factors
related to (i) spatial constraints (habitat limitation, mate availability),(ii) time constraints …

Because of the fast rate of wind-energy development it will become a challenge to verify
impacts on birdlife and construe ways to minimise these. Birds colliding with wind turbines …

Reptiles, including birds, exhibit a range of behaviorally relevant adaptations that are
reflected in changes to the structure of the inner ear. These adaptations include the capacity …

Owls and nightbirds are nocturnal hunters of active prey that combine visual and hearing
adaptations to overcome limits on sensory performance in low light. Such sensory …

Olfaction is a universal modality by which all animals sample chemical stimuli from their
environment. In cartilaginous fishes, olfaction is critical for various survival tasks including …

Mate choice for major histocompatibility complex (MHC) compatibility has been found in
several taxa, although rarely in birds. MHC is a crucial component in adaptive immunity and …