Meeting Abstract

P2.118  Sunday, Jan. 5 15:30  Cognitive ecology in hummingbirds: the role of sexual dimorphism and its anatomical correlates on memory GONZALEZ-GOMEZ, PL*; SUAREZ, R; MADRID, N; VASQUEZ, RA; BOZINOVIC, F; California State University, Dominguez Hills; Queensland Brain Institute; Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Chile; Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Chile; Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile plgonzalezgomez@gmail.com

In scatter-hoarding species several behavioral and neuroanatomical adaptations allow them to store and retrieve thousands of food items per year. Nectarivorous animals face a similar scenario having to remember quality, location and replenishment schedules of several nectar sources. In the green-backed firecrown hummingbird (Sephanoides sephanoides), females display an opportunistic strategy, performing rapid intrusions into males territories. In response, males behave aggressively during the non-reproductive season. In addition, females have higher energetic demands due to higher thermoregulatory costs and travel times. In this study we compared cognitive abilities and hippocampal size between males and females. Males were able to remember nectar location and renewal rates significantly better than females. However, the hippocampal formation was significantly larger in females than males. We discuss these findings in terms of sexually dimorphic use of spatial resources and variable patterns of brain dimorphisms in birds.