title: Learning ability in bank voles selected for high aerobic metabolism, predatory behaviour and herbivorous capability.
abstract: Although great progress has been made in understanding neurological mechanisms of cognitive processes, the questions concerning interrelation between evolution of cognitive abilities and evolution of diverse life histories and adaptive strategies remains largely open. We approached the problem using a unique experimental evolution model system: lines of bank voles selected for high swim-induced aerobic metabolism, intensity of predatory behaviour towards crickets, and ability to grow on a low-quality herbivorous diet. To test a hypothesis that selection for these traits resulted in correlated changes in spatial learning and memory, voles from generation 13 of the selected and unselected control lines were examined in Morris water maze. Most of the individuals successfully learned the position of the platform hidden under water surface, but the spatial learning scores did not differ significantly between selection directions. The results are not consistent with either the hypothesis of a functional trade-off between high cognitive abilities and capability to cope with adverse nutritional conditions, or the hypothesis of a positive link between evolution of cognitive abilities and high aerobic exercise performance.
authors: Institute of Environmental Sciences, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 7, 30-387 Kraków, Poland. Electronic address: katarzyna.chrzascik@uj.edu.pl.
authors: Katarzyna M
authors: KM
authors: Chrząścik
authors: Institute of Environmental Sciences, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 7, 30-387 Kraków, Poland.
authors: Edyta T
authors: ET
authors: Sadowska
authors: Institute of Environmental Sciences, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 7, 30-387 Kraków, Poland.
authors: Agata
authors: A
authors: Rudolf
authors: Institute of Environmental Sciences, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 7, 30-387 Kraków, Poland.
authors: Paweł
authors: P
authors: Koteja
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003411:Arvicolinae / Q000502:physiology*; D004734:Energy Metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D060434:Herbivory / Q000502:physiology*; D007360:Intelligence / Q000502:physiology; D007858:Learning / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D018782:Maze Learning / Q000502:physiology; D011235:Predatory Behavior / Q000502:physiology*; D065852:Spatial Memory / Q000502:physiology*
keywords: Experimental evolution; Morris water maze; Myodes glareolus; Selection experiment; Spatial memory