Study of birds' sense of smell reveals important clues for behavior, adaptation

Date:

July 29, 2015

Source:

Molecular Biology and Evolution (Oxford University Press)

Summary:

From slight sparrows to preening peacocks to soaring falcons, birds have long been known to possess distinct abilities in their sense of smell, but little has been known about the evolution of olfaction. A large comparative genomic study of the olfactory genes tied to a bird's sense of smell has revealed important differences that correlate with their ecological niches and specific behaviors.

Continued ...