Olfactory thresholds of pigeons (Columba livia), quail (Colinus virginianus) and chickens (Gallus gallus)

Stattelman, A.J; Talbot, R.B.; Coulter, Dwight B.

doi:10.1016/0300-9629(75)90148-6

Cited by 43 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 5 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…To date, olfactory thresholds have only been measured in a few species of birds. Results show that the birds’ range of sensitivity to odours is similar to values obtained for mammals such as rats and rabbits (Stattleman et al 1975, Snyder and Peterson 1979, Smith and Paselk 1986, Walker et al 1986, reviewed by Waldvogel 1989 and Clark et al 1993). In more recent times, researchers have searched the avian genome for the presence and extent of olfactory receptor (OR) genes (Leibovici et al 1996, Nef et al 1996, Gray and Hurst 1998, Niimura and Nei 2005, Steiger et al 2008, 2009a) which are associated to odorant detection in vertebrates.…”

Section: Olfaction In Birdssupporting

confidence: 73%

Olfaction in birds: a closer look at the kiwi (Apterygidae)

Castro

Cunningham²,

Gsell³

et al. 2010

Journal of Avian Biology

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Section: Olfaction In Birdssupporting

confidence: 73%

Olfaction in birds: a closer look at the kiwi (Apterygidae)

Castro

Cunningham²,

Gsell³

et al. 2010

Journal of Avian Biology

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

“…The ability to locate food by smell has now been demonstrated in the kiwi, Apteryx australis, (Wenzel, 1971), turkey vulture, Cathartes aura, (Stager, 1964), and a number of petrels (Grubb, 1972;Hutchinson et al, 1984;JouventinandRobin, 1984). Pigeons can use olfactory cues in orientation and homing (e.g., Grubb, 1974;Schmidt-Koenig, 1979;Baker, 1984;Papi, 1986;Waldvogel, 1989) and can be conditioned to odors (e.g., Henton, 1969;Stattleman et al, 1975). Domestic chicks (Gallus gallus) prefer the smell of their own bedding material (Jones and Faure, 1982;Jones and Gentle, 1984) and are capable ofodor-aversion learning (Guilford et al, 1987).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Olfactory-Bulb Size and Nocturnality in Birds

Healy¹,

Guilford²

1990

Evolution

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Recent evidence shows that, despite earlier beliefs, many birds have a functional sense of smell. There is also considerable variation in olfactory-bulb size among bird species, yet the evolutionary significance of this variation has remained elusive. We argue that birds living under low-light conditions, where vision is less efficient, should have evolved or maintained an increased olfactory ability and, hence, larger olfactory bulbs. Using a family-level comparative analysis to control at least partially for taxonomic artifacts, we show that none of a series of ecological variables (diet, nest type, development, nest dispersion, and migratory behavior) accounts for variation in olfactory-bulb size once the effects of body size and brain size (measured by cerebral-hemisphere length) have been controlled. Activity timing, however, accounts for significant variation even after the removal of these other variables. We discovered 13 independent cases in which nocturnal or crepuscular lineages have evolved a diurnal habit, or vice versa, and compared relative olfactory-bulb sizes between each branch pair. In all but one case, nocturnal or crepuscular birds have larger olfactory bulbs than their diurnal counterparts. We therefore demonstrate a widespread relationship between ecology and the evolutionary development of a part of the brain.

show abstract

“…Indeed, in those birds in which olfactory thresholds have been determined, sensitivities to odors are similar to those of some mammals [Clark et al, 1993;Smith and Paselk, 1986;Snyder and Peterson, 1979;Stattleman et al, 1975;Waldvogel, 1989;Walker et al, 1986]. Behavioral studies have also demonstrated that olfaction is important in mediating many types of behaviors, including navigation [Holland et al, 2009;Papi, 1990;Wallraff, 2003Wallraff, , 2004, reproduction [Hagelin et al, 2003;Whitta ker et al, 2013], individual recognition [Bonadonna and Nevitt, 2004;De Leon et al, 2003], nest recognition [Bonadonna and Bretagnolle, 2002;Bonadonna et al, 2003aBonadonna et al, , b, 2004, communication [Hagelin et al, 2003], and mate choice [Whittaker et al, 2011.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Anatomical Specializations for Enhanced Olfactory Sensitivity in Kiwi, <b><i>Apteryx mantelli</i></b>

et al. 2014

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The ability to function in a nocturnal and ground-dwelling niche requires a unique set of sensory specializations. The New Zealand kiwi has shifted away from vision, instead relying on auditory and tactile stimuli to function in its environment and locate prey. Behavioral evidence suggests that kiwi also rely on their sense of smell, using olfactory cues in foraging and possibly also in communication and social interactions. Anatomical studies appear to support these observations: the olfactory bulbs and tubercles have been suggested to be large in the kiwi relative to other birds, although the extent of this enlargement is poorly understood. In this study, we examine the size of the olfactory bulbs in kiwi and compare them with 55 other bird species, including emus, ostriches, rheas, tinamous, and 2 extinct species of moa (Dinornithiformes). We also examine the cytoarchitecture of the olfactory bulbs and olfactory epithelium to determine if any neural specializations beyond size are present that would increase olfactory acuity. Kiwi were a clear outlier in our analysis, with olfactory bulbs that are proportionately larger than those of any other bird in this study. Emus, close relatives of the kiwi, also had a relative enlargement of the olfactory bulbs, possibly supporting a phylogenetic link to well-developed olfaction. The olfactory bulbs in kiwi are almost in direct contact with the olfactory epithelium, which is indeed well developed and complex, with olfactory receptor cells occupying a large percentage of the epithelium. The anatomy of the kiwi olfactory system supports an enhancement for olfactory sensitivities, which is undoubtedly associated with their unique nocturnal niche.

show abstract

Olfactory thresholds of pigeons (Columba livia), quail (Colinus virginianus) and chickens (Gallus gallus)

Cited by 43 publications

References 5 publications

Olfaction in birds: a closer look at the kiwi (Apterygidae)

Olfaction in birds: a closer look at the kiwi (Apterygidae)

Olfactory-Bulb Size and Nocturnality in Birds

Anatomical Specializations for Enhanced Olfactory Sensitivity in Kiwi, <b><i>Apteryx mantelli</i></b>

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About