Metabolic 'engines' of flight drive genome size reduction in birds

摘要: The tendency for flying organisms to possess small genomes has been interpreted as evidence of natural selection acting on the physical size genome. Nonetheless, flight–genome link and its mechanistic basis have yet be well established by comparative studies within a volant clade. Is there particular functional aspect flight such brisk metabolism, lift production or maneuverability that impinges genome? We measured genome sizes, wing dimensions heart, muscle body masses from phylogenetically diverse set bird species. In controlled analyses, we found was negatively correlated with relative heart index (i.e. ratio mass), but positively mass loading. proportional muscles were most important parameters explaining variation in multivariate models. Hence, metabolic intensity powered appears driven reduction birds.