Department of Neuroscience, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada.
Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
J Comp Neurol. 2020 Dec 1;528(17):2902-2918. doi: 10.1002/cne.24896. Epub 2020 Mar 10.
"Diversity" is an apt descriptor of the research career of Jack Pettigrew as it ranged from the study of trees, to clinical conditions, to sensory neuroscience. Within sensory neuroscience, he was fascinated by the evolution of sensory systems across species. Here, we review some of his work on avian sensory specialists and research that he inspired in others. We begin with an overview of the importance of the Wulst in stereopsis and the need for further study of the Wulst in relation to binocularity across avian species. Next, we summarize recent anatomical, behavioral, and physiological studies on optic flow specializations in hummingbirds. Beyond vision, we discuss the first evidence of a tactile "fovea" in birds and how this led to detailed studies of tactile specializations in waterfowl and sensorimotor systems in parrots. We then describe preliminary studies by Pettigrew of two endemic Australian species, the plains-wanderer (Pedionomus torquatus) and letter-winged kite (Elanus scriptus), that suggest the evolution of some unique auditory and visual specializations in relation to their unique behavior and ecology. Finally, we conclude by emphasizing the importance of a comparative and integrative approach to understanding avian sensory systems and provide an example of one system that has yet to be properly examined: tactile facial bristles in birds. Through reviewing this research and offering future avenues for discovery, we hope that others also embrace the comparative approach to understanding sensory system evolution in birds and other vertebrates.
“多样性”是杰克·佩蒂格鲁（Jack Pettigrew）研究生涯的恰当描述，因为他的研究范围从树木研究到临床条件，再到感觉神经科学。在感觉神经科学领域，他对物种间感觉系统的进化着迷。在这里，我们回顾了他的一些关于鸟类感官专家的工作，以及他在其他人身上激发的研究。我们首先概述了 Wulst 在立体视觉中的重要性，以及需要进一步研究 Wulst 与鸟类物种之间的双眼视觉的关系。接下来，我们总结了最近关于蜂鸟光流特化的解剖学、行为和生理学研究。除了视觉，我们还讨论了鸟类中第一个触觉“中央凹”的证据，以及这如何导致对水禽触觉特化和鹦鹉感觉运动系统的详细研究。然后，我们描述了 Pettigrew 对两种澳大利亚特有物种——平原徘徊者（Pedionomus torquatus）和信天翁风筝（Elanus scriptus）的初步研究，这些研究表明，由于其独特的行为和生态，一些独特的听觉和视觉特化在进化中出现。最后，我们通过强调采用比较和综合方法来理解鸟类感觉系统的重要性，并提供了一个尚未得到适当研究的系统的例子：鸟类面部触须。通过回顾这项研究并为未来的发现提供途径，我们希望其他人也能接受比较方法来理解鸟类和其他脊椎动物的感觉系统进化。
