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Is it possible to be too clever? Could it be that a big brain is actually a dangerous asset?
Whilst the brainy human species goes from strength to strength, a study suggests that having an abundance of grey matter directly increases the risk of extinction in our mammal cousins.
Biologist Manuela Gonzalez-Suarez, from the University of Reading, says that big brains come with a clear downside.
"The cost is too high," she told BBC Future. They require a lot of energy to grow and maintain. Large-brained animals also have longer gestational periods, meaning they produce fewer offspring. And their young need greater parental attention until they become independent.
These traits mean "populations cannot grow fast, or quickly compensate for additional mortality," she says.
In short, big brains are an investment not all animals can afford. And this precarious situation is made worse by the fact that many large mammals are themselves the target of poaching or live in threatened habitats.
Some animals have long since decided that brains weren’t necessary. BBC Future suggests that sponges evolved to lose their brains over time, as they offered no tangible benefits.
But what about humans? We are the most intelligent species on Earth. We have tamed the natural environment, developed incredible technologies, and settled across almost every corner of the planet. But all this may be exacerbating the problem for other species.
Gonzalez-Suarez says: "It is our collective responsibility as scientists who study megafauna to act to prevent their decline." Time to put our big brains to good use.
词汇表
asset 长处，优点
brainy 有头脑的，聪明的
go from strength to strength 不断壮大，从强大变得更强
grey matter（口语）大脑，智力
downside 不利之处
gestational period 妊娠期
offspring 后代，子孙
young 动物的幼小后代
trait 特质，特征
mortality 死亡率
precarious 危险的，不确定的
to poach 偷猎
habitat 动物的栖息地，生存环境
to evolve 进化
species 物种
to tame 控制，驾驭
to exacerbate 使恶化，使加剧
megafauna 巨型动物群