scholarly journals Responses of Parasitized And Unparasitized Common Redstart (Phoenicurus Phoenicurus) Populations Against Artificial Cuckoo Parasitism

The Auk ◽  
2006 ◽  
Vol 123 (1) ◽  
pp. 259-265 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jarkko Rutila ◽  
Jukka Jokimäki ◽  
Jesús M. Avilés ◽  
Marja-Liisa Kaisanlahti-Jokimäki
Keyword(s):  
Brood Parasitism ◽  
Rejection Rate ◽  
Cuculus Canorus ◽  
Common Cuckoo ◽  
Selection Pressures ◽  
Brood Parasites ◽  
Phoenicurus Phoenicurus ◽  
Defensive Mechanisms ◽  
Current Selection ◽  
Different Levels

Abstract Brood parasitism selects for defensive mechanisms that enhance host fitness. Therefore, host populations under different parasitism pressures may express different levels of defense against brood parasites. We tested the rejection responses of currently parasitized and unparasitized Common Redstart (Phoenicurus phoenicurus) populations in Finland to artificial Common Cuckoo (Cuculus canorus) eggs. We predicted a higher level of defense in the parasitized population, but in fact the rejection rate was higher in the nonparasitized population. Nonmimetic artificial eggs were rejected more often than mimetic ones. Desertion probability was higher in the nonparasitized population and was independent of artificial egg type. Common Redstarts in the parasitized population rejected the artificial eggs mostly through ejection, whereas desertion was a more frequent rejection method in the nonparasitized population. Our results suggest that current selection pressures from brood parasites do not always explain the current levels of defense. Respuestas de Poblaciones Parasitadas y No Parasitadas de Phoenicurus phoenicurus Contra el Parasitismo Artificial de Cuculus canorus

scholarly journals Fast and furious: host aggression modulates behaviour of brood parasites

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Václav Jelínek ◽  
Michal Šulc ◽  
Gabriela Štětková ◽  
Marcel Honza
Keyword(s):  
Brood Parasitism ◽  
Egg Laying ◽  
Nest Defence ◽  
Great Reed Warbler ◽  
Acrocephalus Arundinaceus ◽  
Brood Parasite ◽  
Cuculus Canorus ◽  
Common Cuckoo ◽  
Brood Parasites ◽  
The Common

ABSTRACTAvian brood parasites pose a serious threat for hosts, substantially reducing their fitness which selects for the evolution of host defences. A classic example of a host frontline defence is mobbing which frequently includes contact attacking of brood parasites. Here, we investigated how the nest defence of a very aggressive great reed warbler (Acrocephalus arundinaceus) host influences the speed of egg-laying and egg-removing behaviour of its brood parasite – the common cuckoo (Cuculus canorus). We video-recorded 168 brood parasitic events at 102 active host nests and found that cuckoos avoided host mobbing in only 62% of cases. If hosts spotted the cuckoo at their nests, they almost always attacked it (in 91 of 104 cases), however, such attacks only rarely and temporarily prevented cuckoos from parasitizing (11 additional cases). When attacked, cuckoos parasitized host nests significantly faster and left them immediately. However, when not attacked, cuckoos frequently stayed at or near the nest suggesting that host aggression, rather than the risk of being spotted, influences the speed of brood parasitism in this species. Further, we found that cuckoos performed egg-removing behaviour in all parasitic events without regard to host aggression. As a result, cuckoos removed at least one egg during all brood parasitism events except those when an egg slipped from their beaks and fell back into the nest (in 9 of 73 cases). This indicates that egg-removing behaviour is not costly for the common cuckoo and is an essential part of its parasitism strategy, widening understanding of this currently unexplained behaviour.

scholarly journals Spatial variation in egg polymorphism among cuckoo hosts across 4 continents

2020 ◽  
Vol 66 (5) ◽  
pp. 477-483 ◽  
Author(s):  
Canchao Yang ◽  
Xingfeng Si ◽  
Wei Liang ◽  
Anders Pape Møller
Keyword(s):  
Spatial Variation ◽  
Host Species ◽  
Brood Parasitism ◽  
Selection Pressure ◽  
Color Polymorphism ◽  
Spatial Variations ◽  
Cuculus Canorus ◽  
Common Cuckoo ◽  
The Common ◽  
Host Families

Abstract Although egg color polymorphism has evolved as an effective defensive adaptation to brood parasitism, spatial variations in egg color polymorphism remain poorly characterized. Here, we investigated egg polymorphism in 647 host species (68 families and 231 genera) parasitized by 41 species of Old Word cuckoos (1 family and 11 genera) across Asia, Europe, Africa, and Australia. The diversity of parasitic cuckoos differs among continents, reflecting the continent-specific intensities of parasitic selection pressure on hosts. Therefore, host egg polymorphism is expected to evolve more frequently on continents with higher cuckoo diversity. We identified egg polymorphism in 24.1% of all host species and 47.6% of all host families. The common cuckoo Cuculus canorus utilized 184 hosts (28.4% of all host species). Hosts of the common cuckoo and of Chrysococcyx species were more likely to have polymorphic eggs than hosts parasitized by other cuckoos. Both the number of host species and the host families targeted by the cuckoo species were positively correlated with the frequency of host egg polymorphism. Most host species and most hosts exhibiting egg color polymorphism were located in Asia and Africa. Host egg polymorphism was observed less frequently in Australia and Europe. Our results also suggested that egg polymorphism tends to occur more frequently in hosts that are utilized by several cuckoo species or by generalist cuckoo species. We suggest that selection pressure on hosts from a given continent increases proportionally to the number of cuckoo species, and that this selection pressure may, in turn, favor the evolution of host egg polymorphism.

scholarly journals Killing behaviour of adult brood parasites

Behaviour ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 157 (12-13) ◽  
pp. 1099-1111 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Šulc ◽  
G. Štětková ◽  
V. Jelínek ◽  
B. Czyż ◽  
A. Dyrcz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Video Recording ◽  
Camera Traps ◽  
Cuculus Canorus ◽  
Common Cuckoo ◽  
Brood Parasites ◽  
The Common

Abstract Decades of studies have revealed the striking adaptations of avian brood parasites for their unique reproductive lifestyle. Several have reported that adult brood parasites sometimes kill host nestlings, although the reasons for this behaviour remain unclear. Using continuous video-recording and camera traps, we observed the same behaviour in the common cuckoo Cuculus canorus, showing that both host and parasite nestlings can be killed. The latter has never previously been observed in cuckoos. Here, we review this phenomenon and discuss possible explanations.

scholarly journals Egg Rejection in Marsh Warblers (Acrocephalus Palustris) Heavily Parasitized by Common Cuckoos (Cuculus Canorus)

The Auk ◽  
2006 ◽  
Vol 123 (2) ◽  
pp. 419-430 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anton Antonov ◽  
Bård G. Stokke ◽  
Arne Moksnes ◽  
Eivin Røskaft
Keyword(s):  
Rejection Rate ◽  
Host Population ◽  
Arms Race ◽  
Egg Rejection ◽  
Cuculus Canorus ◽  
Common Cuckoo ◽  
Recognition Ability ◽  
Acrocephalus Palustris ◽  
High Rejection Rate ◽  
Host Parasite

Abstract In the coevolutionary “arms race” between Common Cuckoos (Cuculus canorus) and their hosts, several adaptations and counter-adaptations have evolved. Here, we investigated natural parasitism and host sensitivity to egg rejection in Marsh Warblers (Acrocephalus palustris) in Bulgaria. The level of Common Cuckoo parasitism was high (28%), and average mimicry of Common Cuckoo eggs was good. Experimental parasitism with four egg-types that showed various degrees of mimicry of the host eggs revealed a generally high rejection rate of foreign eggs (37.5–100%). In addition, naturally laid Common Cuckoo eggs were rejected at a moderate rate (50%). The Marsh Warbler's ability to reject foreign eggs was strongly dependent on the degree of mimicry of the parasite egg but apparently not on differences in size between host and foreign eggs. Furthermore, intraclutch variation in host egg appearance was not related to the probability of egg rejection. The Marsh Warbler's highly developed egg-recognition ability and the good mimicry of Common Cuckoo eggs suggests that this poorly known host-parasite arms race has reached an advanced stage. The present study provides new insight into variables that are important for egg rejection in a heavily parasitized host population. Rechazo de Huevos en Nidos de Acrocephalus palustris Fuertemente Parasitados por Cuculus canorus

ADAPTATIONS BY GREAT REED WARBLERS TO BROOD PARASITISM: A COMPARISON OF POPULATIONS IN SYMPATRY AND ALLOPATRY WITH THE COMMON CUCKOO

Behaviour ◽  
2002 ◽  
Vol 139 (10) ◽  
pp. 1313-1329 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
◽  
Keyword(s):  
Brood Parasitism ◽  
Rejection Rate ◽  
Host Population ◽  
Greek Population ◽  
Great Reed Warbler ◽  
Reed Warbler ◽  
Common Cuckoo ◽  
Egg Colour ◽  
Computer Based ◽  
The Common

AbstractEgg rejection behaviour, as an antiparasite defence against brood parasitism was compared in two great reed warbler Acrocephalus arundinaceus populations. In central Hungary the host population lives in sympatry with the common cuckoo Cuculus canorus, and it is heavily parasitised (ca 66%). In central Greece the great reed warbler occurs in allopatry with the cuckoo, so it is not parasitised at all. Experimental parasitism with poorly mimetic (often called 'non-mimetic') artificial cuckoo eggs revealed a 100% rejection rate towards the foreign eggs in the Greek population, but the Hungarian hosts accepted 29.4% and rejected 70.6% of the model cuckoo eggs. No other rejection type than ejection was observed. The significantly higher level of rejection in Greece than in Hungary suggests that the Greek great reed warbler population is an abandoned host population of the cuckoo, which kept its egg recognition ability. A computer-based image analysis of host's clutches revealed that interclutch variation in egg colour was greater than intraclutch variation in the Hungarian population, but not in the Greek population. Spottedness of eggs were similar in both populations. Generally, a tendency for a higher interclutch variation was found in Hungary. Intraclutch variation was more similar in the two populations, but for the colour variables it showed a lower value in Hungary than in Greece. The heavy cuckoo parasitism in Hungary is suggested to be the main cause for the increased interclutch variation in relation to intraclutch variation in egg appearance among great reed warbler clutches. The high interclutch variation reduces the chance that the parasite egg's appearance matches that of the hosts', which facilitates hosts' egg discrimination.

scholarly journals Personality of hosts and their brood parasites

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anders Pape Møller ◽  
Xingfeng Si
Keyword(s):  
Brood Parasitism ◽  
Tonic Immobility ◽  
Escape Behavior ◽  
Common Cuckoo ◽  
Escape Behaviour ◽  
Brood Parasites ◽  
Specific Behaviour ◽  
Contact Calls ◽  
The Common ◽  
Comparative Phylogenetic Analysis

Abstract Brood parasites such as the common cuckoo Cuculus canorus exploit the parental abilities of their hosts, Hosts avoid brood parasitism and predation by showing specific behaviour such as loss of feathers, emission of fear screams and contact calls, displaying wriggle behavior to avoid hosts or potential prey, pecking at hosts and prey and expressing tonic immobility (showing behaviour like feigning death or rapid escape from predators and brood parasites). These aspects of escape behavior are consistent for individuals but also among sites, seasons and years. Escape behaviour expressed in response to a broad range of cuckoo hosts and prey are consistently used against capture by humans, but also hosts and brood parasites and predators and their prey. An interspecific comparative phylogenetic analysis of escape behavior by hosts and their brood parasites and prey and their predators revealed evidence of consistent behaviour when encountering potential parasites or predators. We hypothesize that personality axes such as those ranging from fearfulness to being bold, and from neophobic to curiosity response in brood parasites constitute important components of defense against brood parasitism that reduces the overall risk of parasitism.

Sperm morphology of avian brood parasites: the Common Cuckoo Cuculus canorus and Oriental Cuckoo C. optatus

2020 ◽  
Vol 27 (2) ◽  
pp. 120-131
Author(s):  
Geun-Won Bae ◽  
Sue-Jeong Jin ◽  
Jin-Won Lee ◽  
Jeong-Chil Yoo
Keyword(s):  
Sperm Morphology ◽  
Cuculus Canorus ◽  
Common Cuckoo ◽  
Brood Parasites ◽  
The Common
Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document