scholarly journals Great spotted cuckoos show dynamic patterns of host selection during the breeding season. The importance of laying stage and parasitism status of magpie nests

2019 ◽  
Vol 31 (2) ◽  
pp. 467-474 ◽  
Author(s):  
Manuel Soler ◽  
Tomás Pérez-Contreras ◽  
Juan José Soler
Keyword(s):  
Breeding Season ◽  
Host Selection ◽  
Egg Laying ◽  
Offspring Survival ◽  
Brood Parasite ◽  
Pica Pica ◽  
Clamator Glandarius ◽  
New Approach ◽  
Brood Parasites ◽  
Host Interaction

Abstract Avian brood parasites depend entirely on their hosts to raise their nestlings until independence. Thus, parasite females should select suitable host nests for egg laying according to traits that enhance offspring survival. The availability of nests of certain characteristics influencing the survival of parasitic offspring is, however, temporally dynamic and, thus, patterns of host selection should be evaluated considering characteristics of available host nests the day of parasitism. This allows detecting possible seasonal changes and, therefore, a more realistic picture of host selection by brood parasites. In this paper, we adopt such a new approach and consider daily availability of magpie (Pica pica) host nests at different breeding stage that were or were not parasitized by the great spotted cuckoo (Clamator glandarius). Theory predicts that cuckoos should select host nests at the laying stage. Accordingly, we detected that cuckoos preferred to parasitize magpie nests at the laying stage but, mainly, those that already harbored one or two cuckoo eggs, which may seem counterintuitive. We also showed that patterns of host selection by cuckoos varied during the breeding season, which implies that brood parasite–host interaction is dynamic depending on phenology. These patterns are hidden when not considering the temporally dynamic nature of the availability of host nests of characteristics of interest. We discuss the importance of such patterns and considering diary hosts nests availability for detecting them.

scholarly journals Absence of anti-parasitic defenses in an Asian population of the magpie, a regular host of the great spotted cuckoo in Europe

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Canchao Yang ◽  
Jialiang Huang ◽  
Wei Liang ◽  
Anders P Møller
Keyword(s):  
Asian Population ◽  
Egg Rejection ◽  
Brood Parasite ◽  
Pica Pica ◽  
Host Nest ◽  
Clamator Glandarius ◽  
Brood Parasites ◽  
Antagonistic Coevolution ◽  
The Past ◽  
Different Populations

Abstract Antagonistic coevolution such as that between obligate brood parasites and their hosts promotes the evolution of a variety of trickeries that enhance successful rearing of their offspring. They do that by using host parental care to enhance their reproductive success, which in turn selects for host nest defenses or egg rejection. Studying these adaptations and counter-adaptations in different populations helps us to understand the complexity of coevolution between hosts and parasites. Here, we tested for anti-parasite defenses in an Asian population of magpies Pica pica, which is used as a regular host by the great spotted cuckoo Clamator glandarius in Europe. Unlike most magpie populations in Europe, cuckoo parasitism and specific anti-parasite defenses are absent from this Asian population. None of the cuckoos in the Asian population of magpies were capable of exploiting the magpies. That was due to magpies being evictors smaller than cuckoos that could not successfully utilize brood reducing hosts. Thus, the absence of cuckoo parasitism may be due to the absence of non-evictor brood parasites, while the absence of defenses is likely to be explained by the absence of coevolutionary interaction with any brood parasite in both the present and the past.

scholarly journals The ghosts of parasitism past: lingering frontline anti-brood parasite defences in a former host

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthew H J Chaumont ◽  
Naomi E Langmore ◽  
Justin A Welbergen
Keyword(s):  
Brood Parasitism ◽  
Species Interactions ◽  
Egg Laying ◽  
Arms Race ◽  
Fine Tuning ◽  
Brood Parasite ◽  
Reed Warbler ◽  
Arms Races ◽  
Brood Parasites ◽  
Defensive Behaviors

Abstract Coevolutionary arms races between brood parasites and hosts provide tractable systems for understanding antagonistic coevolution in nature; however, little is known about the fate of frontline antiparasite defences when the host ‘wins’ the coevolutionary arms race. By recreating bygone species-interactions, using artificial parasitism experiments, lingering defensive behaviors that evolved in the context of parasitism can be understood and may even be used to identify the unknown agent of parasitism past. Here we present the first study of this type by evaluating lingering “frontline” nest defences that have evolved to prevent egg laying in a former brood parasite host. The Australian reed warbler Acrocephalus australis, is currently not parasitized but is known to exhibit fine-tuned egg discrimination—a defensive behavior indicative of a past brood parasite-host arms race and common in closely related parasitized species. Here, using 3 D-printed models of adult brood parasites, we examined whether the Australian reed warbler also exhibits frontline defences to adult brood parasites, and whether we could use these defences to identify the warbler’s “ghost of parasitism past”. Our findings provide evidence that the Australian reed warbler readily engages in frontline defences that are considered adaptive specifically in the context of brood parasitism. However, individuals were unable to discriminate between adults of different brood parasite species at their nest. Overall, our results demonstrate that despite a relaxation in selection, defences against brood parasitism can be maintained across multiple stages of the host’s nesting cycle, and further suggest that, in accordance with previous findings, that learning may be important for fine-tuning frontline defence.

Spatial patterns of egg laying and multiple parasitism in a brood parasite: a non-territorial system in the great spotted cuckoo ( Clamator glandarius )

Oecologia ◽  
1998 ◽  
Vol 117 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 286-294 ◽  
Author(s):  
Juan Gabriel Martínez ◽  
Juan Jose Soler ◽  
Manuel Soler ◽  
Terry Burke
Keyword(s):  
Spatial Patterns ◽  
Egg Laying ◽  
Brood Parasite ◽  
Clamator Glandarius

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 Egg Recognition in Yellow-Billed and Black-Billed Magpies in the Absence of Interspecific Parasitism: Implications for Parasite-Host Coevolution

The Condor ◽  
2000 ◽  
Vol 102 (2) ◽  
pp. 432-438 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ginger M. Bolen ◽  
Stephen I. Rothstein ◽  
Charles H. Trost
Keyword(s):  
Molecular Evidence ◽  
Brood Parasite ◽  
Egg Recognition ◽  
Clamator Glandarius ◽  
Brood Parasites ◽  
American Black ◽  
The Common ◽  
Long Term Retention ◽  
Pica Nuttalli

AbstractYellow-billed Magpies (Pica nuttalli) ejected 100% of nonmimetic eggs placed in their nests despite such behavior having no detectable present day benefits. They are not currently parasitized, nor is there any evidence of a recently extinct brood parasite. Furthermore, there was no molecular evidence of conspecific parasitism, and Yellow-billed Magpies accepted eight of nine conspecific eggs transferred between nests, so recognition would rarely be of benefit if conspecific parasitism occurred. Thus, we suggest that egg recognition in Yellow-billed Magpies is a plesiomorphic trait, a primitive character inherited from a remote ancestor, its nearest relative, the Black-billed Magpie (Pica pica). The latter suffers from parasitism by Great Spotted Cuckoos (Clamator glandarius) in Eurasia and displays rejection behavior throughout Europe in populations that are allopatric and sympatric with this cuckoo. As would be expected if Yellow-billed Magpies inherited rejection behavior from the Black-billed Magpie, or the common ancestor of both species, we found that North American Black-billed Magpies also have well developed egg recognition despite being unaffected by interspecific parasitism. The long-term retention of host defenses as is indicated by magpies has major implications for the coevolutionary interactions between brood parasites and their hosts.

scholarly journals Adjustment of egg laying by both hosts and intraspecific brood parasites in a beetle

Ethology ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jon Richardson ◽  
Sarah Dobson ◽  
Lucy E. Ford ◽  
Per T. Smiseth
Keyword(s):  
Egg Laying ◽  
Brood Parasites

scholarly journals Host Recognition of Brood Parasites: Implications for Methodology in Studies of Enemy Recognition

The Auk ◽  
2005 ◽  
Vol 122 (2) ◽  
pp. 530-543 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tomáš Grim
Keyword(s):  
Traditional Approach ◽  
Columba Livia ◽  
Host Recognition ◽  
Brood Parasite ◽  
Common Cuckoo ◽  
Brood Parasites ◽  
Accurate Picture ◽  
Rock Pigeon ◽  
The Common ◽  
Enemy Recognition

AbstractVarious studies have shown that experiments on nest defense and enemy recognition (e.g. recognition of adult brood parasites) can be confounded by many factors. However, no study has described a confounding effect of control dummy type. Here, I show experimentally that the choice of control dummy may influence the results of an experiment and lead to erroneous conclusions. I tested recognition abilities of the Blackcap (Sylvia atricapilla), currently a host rarely used by the Common Cuckoo (Cuculus canorus). Blackcaps responded very differently to two kinds of control dummies: they ignored the Eurasian Blackbird (Turdus merula) dummy, but attacked the Rock Pigeon (Columba livia) dummy as frequently as they attacked the Common Cuckoo. The differing results may be explained by the fact that the Rock Pigeon is more similar to the Common Cuckoo than the Eurasian Blackbird is, and consequently elicited more aggressive behavior than the latter. Thus, absence of discrimination in enemy-recognition studies may reflect a methodological artifact resulting from varying abilities of particular hosts to discriminate along a continuum of recognition cues. This result has serious methodological implications for further research on enemy recognition and aggression in general: a control dummy should not be too similar to the dummy brood parasite; otherwise, the chance of detecting existing recognition abilities is low. Further, I argue that coevolution only increases pre-existing aggression in the particular host species. Therefore, increment analysis (assessing changes in host antiparasitic responses during the nesting cycle while controlling for background aggression to control dummies) provides a more accurate picture of hosts' recognition abilities than the traditional approach (when the total level of antiparasitic response is analyzed).

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