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Trnka A, Ma L, Yan H, Wang L, Liang W. Defense behavior of two closely related but geographically distant host species against cuckoo parasitism: A next test for the parallel coevolution. Ecol Evol 2023; 13:e10175. [PMID: 37304363 PMCID: PMC10251422 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.10175] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2023] [Revised: 05/12/2023] [Accepted: 05/26/2023] [Indexed: 06/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Interactions between avian brood parasites, such as common cuckoos (Cuculus canorus), and their hosts are one of the best-studied examples of the coevolutionary arms race. Different stages of this arms race can be seen in different races of common cuckoos and their hosts across their range. However, little is known whether selected populations of two closely related but geographically distant species with probably different coevolutionary histories with the common cuckoo are also at different stages of the arms race. In this study, we tested this prediction experimentally using the same non-mimetic model eggs and three-dimensional (3D) printed models of the gray adult common cuckoo (Cuculus canorus). We examined egg recognition and egg rejection and aggression against the common cuckoo in the great reed warbler (Acrocephalus arundinaceus) and Oriental reed warbler (Acrocephalus orientalis), in Slovakia of Europe and northeast China of Asia. The results showed that the great reed warbler exhibited stronger responses to experimental model eggs and 3D models of the common cuckoo than the Oriental reed warbler. We conclude that both the great reed warbler and Oriental reed warbler have well-developed antiparasitic behaviors against common cuckoos in the studied populations, but with different levels of defense intensity, which may be due to local differences in parasitic pressure and the risk of parasitism. This provides an opportunity to study coevolutionary processes between the brood parasite and its hosts together in both species at large geographical scales.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alfréd Trnka
- Department of BiologyUniversity of TrnavaTrnavaSlovakia
| | - Laikun Ma
- School of Life SciencesHebei UniversityBaodingChina
- Department of Biology and Food ScienceHebei Normal University for NationalitiesChengdeChina
| | - Hanlin Yan
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Ecology of Tropical Islands, Key Laboratory of Tropical Animal and Plant Ecology of Hainan Province, College of Life SciencesHainan Normal UniversityHaikouChina
| | - Longwu Wang
- School of Life SciencesGuizhou Normal UniversityGuiyangChina
| | - Wei Liang
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Ecology of Tropical Islands, Key Laboratory of Tropical Animal and Plant Ecology of Hainan Province, College of Life SciencesHainan Normal UniversityHaikouChina
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Wang L, Zhao H, Luo H, He G, Yan H, Liang W. Importance of cooperation: How host nest defenses effectively prevent brood parasitism from the cuckoos. iScience 2023; 26:106458. [PMID: 37063465 PMCID: PMC10090214 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.106458] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2022] [Revised: 11/28/2022] [Accepted: 03/16/2023] [Indexed: 03/30/2023] Open
Abstract
As the frontline defense against avian brood parasitism, nest defense is important in reducing nest parasitism and increasing host fitness. However, systematic studies on its effectiveness (i.e., on whether it successfully prevents cuckoo parasitism) are scarce. Based on 214 video recordings from 10 years of field observations, we evaluated the effectiveness of nest defenses of the Oriental reed warbler (Acrocephalus orientalis) in deterring common cuckoo (Cuculus canorus) parasitism. Under a breeding pair situation (≤ 2 hosts individuals), warblers were hardly effective in resisting the egg-laying of the cuckoo and many of the cuckoos under attack were able to complete the parasitic process without being harmed. However, when hosts ≥ 3 individuals, the warblers could effectively thwart the cuckoos and cause lethal damage to the cuckoo in partial cases. This indicated that the host group effectively resisted the cuckoo, demonstrating the importance of cooperation among host neighbors in resisting cuckoo parasitism.
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Abstract
Predators have profound effects on prey behavior and some adult brood parasites use predator resemblance to exploit the antipredator defenses of their hosts. Clarifying host perception of such stimuli is important for understanding the adaptive significance of adult brood parasite characteristics, and the mechanisms by which they misdirect hosts. Here I review the literature to explore the adaptive basis of predator resemblance in avian brood parasites, and natural variation in host responses to these stimuli. I also provide a framework for the information ecology of predator resemblance, which is based on the principles of signal detection theory and draws from empirical evidence from the common cuckoo, Cuculus canorus, as the most widely studied system. In this species, visual and acoustic hawk-like stimuli are effective in manipulating host defenses. Overall, contrasts across host responses suggest that different modalities of information can have independent effects on hosts, and that predator resemblance takes advantage of multiple sensory and cognitive processes. Host perception of these stimuli and the degree to which they are processed in an integrated manner, and the physiological processes underlying regulation of the responses, present new avenues for brood parasitism research.
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Lawson SL, Enos JK, Gill SA, Hauber ME. Eavesdropping on Referential Yellow Warbler Alarm Calls by Red-Winged Blackbirds Is Mediated by Brood Parasitism Risk. Front Ecol Evol 2021. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2021.706170] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Referential alarm calls that denote specific types of dangers are common across diverse vertebrate lineages. Different alarm calls can indicate a variety of threats, which often require specific actions to evade. Thus, to benefit from the call, listeners of referential alarm calls must be able to decode the signaled threat and respond to it in an appropriate manner. Yellow warblers (Setophaga petechia) produce referential “seet” calls that signal to conspecifics the presence of nearby obligate brood parasitic brown-headed cowbirds (Molothrus ater), which lay their eggs in the nests of other species, including yellow warblers. Our previous playback experiments have found that red-winged blackbirds (Agelaius phoeniceus), a species also parasitized by brown-headed cowbirds, eavesdrop upon and respond strongly to yellow warbler seet calls during the incubation stage of breeding with aggression similar to responses to both cowbird chatters and predator calls. To assess whether red-winged blackbird responses to seet calls vary with their own risk of brood parasitism, we presented the same playbacks during the nestling stage of breeding (when the risk of brood parasitism is lower than during incubation). As predicted, we found that blackbirds mediated their aggression toward both cowbird chatter calls and the warblers’ anti-parasitic referential alarm calls in parallel with the low current risk of brood parasitism during the nestling stage. These results further support that red-winged blackbirds flexibly respond to yellow warbler antiparasitic referential calls as a frontline defense against brood parasitism at their own nests.
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Lawson SL, Enos JK, Mendes NC, Gill SA, Hauber ME. Pairing status moderates both the production of and responses to anti‐parasitic referential alarm calls in male yellow warblers. Ethology 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/eth.13139] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Shelby L. Lawson
- Department of Evolution, Ecology, and Behavior School of Biological Sciences University of Illinois at Urbana‐Champaign Urbana IL USA
| | - Janice K. Enos
- Department of Evolution, Ecology, and Behavior School of Biological Sciences University of Illinois at Urbana‐Champaign Urbana IL USA
| | - Niko C. Mendes
- Department of Evolution, Ecology, and Behavior School of Biological Sciences University of Illinois at Urbana‐Champaign Urbana IL USA
| | - Sharon A. Gill
- Department of Biological Sciences Western Michigan University Kalamazoo MI USA
| | - Mark E. Hauber
- Department of Evolution, Ecology, and Behavior School of Biological Sciences University of Illinois at Urbana‐Champaign Urbana IL USA
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Campobello D, Sealy SG. Evolutionary significance of antiparasite, antipredator and learning phenotypes of avian nest defence. Sci Rep 2018; 8:10569. [PMID: 30002381 PMCID: PMC6043525 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-28275-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2018] [Accepted: 06/12/2018] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Avian nest defence, which is expected to serve both antiparasite and antipredator functions, may benefit or be detrimental to birds, although selective forces that potentially operate on nest defence have not been quantified as a whole. Together with fitness values, we analysed two traits of nest defence, intensity and plasticity, in two distantly related passerine species, yellow warbler (Setophaga petechia) in North America and reed warbler (Acrocephalus scirpaceus) in Europe, both favourite host species for brood parasites. Breeders that escaped parasitism were the most vocal among reed warblers, whereas there was no specific defence phenotype that predicted prevention of parasitism in yellow warblers. Breeders that escaped nest predation were, in both species, those with the most distractive response at the first exposure to a nest-threatening event, such as the experimental predation or parasitism simulated at the nest. However, increasing defence intensity benefited yellow warblers but was detrimental to reed warblers, because intense defence responses attracted predators. Adaptiveness of nest defence was revealed by nest defence phenotypes when examined in concert with the seasonal fitness (i.e. measures of reproductive success). Results revealed selective forces favoured yellow warblers with strong defence phenotypes. Opposite forces were instead revealed among reed warblers whose favoured phenotypes were strong, yet less flexible, defenders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniela Campobello
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada.
- Section of Animal Biology, Department STEBICEF, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy.
| | - Spencer G Sealy
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
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Wild zebra finches do not use social information from conspecific reproductive success for nest site choice and clutch size decisions. Behav Ecol Sociobiol 2018. [DOI: 10.1007/s00265-018-2533-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
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Expósito-Granados M, Parejo D, Martínez JG, Sánchez-Tójar A, Precioso M, Molina-Morales M, Avilés JM. An experimental test of host's life history traits modulation in response to cuckoo parasitism risk. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0179206. [PMID: 28658287 PMCID: PMC5489146 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0179206] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2017] [Accepted: 05/25/2017] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Hosts can counteract parasites through defences based on resistance and/or tolerance. The mechanistic basis of tolerance, which involve defensive mechanisms minimizing parasite damage after a successful parasitic attack, remains poorly explored in the study of cuckoo-host interactions. Here, we experimentally explore the possibility that the risk of great spotted cuckoo Clamator glandarius parasitism may induce tolerance defences in magpie Pica pica hosts through plasticity in life-history traits. We predict that magpies exposed to auditory cues indicating high parasitism risk will more likely exhibit resistance and/or modify their life-history traits to minimize parasitism costs (i.e. tolerance) compared to magpies under low parasitism risk. We found that manipulating the perceived parasitism risk did not affect host resistance (i.e. rejection of parasitic eggs) nor host life-history traits. Unexpectedly, host’s egg volume increased over the season in nests exposed to auditory cues of control non-harmful hoopoes Upupa epops. Our results do not provide support for inducible defences (either based on resistance or tolerance) in response to risk of parasitism in magpie hosts. Even so, we encourage studying plastic expression of breeding strategies in response to risk of cuckoo parasitism to achieve a better understanding of the mechanistic basis of tolerance defences.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Deseada Parejo
- Department of Functional and Evolutionary Ecology, EEZA-CSIC, Almería, Spain
- Department of Zoology, University of Extremadura, Badajoz, Spain
| | | | - Alfredo Sánchez-Tójar
- Department of Zoology, University of Granada, Granada, Spain
- Evolutionary Biology Group, Max Planck Institute for Ornithology, Seewiesen, Germany
| | - Marta Precioso
- Department of Zoology, University of Granada, Granada, Spain
| | | | - Jesús M. Avilés
- Department of Functional and Evolutionary Ecology, EEZA-CSIC, Almería, Spain
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11
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Kuehn MJ, Peer BD, McCleery RA, Rothstein SI. Yellow warbler defenses are retained in the absence of brood parasitism but enhanced by experience with cowbirds. Behav Ecol 2016. [DOI: 10.1093/beheco/arv145] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
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Mahr K, Riegler G, Hoi H. Parental risk management in relation to offspring defence: bad news for kids. Proc Biol Sci 2015; 282:20141670. [PMID: 25392467 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2014.1670] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Do parents defend their offspring whenever necessary, and do self-sacrificing parents really exist? Studies recognized that parent defence is dynamic, mainly depending on the threat predators pose. In this context, parental risk management should consider the threat to themselves and to their offspring. Consequently, the observed defence should be a composite of both risk components. Surprisingly, no study so far has determined the influence of these two threat components on parental decision rules. In a field experiment, we investigated parental risk taking in relation to the threat posed to themselves and their offspring. To disentangle the two threat components, we examined defence behaviours of parent blue tits Cyanistes caeruleus towards three different predators and during different nestling developmental stages. Nest defence strategies in terms of alarm call intensity and nearest predator approach differed between the three predators. Defence intensity was only partly explained by threat level. Most importantly, parental risk management varied in relation to their own, but not offspring risk. Parent defence investment was independent of nestling risk when parents followed a high-risk strategy. However, parents considered nestling as well as parental risk when following a low-risk strategy. Our findings could have general implications for the economy of risk management and decision-making strategies in living beings, including humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katharina Mahr
- Department of Integrative Biology and Evolution, Konrad Lorenz Institute of Ethology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Savoyenstrasse 1, 1160 Vienna, Austria
| | - Georg Riegler
- Department of Integrative Biology and Evolution, Konrad Lorenz Institute of Ethology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Savoyenstrasse 1, 1160 Vienna, Austria
| | - Herbert Hoi
- Department of Integrative Biology and Evolution, Konrad Lorenz Institute of Ethology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Savoyenstrasse 1, 1160 Vienna, Austria
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Evans JC, Votier SC, Dall SRX. Information use in colonial living. Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 2015; 91:658-72. [PMID: 25882618 DOI: 10.1111/brv.12188] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2014] [Revised: 03/18/2015] [Accepted: 03/24/2015] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
Despite the fact that many animals live in groups, there is still no clear consensus about the ecological or evolutionary mechanisms underlying colonial living. Recently, research has suggested that colonies may be important as sources of social information. The ready availability of information from conspecifics allows animals to make better decisions about avoiding predators, reducing brood parasitism, migratory phenology, mate choice, habitat choice and foraging. These choices can play a large part in the development and maintenance of colonies. Here we review the types of information provided by colonial animals and examine the different ways in which decision-making in colonies can be enhanced by social information. We discuss what roles information might take in the evolution, formation and maintenance of colonies. In the process, we illustrate that information use permeates all aspects of colonial living.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julian C Evans
- Centre for Ecology and Conservation, Biosciences, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Exeter-Penryn Campus, Penryn, Cornwall, TR10 9EZ, U.K
| | - Stephen C Votier
- Environment and Sustainability Institute, University of Exeter-Penryn Campus, Penryn, TR10 9EZ, U.K
| | - Sasha R X Dall
- Centre for Ecology and Conservation, Biosciences, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Exeter-Penryn Campus, Penryn, Cornwall, TR10 9EZ, U.K
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Campobello D, Hare JF, Sarà M. Social phenotype extended to communities: Expanded multilevel social selection analysis reveals fitness consequences of interspecific interactions. Evolution 2015; 69:916-25. [DOI: 10.1111/evo.12629] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2014] [Accepted: 02/06/2015] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Daniela Campobello
- Department of Biological, Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies (STEBICEF); University of Palermo; Via Archirafi 18 90123 Palermo Italy
| | - James F. Hare
- Department of Biological Sciences; University of Manitoba; Winnipeg MB Canada
| | - Maurizio Sarà
- Department of Biological, Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies (STEBICEF); University of Palermo; Via Archirafi 18 90123 Palermo Italy
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Li D, Wei H, Zhang Z, Liang W, Stokke B. Oriental reed warbler (Acrocephalus orientalis) nest defence behaviour towards brood parasites and nest predators. BEHAVIOUR 2015. [DOI: 10.1163/1568539x-00003295] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Brood parasites and predators pose different threats to passerines that may favour the evolution of enemy-specific defence strategies. Furthermore, potential sex-specific variation in parental investment may be manifested in differences between male and female nest defence behaviour. We investigated these hypotheses in Oriental reed warblers (Acrocephalus orientalis), by recording sex- and stage-specific (nests with eggs or nestlings) responses to stuffed dummies placed at their nests. Warblers showed the highest level of aggression to the co-occurring parasite, the common cuckoo (Cuculus canorus), colour morph (grey), but showed reluctance to mob or attack the co-occurring nest predator, the magpie (Pica pica). There was a sex difference in rate of body attacks towards rufous morph common cuckoo, sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus) (locally absent parasite and predator, respectively) and the spotted dove (Streptopelia chinensis) (locally present, harmless species), with females showing better ability to distinguish between these species than males.
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Affiliation(s)
- Donglai Li
- aCollege of Life Sciences, Liaoning University, Shenyang 110036, P.R. China
- bMinistry of Education Key Laboratory for Biodiversity Science and Ecological Engineering, College of Life Sciences, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, P.R. China
- cMinistry of Education Key Laboratory for Tropical Animal and Plant Ecology, College of Life Sciences, Hainan Normal University, Haikou 571158, P.R. China
| | - Hongwei Wei
- aCollege of Life Sciences, Liaoning University, Shenyang 110036, P.R. China
| | - Zhengwang Zhang
- bMinistry of Education Key Laboratory for Biodiversity Science and Ecological Engineering, College of Life Sciences, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, P.R. China
| | - Wei Liang
- cMinistry of Education Key Laboratory for Tropical Animal and Plant Ecology, College of Life Sciences, Hainan Normal University, Haikou 571158, P.R. China
| | - Bård G. Stokke
- dDepartment of Biology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), NO-7491 Trondheim, Norway
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Moskát C, Bán M, Hauber ME. Naïve hosts of avian brood parasites accept foreign eggs, whereas older hosts fine-tune foreign egg discrimination during laying. Front Zool 2014; 11:45. [PMID: 25024736 PMCID: PMC4094907 DOI: 10.1186/1742-9994-11-45] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2013] [Accepted: 06/18/2014] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Many potential hosts of social parasites recognize and reject foreign intruders, and reduce or altogether escape the negative impacts of parasitism. The ontogenetic basis of whether and how avian hosts recognize their own and the brood parasitic eggs remains unclear. By repeatedly parasitizing the same hosts with a consistent parasitic egg type, and contrasting the responses of naïve and older breeders, we studied ontogenetic plasticity in the rejection of foreign eggs by the great reed warbler (Acrocephalus arundinaceus), a host species of the common cuckoo (Cuculus canorus). Results In response to experimental parasitism before the onset of laying, first time breeding hosts showed almost no egg ejection, compared to higher rates of ejection in older breeders. Young birds continued to accept foreign eggs when they were subjected to repeated parasitism, whereas older birds showed even higher ejection rates later in the same laying cycle. Conclusions Our results are consistent with the hypotheses that (i) naïve hosts need to see and learn the appearance of their own eggs to discriminate and reject foreign eggs, whereas (ii) experienced breeders possess a recognition template of their own eggs and reject parasitic eggs even without having to see their own eggs. However, we cannot exclude the possibility that other external cues and internal processes, accumulated simply with increasing age, may also modify age-specific patterns in egg rejection (e.g. more sightings of the cuckoo by older breeders). Future research should specifically track the potential role of learning in responses of individual hosts between first and subsequent breeding attempts by testing whether imprinting on a parasitized clutch reduces the rates of rejecting foreign eggs in subsequent parasitized clutches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Csaba Moskát
- MTA-ELTE-MTM Ecology Research Group, c/o Biological Institute, Eötvös Lóránd University, Pázmány Péter sétány 1/C., H-1117 Budapest, Hungary and Hungarian Natural History Museum, Baross u. 13, Budapest H-1088, Hungary
| | - Miklós Bán
- MTA-DE "Lendület" Behavioural Ecology Research Group, Department of Evolutionary Zoology, University of Debrecen, Debrecen 4010, Hungary
| | - Márk E Hauber
- Department of Psychology, Hunter College and the Graduate Center of the City University of New York, 695 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10065, USA
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The repeatability of avian egg ejection behaviors across different temporal scales, breeding stages, female ages and experiences. Behav Ecol Sociobiol 2014. [DOI: 10.1007/s00265-014-1688-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
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Thorogood R, Davies NB. Reed warbler hosts fine-tune their defenses to track three decades of cuckoo decline. Evolution 2013; 67:3545-55. [PMID: 24299407 PMCID: PMC4209118 DOI: 10.1111/evo.12213] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2013] [Accepted: 07/16/2013] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Interactions between avian hosts and brood parasites can provide a model for how animals adapt to a changing world. Reed warbler (Acrocephalus scirpaceus) hosts employ costly defenses to combat parasitism by common cuckoos (Cuculus canorus). During the past three decades cuckoos have declined markedly across England, reducing parasitism at our study site (Wicken Fen) from 24% of reed warbler nests in 1985 to 1% in 2012. Here we show with experiments that host mobbing and egg rejection defenses have tracked this decline in local parasitism risk: the proportion of reed warbler pairs mobbing adult cuckoos (assessed by responses to cuckoo mounts and models) has declined from 90% to 38%, and the proportion rejecting nonmimetic cuckoo eggs (assessed by responses to model eggs) has declined from 61% to 11%. This is despite no change in response to other nest enemies or mimetic model eggs. Individual variation in both defenses is predicted by parasitism risk during the host's egg-laying period. Furthermore, the response of our study population to temporal variation in parasitism risk can also explain spatial variation in egg rejection behavior in other populations across Europe. We suggest that spatial and temporal variation in parasitism risk has led to the evolution of plasticity in reed warbler defenses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rose Thorogood
- Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom.
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Soler JJ, Martín-Gálvez D, de Neve L, Soler M. Brood parasitism correlates with the strength of spatial autocorrelation of life history and defensive traits in Magpies. Ecology 2013; 94:1338-46. [PMID: 23923497 DOI: 10.1890/12-1350.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Environmental characteristics of neighboring locations are generally more similar than those of distant locations. Selection pressures due to parasitism and other environmental conditions shape life history traits of hosts; thus, the probability of parasitism should be associated with the strength of spatial autocorrelation in life history and defensive traits of their hosts. Here we test this hypothesis in three different subpopulations of Magpie (Pica pica) parasitized by the Great Spotted Cuckoo (Clamator glandarius) during three breeding seasons. In some of the years and study plots, we found evidence of positive spatial autocorrelations for clutch size and parasitism rate, but not for laying date. As predicted, brood parasitism was associated with the strength of these spatial autocorrelations. Magpies that bred close to each other in areas of high risk of parasitism responded similarly to experimental parasitic eggs. Moreover, an elevated risk of parasitism eliminated the spatial autocorrelation for clutch size, which became randomly distributed. We discuss possible mechanisms explaining these associations, which may have important consequences for estimating evolutionary responses of hosts to parasitic infections and, therefore, for epidemiological, ecological, and evolutionary studies of host-parasite relationships.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan J Soler
- Departamento de Ecología Funcional y Evolutiva, Estación Experimental de Zonas Aridas (CSIC), E-4120 Almeria, Spain.
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Trnka A, Požgayová M, Samaš P, Honza M. Repeatability of Host Female and Male Aggression Towards a Brood Parasite. Ethology 2013. [DOI: 10.1111/eth.12133] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Alfréd Trnka
- Department of Biology; University of Trnava; Trnava; Slovakia
| | - Milica Požgayová
- Institute of Vertebrate Biology, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic; Brno; Czech Republic
| | - Peter Samaš
- Department of Zoology and Laboratory of Ornithology; Palacký University; Olomouc; Czech Republic
| | - Marcel Honza
- Institute of Vertebrate Biology, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic; Brno; Czech Republic
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Kleindorfer S, Evans C, Colombelli-Négrel D, Robertson J, Griggio M, Hoi H. Host response to cuckoo song is predicted by the future risk of brood parasitism. Front Zool 2013; 10:30. [PMID: 23692969 PMCID: PMC3666891 DOI: 10.1186/1742-9994-10-30] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2012] [Accepted: 05/14/2013] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction Risk assessment occurs over different temporal and spatial scales and is selected for when individuals show an adaptive response to a threat. Here, we test if birds respond to the threat of brood parasitism using the acoustical cues of brood parasites in the absence of visual stimuli. We broadcast the playback of song of three brood parasites (Chalcites cuckoo species) and a sympatric non-parasite (striated thornbill, Acanthiza lineata) in the territories of superb fairy-wrens (Malurus cyaneus) during the peak breeding period and opportunistic breeding period. The three cuckoo species differ in brood parasite prevalence and the probability of detection by the host, which we used to rank the risk of parasitism (high risk, moderate risk, low risk). Results Host birds showed the strongest response to the threat of cuckoo parasitism in accordance with the risk of parasitism. Resident wrens had many alarm calls and close and rapid approach to the playback speaker that was broadcasting song of the high risk brood parasite (Horsfield’s bronze-cuckoo, C. basalis) across the year (peak and opportunistic breeding period), some response to the moderate risk brood parasite (shining bronze-cuckoo, C. lucidus) during the peak breeding period, and the weakest response to the low risk brood parasite (little bronze-cuckoo, C. minutillus). Playback of the familiar control stimulus in wren territories evoked the least response. Conclusion Host response to the threat of cuckoo parasitism was assessed using vocal cues of the cuckoo and was predicted by the risk of future parasitism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sonia Kleindorfer
- School of Biological Sciences, Flinders University, Adelaide, 5042, South Australia.
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Požgayová M, Procházka P, Honza M. Is shared male assistance with antiparasitic nest defence costly in the polygynous great reed warbler? Anim Behav 2013. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2012.12.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
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Uncovering dangerous cheats: how do avian hosts recognize adult brood parasites? PLoS One 2012; 7:e37445. [PMID: 22624031 PMCID: PMC3356260 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0037445] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2011] [Accepted: 04/19/2012] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Co-evolutionary struggles between dangerous enemies (e.g., brood parasites) and their victims (hosts) lead to the emergence of sophisticated adaptations and counter-adaptations. Salient host tricks to reduce parasitism costs include, as front line defence, adult enemy discrimination. In contrast to the well studied egg stage, investigations addressing the specific cues for adult enemy recognition are rare. Previous studies have suggested barred underparts and yellow eyes may provide cues for the recognition of cuckoos Cuculus canorus by their hosts; however, no study to date has examined the role of the two cues simultaneously under a consistent experimental paradigm. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS We modify and extend previous work using a novel experimental approach--custom-made dummies with various combinations of hypothesized recognition cues. The salient recognition cue turned out to be the yellow eye. Barred underparts, the only trait examined previously, had a statistically significant but small effect on host aggression highlighting the importance of effect size vs. statistical significance. CONCLUSION Relative importance of eye vs. underpart phenotypes may reflect ecological context of host-parasite interaction: yellow eyes are conspicuous from the typical direction of host arrival (from above), whereas barred underparts are poorly visible (being visually blocked by the upper part of the cuckoo's body). This visual constraint may reduce usefulness of barred underparts as a reliable recognition cue under a typical situation near host nests. We propose a novel hypothesis that recognition cues for enemy detection can vary in a context-dependent manner (e.g., depending on whether the enemy is approached from below or from above). Further we suggest a particular cue can trigger fear reactions (escape) in some hosts/populations whereas the same cue can trigger aggression (attack) in other hosts/populations depending on presence/absence of dangerous enemies that are phenotypically similar to brood parasites and costs and benefits associated with particular host responses.
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