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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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Colombelli-Négrel D, Katsis AC. Little penguins are more aggressive on islands that experience greater unregulated human disturbance. Anim Behav 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2021.10.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
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3
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Marton A, Fülöp A, Bán M, Hauber ME, Moskát C. Female common cuckoo calls dampen the mobbing intensity of great reed warbler hosts. Ethology 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/eth.13126] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Attila Marton
- Department of Evolutionary Zoology and Human Biology University of Debrecen Debrecen Hungary
- Juhász‐Nagy Pál Doctoral School University of Debrecen Debrecen Hungary
| | - Attila Fülöp
- Juhász‐Nagy Pál Doctoral School University of Debrecen Debrecen Hungary
- MTA‐DE Behavioural Ecology Research Group Department of Evolutionary Zoology and Human Biology University of Debrecen Debrecen Hungary
| | - Miklós Bán
- Department of Evolutionary Zoology and Human Biology University of Debrecen Debrecen Hungary
- MTA‐DE Behavioural Ecology Research Group Department of Evolutionary Zoology and Human Biology University of Debrecen Debrecen Hungary
| | - Márk E. Hauber
- Department of Evolution, Ecology, and Behavior School of Integrative Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana‐Champaign Urbana IL USA
| | - Csaba Moskát
- MTA‐ELTE‐MTM Ecology Research Group A Joint Research Group of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences The Biological Institute of the Eötvös Loránd University and the Hungarian Natural History Museum Budapest Hungary
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4
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Warblers perform less nest defense behavior and alarm calls to human intruders: A result of habituation. Glob Ecol Conserv 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.gecco.2020.e01187] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
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Marton A, Fülöp A, Ozogány K, Moskát C, Bán M. Host alarm calls attract the unwanted attention of the brood parasitic common cuckoo. Sci Rep 2019; 9:18563. [PMID: 31811179 PMCID: PMC6898711 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-54909-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2019] [Accepted: 11/19/2019] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
It is well known that avian brood parasites lay their eggs in the nests of other bird species, called hosts. It remains less clear, however, just how parasites are able to recognize their hosts and identify the exact location of the appropriate nests to lay their eggs in. While previous studies attributed high importance to visual signals in finding the hosts’ nests (e.g. nest building activity or the distance and direct sight of the nest from vantage points used by the brood parasites), the role of host acoustic signals during the nest searching stage has been largely neglected. We present experimental evidence that both female and male common cuckoos Cuculus canorus pay attention to their host’s, the great reed warbler’s Acrocephalus arundinaceus alarm calls, relative to the calls of an unparasitized species used as controls. Parallel to this, we found no difference between the visibility of parasitized and unparasitized nests during drone flights, but great reed warblers that alarmed more frequently experienced higher rates of parasitism. We conclude that alarm calls might be advantageous for the hosts when used against enemies or for alerting conspecifics, but can act in a detrimental manner by providing important nest location cues for eavesdropping brood parasites. Our results suggest that host alarm calls may constitute a suitable trait on which cuckoo nestlings can imprint on to recognize their primary host species later in life. Our study contributes to the growing body of knowledge regarding the context-dependency of animal signals, by providing a novel example of a beneficial acoustic trait intercepted by a heterospecific and used against the emitter.
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Affiliation(s)
- Attila Marton
- Department of Evolutionary Zoology and Human Biology, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary. .,Juhász-Nagy Pál Doctoral School, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary.
| | - Attila Fülöp
- Juhász-Nagy Pál Doctoral School, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary.,MTA-DE Behavioural Ecology Research Group, Department of Evolutionary Zoology and Human Biology, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary
| | - Katalin Ozogány
- Department of Evolutionary Zoology and Human Biology, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary
| | - Csaba Moskát
- MTA-ELTE-MTM Ecology Research Group, a joint research group of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, The Biological Institute of the Eötvös Loránd University and the Hungarian Natural History Museum, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Miklós Bán
- Department of Evolutionary Zoology and Human Biology, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary.,MTA-DE Behavioural Ecology Research Group, Department of Evolutionary Zoology and Human Biology, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary
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Abolins-Abols M, Hauber ME. Host defences against avian brood parasitism: an endocrine perspective. Proc Biol Sci 2018; 285:rspb.2018.0980. [PMID: 30185646 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2018.0980] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2018] [Accepted: 08/13/2018] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Host defences against avian brood parasites are the outcome of well-documented coevolutionary arms races, yet important questions about variation in hosts' antiparasitic response traits remain poorly understood. Why are certain defences employed by some species or individuals and not by others? Here, we propose that understanding variability in and the evolution of host defences can be facilitated by the study of the underlying physiological mechanisms. Specifically, because antiparasitic strategies involve behaviours that have been shown to be hormonally regulated in other contexts, we hypothesize that host responses to brood parasites are likely to be mediated by related endocrine mechanisms. We outline the hallmarks of the endocrine bases of parasite defence-related avian behaviours, review the current understanding of antiparasitic host tactics and propose testable hypotheses about the hormonal mechanisms that may mediate host defences. We consider these mechanisms in a life-history framework and discuss how endocrine factors may shape variation in host defences. By providing a hypothesis-driven mechanistic framework for defences against parasitism, this perspective should stimulate the study of their endocrine bases to enhance our understanding of the intricate arms races in avian host-parasite systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mikus Abolins-Abols
- Department of Animal Biology, School of Integrative Biology, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, IL 61801, USA
| | - Mark E Hauber
- Department of Animal Biology, School of Integrative Biology, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, IL 61801, USA
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Trnka A, Samaš P, Grim T. Stability of a behavioural syndrome vs. plasticity in individual behaviours over the breeding cycle: Ultimate and proximate explanations. Behav Processes 2018; 153:100-106. [PMID: 29870797 DOI: 10.1016/j.beproc.2018.06.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2018] [Revised: 05/29/2018] [Accepted: 06/01/2018] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Animals often show correlated suites of consistent behavioural traits, i.e., personality or behavioural syndromes. Does this conflict with potential phenotypic plasticity which should be adaptive for animals facing various contexts and situations? This fundamental question has been tested predominantly in studies which were done in non-breeding contexts and under laboratory conditions. Therefore, in the present study we examined the temporal stability of behavioural correlations in a breeding context and under natural conditions. We found that in the great reed warbler (Acrocephalus arundinaceus) females, the intensity of their nest defence formed a behavioural syndrome with two other traits: their aggression during handling (self-defence) and stress responses during handling (breath rate). This syndrome was stable across the nesting cycle: each of the three behavioural traits was highly statistically repeatable between egg and nestling stages and the traits were strongly correlated with each other during both the egg stage and the nestling stage. Despite this consistency (i.e., rank order between stages) the individual behaviours changed their absolute values significantly during the same period. This shows that stable behavioural syndromes might be based on behaviours that are themselves unstable. Thus, syndromes do not inevitably constrain phenotypic plasticity. We suggest that the observed behavioural syndrome is the product of interactions between behavioural and life history trade-offs and that crucial proximate mechanisms for the plasticity and correlations between individual behaviours are hormonally-regulated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alfréd Trnka
- Department of Biology, University of Trnava, Priemyselná 4, 918 43, Trnava, Slovakia.
| | - Peter Samaš
- Institute of Vertebrate Biology, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Květná 8, 60365 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Tomáš Grim
- Department of Zoology and Laboratory of Ornithology, Palacký University, 17. listopadu 50, 77146 Olomouc, Czech Republic
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Bojarska K, Kuehn R, Gazda MA, Sato NJ, Okahisa Y, Tanaka KD, Attisano A, Gula R, Ueda K, Theuerkauf J. Mating system and extra-pair paternity in the Fan-tailed Gerygone Gerygone flavolateralis in relation to parasitism by the Shining Bronze-cuckoo Chalcites lucidus. PLoS One 2018. [PMID: 29518150 PMCID: PMC5843341 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0194059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Extra-pair copulation can increase genetic diversity and offspring fitness. However, it may also increase intra-nest variability in avian hosts of brood parasites, which can decrease the discrimination ability of host parents towards the parasite. In New Caledonia, the Fan-tailed Gerygone (Gerygone flavolateralis), which is parasitized by the Shining Bronze-cuckoo (Chalcites lucidus), has two nestling morphs, dark and bright, that can occur in monomorphic and polymorphic broods. Gerygone parents recognize and eject parasite nestlings from their nest, but the presence of polymorphic broods may increase the chances of recognition errors. Using 17 microsatellite markers, we investigated the mating system of the Fan-tailed Gerygone to understand the mechanisms underlying nestling polymorphism. We hypothesised that extra-pair copulations would lead to a higher proportion of polymorphic broods caused by higher genetic variability, thus creating a trade-off between genetic benefits and host defence reliability. Extra-pair paternity occurred in 6 of 36 broods, which resulted in 6 of 69 offspring sired by extra-pair males. Broods with and without mixed paternity were comparably often parasitized. Extra-pair paternity did not influence the proportions of bright, dark and polymorphic broods. Compared to bright siblings in polymorphic broods, dark nestlings tended to have lower heterozygosity, particularly in loci associated with skin coloration. The results also suggested that there is no obstacle for genetic exchange between individuals from forest and savannah, possibly due to dispersal of offspring. We conclude that the Fan-tailed Gerygone is a socially monogamous species with a low rate of extra-pair paternity compared to closely related species. Extra-pair paternity increased offspring genetic variability without measurable associated costs by brood parasitism. The results highlight the importance of studying host mating systems to assess the trade-offs between host defence and offspring fitness in co-evolutionary arms races.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katarzyna Bojarska
- Museum and Institute of Zoology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland.,Unit of Molecular Zoology, Chair of Zoology, Department of Animal Science, Technische Universität München, Freising, Germany
| | - Ralph Kuehn
- Unit of Molecular Zoology, Chair of Zoology, Department of Animal Science, Technische Universität München, Freising, Germany.,Department of Fish, Wildlife & Conservation Ecology and Molecular Biology Program, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, New Mexico, United States of America
| | - Małgorzata A Gazda
- Museum and Institute of Zoology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Nozomu J Sato
- Department of Life Sciences, Rikkyo University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yuji Okahisa
- Department of Life Sciences, Rikkyo University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Keita D Tanaka
- Department of Life Sciences, Rikkyo University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Alfredo Attisano
- Museum and Institute of Zoology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Roman Gula
- Museum and Institute of Zoology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Keisuke Ueda
- Department of Life Sciences, Rikkyo University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Jörn Theuerkauf
- Museum and Institute of Zoology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
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Morrell N, Johnson K, Tarwater C, Arcese P. Nest defense and parental investment in Song Sparrows (Melospiza melodia). CAN J ZOOL 2016. [DOI: 10.1139/cjz-2016-0042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Individual variation in nest defense behaviour is common in altricial birds, but despite clear predictions about why such variation exists, there is no consensus on its causes. We tested for an influence of five predictors of individual variation in nest defense behaviour, including time of season, offspring age, parental age and sex, and clutch size in a well-studied Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia (A. Wilson, 1810)) population. We recorded parental responses to a standardized human approach and used model selection to assess support for each predictor. Parents tended to approach observers less closely and alarm-call less as the breeding season progressed, indicating a modest seasonal decline in parental nest defense, which is consistent with the hypothesis that the reproductive value of offspring influenced parental defense behaviour. Clutch size effect estimates were insignificant, but it was weakly supported as a predictor of nest defense, which is expected if parental investment in defense and current reproductive effort are positively related. Offspring age, as well as parental age and sex, received little or no support as affecting parent nest defense. Our results offer limited support for the hypothesis that the reproductive value of offspring affects parental nest defense.
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Affiliation(s)
- N. Morrell
- Department of Forest and Conservation Sciences, The University of British Columbia, 2424 Main Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | - K.M. Johnson
- Department of Forest and Conservation Sciences, The University of British Columbia, 2424 Main Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | - C.E. Tarwater
- Department of Zoology and Physiology, University of Wyoming, 1000 East University Avenue, Biological Science Building, Laramie, WY 82071, USA
| | - P. Arcese
- Department of Forest and Conservation Sciences, The University of British Columbia, 2424 Main Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada
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Mérő T, Žuljević A. Nest position and reed density influence nest defence behaviour of Great Reed Warbler. ETHOL ECOL EVOL 2015. [DOI: 10.1080/03949370.2015.1081295] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- T.O. Mérő
- Nature Protection and Study Society – NATURA, Milana Rakića 20, SRB-25000 Sombor, Serbia
| | - A. Žuljević
- Nature Protection and Study Society – NATURA, Milana Rakića 20, SRB-25000 Sombor, Serbia
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Porter R, Batten L, Burton J, Collinson JM, Cowan P, Kennerley P, Kirwan GM, Newell RG, Pearson D, Riddington R, Salim M, Sheldon R, Scott D, Woodcock M. Towards a better understanding of Basra Reed WarblerAcrocephalus griseldis(Aves: Passeriformes: Acrocephalidae) ecology? A comment on Al-Sheikhlyet al.(2013). ZOOLOGY IN THE MIDDLE EAST 2015. [DOI: 10.1080/09397140.2015.1023424] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
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Hanley D, Samaš P, Heryán J, Hauber ME, Grim T. Now you see it, now you don't: flushing hosts prior to experimentation can predict their responses to brood parasitism. Sci Rep 2015; 5:9060. [PMID: 25762433 PMCID: PMC4356969 DOI: 10.1038/srep09060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2014] [Accepted: 02/10/2015] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Brood parasitic birds lay their eggs in other birds' nests, leaving hosts to raise their offspring. To understand parasite-host coevolutionary arms races, many studies have examined host responses to experimentally introduced eggs. However, attending parents often need to be flushed from their nests to add experimental eggs. If these birds witness parasitism events, they may recognize and reject foreign eggs more readily than parents who did not. We found that, after being flushed, female blackbirds, Turdus merula, remained close to their nests. Flushed females were more likely to eject foreign eggs and did so more quickly than females that were not flushed during experimentation. In contrast, flushing did not predict responses and latency to responses to parasitism by song thrush, Turdus philomelos, which flew farther from their nests and likely did not witness experimental parasitism. When statistically considering flushing, previously published conclusions regarding both species' response to experimental parasitism did not change. Nevertheless, we recommend that researchers record and statistically control for whether hosts were flushed prior to experimental parasitism. Our results have broad implications because more vigilant and/or bolder parents can gain more information about parasitism events and therefore have better chances of successfully defending against brood parasitism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Hanley
- Department of Zoology and Laboratory of Ornithology, Palacký University, 17. listopadu 50, Olomouc 77146, Czech Republic
| | - Peter Samaš
- Department of Zoology and Laboratory of Ornithology, Palacký University, 17. listopadu 50, Olomouc 77146, Czech Republic
| | - Josef Heryán
- Department of Zoology and Laboratory of Ornithology, Palacký University, 17. listopadu 50, Olomouc 77146, Czech Republic
| | - Mark E. Hauber
- Department of Psychology, Hunter College and the Graduate Center, The City University of New York, 695 Park Avenue, New York, New York 10065, United States
| | - Tomáš Grim
- Department of Zoology and Laboratory of Ornithology, Palacký University, 17. listopadu 50, Olomouc 77146, Czech Republic
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Trnka A, Grim T. Testing for correlations between behaviours in a cuckoo host: why do host defences not covary? Anim Behav 2014. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2014.04.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
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14
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Dynamic risk assessment: does a nearby breeding nest predator affect nest defence of its potential victim? J ETHOL 2014. [DOI: 10.1007/s10164-014-0400-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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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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Trnka A, Grim T. Color plumage polymorphism and predator mimicry in brood parasites. Front Zool 2013; 10:25. [PMID: 23663311 PMCID: PMC3658874 DOI: 10.1186/1742-9994-10-25] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2013] [Accepted: 05/06/2013] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Plumage polymorphism may evolve during coevolution between brood parasites and their hosts if rare morph(s), by contravening host search image, evade host recognition systems better than common variant(s). Females of the parasitic common cuckoo (Cuculus canorus) are a classic example of discrete color polymorphism: gray females supposedly mimic the sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus), while rufous females are believed to mimic the kestrel (Falco tinnunculus). Despite many studies on host responses to adult cuckoos comprehensive tests of the “hawk mimicry” and “kestrel mimicry” hypotheses are lacking so far. Results We tested these hypotheses by examining host responses to stuffed dummies of the sparrowhawk, kestrel, cuckoo and the innocuous turtle dove (Streptopelia turtur) as a control at the nest. Our experimental data from an aggressive cuckoo host, the great reed warbler (Acrocephalus arundinaceus), showed low effectiveness of cuckoo-predator mimicry against more aggressive hosts regardless of the type of model and the degree of perfection of the mimic. Specifically, warblers discriminated gray cuckoos from sparrowhawks but did not discriminate rufous cuckoos from kestrels. However, both gray and rufous cuckoos were attacked vigorously and much more than control doves. The ratio of aggression to gray vs. rufous cuckoo was very similar to the ratio between frequencies of gray vs. rufous cuckoo morphs in our study population. Conclusions Overall, our data combined with previous results from other localities suggest polymorphism dynamics are not strongly affected by local predator model frequencies. Instead, hosts responses and discrimination abilities are proportional, other things being equal, to the frequency with which hosts encounter various cuckoo morphs near their nests. This suggests that female cuckoo polymorphism is a counter-adaptation to thwart a specific host adaptation, namely an ability to not be fooled by predator mimicry. We hypothesize the dangerousness of a particular model predator (sparrowhawks are more dangerous to adult birds than kestrels) may be another important factor responsible for better discrimination between the gray cuckoo and its model rather than between the rufous cuckoo and its model. We also provide a review of relevant existing literature, detailed discussion of plumage polymorphism in cuckoos, methodological recommendations and new ideas for future work.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alfréd Trnka
- Department of Zoology and Laboratory of Ornithology, Palacký University, 17, listopadu 50, Olomouc CZ-771 46, Czech Republic.
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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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Positive association between social and extra-pair mating in a polygynous songbird, the dickcissel (Spiza americana). Behav Ecol Sociobiol 2012. [DOI: 10.1007/s00265-012-1444-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
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Trnka A, Grim T. To compensate or not to compensate: testing the negotiation model in the context of nest defense. Behav Ecol 2012. [DOI: 10.1093/beheco/ars157] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
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21
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Breeding success of a brood parasite is associated with social mating status of its host. Behav Ecol Sociobiol 2012. [DOI: 10.1007/s00265-012-1372-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
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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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Honza M, Požgayová M, Procházka P, Cherry MI. Blue-green eggshell coloration is not a sexually selected signal of female quality in an open-nesting polygynous passerine. Naturwissenschaften 2011; 98:493-9. [DOI: 10.1007/s00114-011-0790-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2011] [Revised: 03/18/2011] [Accepted: 03/18/2011] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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