Nest sanitation is a ubiquitous behavior in birds and functions to remove foreign objects that accidentally have fallen into their nests. In avian brood parasitism, the host’s ability to recognize and reject parasiti...Nest sanitation is a ubiquitous behavior in birds and functions to remove foreign objects that accidentally have fallen into their nests. In avian brood parasitism, the host’s ability to recognize and reject parasitic eggs is a specific anti-parasitic behavior. Previous studies have shown that egg recognition may have evolved from nest sanitation behavior;however, few studies have offered evidence in support of this hypothesis. In the current study, we added one real white egg and one model egg to the nests of common tailorbirds (Orthotomus sutorius), the main host of plaintive cuckoos (Cacomantis merulinus), to explore the relationship between egg recognition ability in hosts and nest sanitation behavior. Results showed that common tailorbirds rejected both non-mimetic blue model eggs and mimetic white model eggs at a similar rate of 100%, but only rejected 16.1% of mimetic real white eggs. The egg rejection behavior of common tailorbirds towards both real and model eggs was consistent. However, when both blue model eggs and real white eggs were simultaneously added to their nests, the probability of rejecting the mimetic real white egg increased to 50%. The addition of blue model eggs not only increased the occurrence of nest sanitation behavior but also increased the ability to recognize and reject parasitic eggs. This suggests that nest sanitation may facilitate egg rejection in common tailorbird hosts.展开更多
The Plaintive Cuckoo(Cacomantis merulinus) is a widespread brood parasite in Asia, but no data on host species utilization in Bangladesh exist. By searching for nests of all possible host species of the Plaintive Cuck...The Plaintive Cuckoo(Cacomantis merulinus) is a widespread brood parasite in Asia, but no data on host species utilization in Bangladesh exist. By searching for nests of all possible host species of the Plaintive Cuckoo at Jahangirnagar university campus, north of Dhaka, we were able to determine which hosts were used in this area. We found that the Common Tailorbird(Orthotomus sutorius) was the only potential host used by Plaintive Cuckoos, and parasitism rate was rather high(31.3 %, n = 16). However, both host and cuckoo breeding success was poor(0 %, n = 16) due to frequent nest predation. Details on host and cuckoo egg appearance are provided. Our findings indicate that Common Tailorbirds are common hosts of the Plaintive Cuckoo in Central Bangladesh.展开更多
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(31672303 to C.C.Y.,and 31472013,31772453 and 31970427 to W.L.)
文摘Nest sanitation is a ubiquitous behavior in birds and functions to remove foreign objects that accidentally have fallen into their nests. In avian brood parasitism, the host’s ability to recognize and reject parasitic eggs is a specific anti-parasitic behavior. Previous studies have shown that egg recognition may have evolved from nest sanitation behavior;however, few studies have offered evidence in support of this hypothesis. In the current study, we added one real white egg and one model egg to the nests of common tailorbirds (Orthotomus sutorius), the main host of plaintive cuckoos (Cacomantis merulinus), to explore the relationship between egg recognition ability in hosts and nest sanitation behavior. Results showed that common tailorbirds rejected both non-mimetic blue model eggs and mimetic white model eggs at a similar rate of 100%, but only rejected 16.1% of mimetic real white eggs. The egg rejection behavior of common tailorbirds towards both real and model eggs was consistent. However, when both blue model eggs and real white eggs were simultaneously added to their nests, the probability of rejecting the mimetic real white egg increased to 50%. The addition of blue model eggs not only increased the occurrence of nest sanitation behavior but also increased the ability to recognize and reject parasitic eggs. This suggests that nest sanitation may facilitate egg rejection in common tailorbird hosts.
基金supported by a grant through‘Quota Scheme’at Norwegian University of Science and Technology(NTNU)
文摘The Plaintive Cuckoo(Cacomantis merulinus) is a widespread brood parasite in Asia, but no data on host species utilization in Bangladesh exist. By searching for nests of all possible host species of the Plaintive Cuckoo at Jahangirnagar university campus, north of Dhaka, we were able to determine which hosts were used in this area. We found that the Common Tailorbird(Orthotomus sutorius) was the only potential host used by Plaintive Cuckoos, and parasitism rate was rather high(31.3 %, n = 16). However, both host and cuckoo breeding success was poor(0 %, n = 16) due to frequent nest predation. Details on host and cuckoo egg appearance are provided. Our findings indicate that Common Tailorbirds are common hosts of the Plaintive Cuckoo in Central Bangladesh.
