Conspecific Brood Parasitism and Nesting Biology of Mandarin Ducks (Aix galericulata) in Northeastern China

Qiu-xiang, Deng; Wang, Haitao; Yao, D.F.; Wang, Xing-Yang; Mingju, E; Wang, Tuo; Gao, Wei

doi:10.1676/10-144.1

Cited by 7 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 28 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…The European Kestrel is a resident species that breeds earlier than migrant species in our study area. The earliest clutch initiation dates that were recorded were 13 March for the European Kestrel, 22 April for the Mandarin Duck (Deng et al 2011), 6 June for the Dollarbird, 10 May for the Collared Scops Owl and 31 May for the Oriental Scops Owl. In addition, the European Kestrels usually occupied the nest boxes for at least 10 days before laying eggs (personal observation); they also exhibited the ability to drive the current occupant of a nest box away, as one case of this species usurping a Mandarin Duck-occupied nest was recorded during this study (Gong et al 2018).…”

Section: Field Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The climate of the study area is temperate and subject to the eastern monsoon climate, which is characterized by hot, dry summers and cold, snowy winters. The forest type within the reserve is secondary growth; trees are approximately 40 to 50 years of age (Deng et al 2011). The study area at the time of the observations was covered by approximately 35% open habitat and 65% forest habitats.…”

Section: Field Sitementioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Old nest material functions as an informative cue in making nest-site selection decisions in the European Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus)

Mingju

Wang

et al. 2019

Avian Res

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Background: For secondary cavity-nesting bird species that do not add lining materials to nests, the presence of old nest material or organic remains that have accumulated within nest cavities from previous breeding events may be a cue of nest-site quality. These materials potentially contain information about past breeding success in con-and heterospecifics and may improve the thermal insulation of eggs during incubation. However, few studies have addressed whether the presence of old nest materials serves as a cue for cavity-nesting raptors when choosing specific nest sites. Methods: We conducted a 9-year nest box experiment to test whether old nest materials from con-and heterospecifics serve as informative cues to the European Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus) when making nest selection decisions, as this species uses nest boxes without adding nesting material. Results: The presence of old nest materials and entrance size best discriminated nest boxes occupied by European Kestrels from unoccupied boxes. Nest boxes containing conspecific organic remains, artificial dry leaf and branch material, and material left behind by Great Tits (Parus major) were reused at higher rates, especially those containing conspecific nest material, than nest boxes containing true or simulated nest materials from predators. In 2010, no single nest box was occupied by the same banded individual that occupied the box in the previous year (10 females and 2 males were banded in 2009). Conclusions: European Kestrels preferred nest boxes containing old nest material over empty boxes, which is consistent with previous findings that they exploit con-and heterospecific cues when deciding where to settle and breed, as old nest or organic material provides substrate for incubating females. Kestrels may be able to assess the predation risks associated with a specific nest site based on experience or the presence of prey remains. The repeated use of nest boxes across breeding seasons by kestrels cannot be entirely ascribed to philopatry. This study provides evidence that old nest materials are potentially used as informative cues when making nest-site selection decisions in European Kestrels.

show abstract

Section: Field Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Field Sitementioning

confidence: 99%

Old nest material functions as an informative cue in making nest-site selection decisions in the European Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus)

Mingju

Wang

et al. 2019

Avian Res

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…The mandarin duck (A. galericulata) is Asian sister species of the North American wood duck, with similar breeding biology, including brood parasitism (Deng et al, 2011). Using microsatellites, Gong et al (2016) studied a nest-box-breeding population in natural habitat in north-east China.…”

Section: (5) Mandarin Duckmentioning

confidence: 99%

Brood parasitism, relatedness and sociality: a kinship role in female reproductive tactics

2018

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Conspecific brood parasitism (CBP) is a reproductive tactic in which parasitic females lay eggs in nests of other females of the same species that then raise the joint brood. Parasites benefit by increased reproduction, without costs of parental care for the parasitic eggs. CBP occurs in many egg-laying animals, among birds most often in species with large clutches and self-feeding young: two major factors facilitating successful parasitism. CBP is particularly common in waterfowl (Anatidae), a group with female-biased natal philopatry and locally related females. Theory suggests that relatedness between host and parasite can lead to inclusive fitness benefits for both, but if host costs are high, parasites should instead target unrelated females. Pairwise relatedness (r) in host-parasite (h-p) pairs of females has been estimated using molecular genetic methods in seven waterfowl (10 studies). In many h-p pairs, the two females were unrelated (with low r, near the local population mean). However, close relatives (r = 0.5) were over-represented in h-p pairs, which in all 10 studies had higher mean relatedness than other females. In one species where this was studied, h-p relatedness was higher than between nesting close neighbours, and hosts parasitized by non-relatives aggressively rejected other females. In another species, birth nest-mates (mother-daughters, sisters) associated in the breeding area as adults, and became h-p pairs more often than expected by chance. These and other results point to recognition of birth nest-mates and perhaps other close relatives. For small to medium host clutch sizes, addition of a few parasitic eggs need not reduce host offspring success. Estimates in two species suggest that hosts can then gain inclusive fitness if parasitized by relatives. Other evidence of female cooperation is incubation by old eider Somateria mollissima females of clutches laid by their relatives, and merging and joint care of broods of young. Merging females tended to be more closely related. Eiders associate with kin in many situations, and in some geese and swans, related females may associate over many years. Recent genetic evidence shows that also New World quails (Odontophoridae) have female-biased natal philopatry, CBP and brood merging, inviting further study and comparison with waterfowl. Kin-related parasitism also occurs in some insects, with revealing parallels and differences compared to birds. In hemipteran bugs, receiving extra eggs is beneficial for hosts by diluting offspring predation. In eggplant lace bugs Gargaphia solani, host and parasite are closely related, and kin selection favours egg donation to related females. Further studies of kinship in CBP, brood merging and other contexts can test if some of these species are socially more advanced than presently known.

show abstract

“…The hatching dates of these eggs were then delayed compared to the rest of the eggs in the clutch and, consequently, host offspring had hatched and left the nest before the parasitic offspring were able to do so. Several other studies have also suggested that improper timing of nest parasitism is a critical cause of CBP egg hatching failure in waterfowl (Nielsen et al 2006b, Anderholm et al 2009, but see Deng et al 2011). Nevertheless, we cannot exclude an alternative explanation for this pattern in our population, i.e.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 97%

High rates of conspecific brood parasitism revealed by microsatellite analysis in a diving duck, the common pochard Aythya ferina

Šťovíček¹,

Kreisinger²,

Javůrková³

et al. 2013

Journal of Avian Biology

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Conspecific brood parasitism (CBP) is a reproductive tactic whereby a parasitic female lays its eggs into the nests of other conspecific females. Genetic‐based data on the occurrence of CBP in birds, however, is still relatively scarce. We analysed prevalence of CBP in a ground‐nesting diving duck, the common pochard Aythya ferina, using a set of 17 microsatellites. Compared to related species, our population showed a relatively high level of CBP, with 39% of genotyped pochard eggs laid parasitically and 89% of nests containing ≥ 1 parasitic egg. In addition, we observed relatively high rates of interspecific brood parasitism (13% of eggs), caused predominantly by mallard Anas plathyrhynchos and tufted duck Aythya fuligula. CBP eggs had decreased hatching success compared to host eggs, with 65% of CBP and 95% of non‐CBP genotyped eggs hatching successfully. Our data suggest that this was probably due to improper timing of parasitic egglaying, which compromised synchronised hatching of CBP and host‐eggs. Despite high rates of CBP in our pochard popu lation, fitness costs associated with this reproductive tactic appear to be low for host females since neither clutch size nor host‐egg hatching probability were reduced due to CBP.

show abstract

Conspecific Brood Parasitism and Nesting Biology of Mandarin Ducks (Aix galericulata) in Northeastern China

Cited by 7 publications

References 28 publications

Old nest material functions as an informative cue in making nest-site selection decisions in the European Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus)

Old nest material functions as an informative cue in making nest-site selection decisions in the European Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus)

Brood parasitism, relatedness and sociality: a kinship role in female reproductive tactics

High rates of conspecific brood parasitism revealed by microsatellite analysis in a diving duck, the common pochard Aythya ferina

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About