Fitting different visual models to behavioral patterns of parasitic egg rejection along a natural egg color gradient in a cavity-nesting host species

Manna, Thomas J.; Hanley, Daniel; Honza, Marcel; Čapek, Miroslav; Rutila, Jarkko; Samaš, Peter; Āboliņš-Ābols, Mikus; Hauber, Márk E.

doi:10.1016/j.visres.2019.12.007

Cited by 21 publications

(24 citation statements)

References 41 publications

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“…UV light may be an important factor in recognizing parasitic eggs by various hosts (Honza & Polaciková, 2008), which include closely related reed warbler species (Šulc et al., 2016). This result was also consistent with recent reports that related reed warbler hosts rejected more model eggs reflecting long‐wave lengths of light compared to the host eggs than model eggs reflecting short‐wave lengths; that is, our pale blue nonmimetic eggs may appear more likely to the green‐blue background of the warbler's own natural eggs than the spotted eggs (Abolins‐Abols, Hanley, Moskát, Grim, & Hauber, 2019; Hanley et al., 2017, 2019; Manna et al., 2020).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 96%

Contrasting effects of egg size and appearance on egg recognition and rejection response by Oriental reed warblers

Zhang

et al. 2020

Ecology and Evolution

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 96%

Contrasting effects of egg size and appearance on egg recognition and rejection response by Oriental reed warblers

Zhang

et al. 2020

Ecology and Evolution

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“…In support of this hypothesis, visual modeling suggested that egg‐rejection responses by congeneric Song Thrushes ( T. philomelos ) to artificially colored model eggs were better predicted by individual chromatic photoreceptor catches than by overall chromatic contrasts (Cassey et al 2008). This could explain why and how, in a recent set of studies using natural ranges of avian eggshell ground‐color variation (Hanley et al 2015), a range of host species in diverse lineages rejected perceivably browner eggs, but accepted equally perceptually dissimilar, bluer eggs, e.g., European Blackbirds ( T. merula ; Hanley et al 2017), Great Reed Warblers ( Acrocephalus arundinaceus ; Abolins‐Abols et al 2019), Chalked‐browed Mockingbirds ( Mimus saturninus ; Hanley et al 2019), and Common Redstarts ( Phoenicurus phoenicurus ; Manna et al 2020).…”

Section: Figmentioning

confidence: 99%

Self‐referent phenotype matching is a poor predictor of egg rejection by American Robins

Hauber¹,

Kim²,

Goethe³

et al. 2020

J. Field Ornithol.

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Many hosts of obligate brood‐parasitic birds use variation in the coloration and pattern of eggshells to identify and reject foreign eggs from their nests. However, egg‐rejection behavior of several hosts is not tightly predicted by the modeled output of overall avian‐perceivable chromatic differences between foreign and host eggs. This demands a re‐investigation into the proximate sensory cues and perceptual processes used for egg recognition. One plausible mechanism is that rejection by hosts depends on the relative stimulation of one (or a combination) of their photoreceptors when comparing their own and parasitic eggs (i.e., self‐referencing). To test this, we placed dark‐blue egg models (with a known ~ 50% rejection rate) in nests of American Robins (Turdus migratorius), which are occasional hosts of Brown‐headed Cowbirds (Molothrus ater). We found that relative metrics of individually repeatable size or shape and overall avian‐perceivable differences in color between American Robin eggs and model eggs did not explain the probability of an experimental egg being rejected. However, despite a limited R2 value, hosts were significantly more likely to reject a model egg when the estimated contrast between their own egg and the model egg was greater for the blue (SWS) photoreceptor. These results are consistent with female American Robins using a simple physiological algorithm that would confer widespread benefits by reducing the likelihood of rejecting their own eggs, while still eliminating parasitic eggs because of their dissimilar novel coloration.

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“…In turn, hosts with completely dark nests, like those of rufous horneros, cannot rely on visual cues of egg traits for egg recognition/rejection and have been shown to reject shiny cowbird eggs by size (Tosi‐Germán et al., 2020). Other cavity‐nesting species, even if their nest is not completely shaded from light, may also use cues other than generic light reflectance when recognizing/rejecting foreign eggs (but see Manna et al., 2020). Accordingly, Avilés et al., (2006) has shown that cavity‐nesting species have higher ultraviolet (UV) reflectance in their eggs than semi‐cavity and open nesting species, suggesting a role of egg UV reflectance in egg recognition.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The American robin (Turdus migratorius): A focal species for anti‐parasitic egg rejection studies among hosts of the brown‐headed cowbird (Molothrus ater)

Turner

Hauber

2021

Ethology

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Obligate avian brood parasites lay their eggs in the nest of other species and impose reproductive costs upon their hosts. In response, many hosts have evolved a variety of defenses to avoid or reduce the costs associated with parasitism, including the rejection of parasitic eggs. Here, we review the different sensory and contextual cues involved in egg rejection by the American robin (Turdus migratorius), one of the handful of rejecter host species of the brood parasitic brown-headed cowbird (Molothrus ater) in North America. Robins are an open-cup nesting species whose eggs dramatically differ in appearance from the cowbirds' eggs; therefore, we expect that visual cues would be the primary sensory modality used when rejecting foreign eggs. The results of our comprehensive review confirm that visual cues, including eggshell color and maculation, are strong predictors of robins' egg rejection responses. Egg size, egg shape, and other contextual traits (including clutch composition, maternal status, and sympatry with the parasite) also affect egg rejection in this host species. Future research into this species' egg rejection mechanisms would benefit from comparisons to other strongly and moderately egg rejecter host species of brown-headed cowbirds, as well as from seeking to understand further why so many hosts of this particular parasitic lineage accept foreign eggs. We also discuss the implications of this review for other egg rejecter and non-rejecter hosts of diverse avian brood parasites.

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Fitting different visual models to behavioral patterns of parasitic egg rejection along a natural egg color gradient in a cavity-nesting host species

Cited by 21 publications

References 41 publications

Contrasting effects of egg size and appearance on egg recognition and rejection response by Oriental reed warblers

Contrasting effects of egg size and appearance on egg recognition and rejection response by Oriental reed warblers

Self‐referent phenotype matching is a poor predictor of egg rejection by American Robins

The American robin (Turdus migratorius): A focal species for anti‐parasitic egg rejection studies among hosts of the brown‐headed cowbird (Molothrus ater)

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