Mechanisms of avian egg recognition: Which egg parameters elicit responses by rejecter species?

Rothstein, Stephen I.

doi:10.1007/bf00299299

Cited by 190 publications

(249 citation statements)

References 19 publications

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“…Studies on egg rejection in Connecticut and Michigan have shown that American robins (Turdus migratorius) are tolerant of eggs that differ from their own eggs by only one character, but reject eggs differing by two or more characters (Rothstein 1982). Host aggression has also been studied in robins.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Variation in antiparasitic behaviors of Red-winged Blackbirds in response to simulated Brown-headed Cowbirds

Henger

Hauber

2014

The Wilson Journal of Ornithology

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In response to avian brood parasitism, hosts may develop a number of defenses to reduce the negative consequences parasitism can have on the host's reproductive success. These behaviors may include aggression towards a parasite, rejection of parasitic eggs, or nest desertion. Comparisons of populations that are exposed to parasitism and populations where parasitism is rare or absent may be useful to explain the evolution and maintenance of these behaviors. In a study of American robins (Turdus migratorius) living sympatrically and allopatrically with a brood parasite, the brown-headed cowbird (Molothrus ater), artificial parasitism and model presentation experiments were performed and the results compared between sites. Robins rejected 100% of artificial cowbird eggs at high and low elevation sites. In addition, there was no significant a increase in aggression towards a cowbird model between the sympatric and allopatric sites. These results suggest that the allopatric population is experiencing sufficiently high rates of gene flow in order to maintain rejection behaviors. In addition, aggressive behaviors may not be a significant defense in these birds.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Variation in antiparasitic behaviors of Red-winged Blackbirds in response to simulated Brown-headed Cowbirds

Henger

Hauber

2014

The Wilson Journal of Ornithology

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“…The two-dimensional arrangement of a visual signal, its pattern, is also crucial (6,11), and pattern appears to be an important aspect of egg mimicry in many brood parasites (3,4,12). In general, objective analysis of pattern in studies of animal coloration in general is still rare although not nonexistent (13), and in the context of brood parasitism there is only one objective study to date.…”

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confidence: 99%

Visual modeling shows that avian host parents use multiple visual cues in rejecting parasitic eggs

Spottiswoode

Stevens

2010

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

257

355

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One of the most striking outcomes of coevolution between species is egg mimicry by brood parasitic birds, resulting from rejection behavior by discriminating host parents. Yet, how exactly does a host detect a parasitic egg? Brood parasitism and egg rejection behavior provide a model system for exploring the relative importance of different visual cues used in a behavioral task. Although hosts are discriminating, we do not know exactly what cues they use, and to answer this it is crucial to account for the receiver's visual perception. Color, luminance ("perceived lightness") and pattern information have never been simultaneously quantified and experimentally tested through a bird's eye. The cuckoo finch Anomalospiza imberbis and its hosts show spectacular polymorphisms in egg appearance, providing a good opportunity for investigating visual discrimination owing to the large range of patterns and colors involved. Here we combine field experiments in Africa with modeling of avian color vision and pattern discrimination to identify the specific visual cues used by hosts in making rejection decisions. We found that disparity between host and foreign eggs in both color and several aspects of pattern (dispersion, principal marking size, and variability in marking size) were important predictors of rejection, especially color. These cues correspond exactly to the principal differences between host and parasitic eggs, showing that hosts use the most reliable available cues in making rejection decisions, and select for parasitic eggs that are increasingly mimetic in a range of visual attributes.brood parasitism | coevolution | egg color | egg pattern | vision

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“…comm. ) and these odd eggs would be rejected if grackles displayed the same level of discrimination that is demonstrated by typical rejecter species (Rothstein 1982a). Egg rejection would then be selected against in the absence of parasitism.…”

Section: Discussion Breeding Season Phenologymentioning

confidence: 98%

Explanations for the Infrequent Cowbird Parasitism on Common Grackles

Peer

Bollinger

1997

The Condor

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Abstract. We determined the factors responsible for the lack of parasitism on Common Grackles (Quiscalus quiscula) by Brown-headed Cowbirds (Molothrus ater). We found no evidence of parasitism on the 401 grackle nests we monitored in east-central Illinois. By the time cowbirds began laying eggs, 88.5% of all grackle nests were beyond the point of successful parasitism. Grackles rejected cowbird eggs more frequently during the prelaying stage of the nesting cycle (38.2%) compared to later stages (12.3%). Thirty-three cowbird eggs and nestlings were cross-fostered into grackle nests. Data were collected on 15 cowbird nestlings, of which three fledged. The cross-fostered cowbird eggs that did not hatch appeared to have been incubated ineffectively. These eggs were in clutches that contained four to six eggs, whereas the cowbird eggs that hatched were in clutches of three eggs or less. Grackles also responded more aggressively toward female cowbird models than to Fox Sparrow (Passerella iliaca) models in five of seven response categories. Cowbirds avoid parasitizing grackles even though the opportunity existed. Nest abandonment and infestation of grackle nests with ectoparasitic mites may decrease the suitability of grackles as hosts; however the primary reason for the infrequent cowbird parasitism on grackles appears to be past rejection behavior. Grackles likely rejected cowbird eggs at a higher frequency in the past and as a consequence grackles were avoided by cowbirds. Rejection apparently decreased in the absence of parasitism due to the high degree of intraclutch egg variability exhibited by grackles which would increase the chances of them mistakenly rejecting their own discordant eggs.

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Mechanisms of avian egg recognition: Which egg parameters elicit responses by rejecter species?

Cited by 190 publications

References 19 publications

Variation in antiparasitic behaviors of Red-winged Blackbirds in response to simulated Brown-headed Cowbirds

Variation in antiparasitic behaviors of Red-winged Blackbirds in response to simulated Brown-headed Cowbirds

Visual modeling shows that avian host parents use multiple visual cues in rejecting parasitic eggs

Explanations for the Infrequent Cowbird Parasitism on Common Grackles

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