Costs of breeding far away from neighbors: Isolated host nests are more vulnerable to cuckoo parasitism

Ma, Laikun; Yang, Canchao; Liu, Jianping; Zhang, Jianwei; Liang, Wei; Møller, Anders Pape

doi:10.1016/j.beproc.2018.07.017

Cited by 27 publications

(31 citation statements)

References 51 publications

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“…In reed warblers, hosts' mobbing rates varied depending on cuckoo parasitism risk (Thorogood and Davies 2013a), and also by the risk of encountering a hawk if mistaking it for a cuckoo Davies 2012, 2013b). In our study population of oriental reed warblers, the cuckoo parasitism rate was 14.8% (Ma et al 2018), which was lower than that of other populations in China (27.3%;Yang et al 2014), great reed warblers (64%; Moskát and Honza 2002) and reed warblers (31%; Trnka and Prokop 2011) in Europe. Such low parasitism might explain why oriental reed warblers displayed aggressive nest defense behaviors towards cuckoos suggesting that hawk mimicry may be ineffective in our population of oriental reed warblers.…”

Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 57%

“…The average annual rainfall is 527.8 mm which concentrated in the summer and the annual average temperature is 12.9 °C. The main plant species in the wetland are reed (Phragmites australis) mixed with cattail (Typha latifolia), and other herbaceous plants (Ma et al 2018). A total of 257 oriental reed warbler nests with an overall parasitism rate of 14.8% were recorded during the breeding seasons 2016-2017 (Ma et al 2018).…”

Section: Study Area and Study Speciesmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Hawk mimicry does not reduce attacks of cuckoos by highly aggressive hosts

Yang

Liang

2018

Avian Res

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Background: Resemblance to raptors such as hawks (Accipiter spp.) is considered to be an adaptive strategy of cuckoos (Cuculus spp.), which has evolved to protect cuckoos against host attacks. However, the effectiveness of the mimicry remains controversial, and is not yet fully studied for highly aggressive hosts. Methods: We evaluated the effectiveness of sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus) mimicry by common cuckoos (Cuculus canorus) in oriental reed warblers (Acrocephaus orientalis), which are highly aggressive hosts. Using a both the single and the paired dummy experiment, defense behaviors and attack intensities of oriental reed warblers against common cuckoos, sparrowhawks and oriental turtle doves (Streptopelia orientalis) were assessed. Results: Oriental reed warblers exhibit strong nest defense behaviors, and such behaviors do not change with breeding stage (i.e., egg stage and nestling stage). Furthermore, assistance from conspecific helpers may increase attack intensities. However, they were deterred from mobbing overall by the presence of the hawk. Conclusions: Oriental reed warblers are able to distinguish cuckoos from harmless doves. However, they may be deterred from mobbing by the presence of the predatory hawk, suggesting hawk mimicry may be ineffective and does not reduce attacks of cuckoos by highly aggressive hosts.

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Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 57%

Section: Study Area and Study Speciesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Hawk mimicry does not reduce attacks of cuckoos by highly aggressive hosts

Yang

Liang

2018

Avian Res

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“…For some hosts, these attacks can become collaborative, where multiple individuals join to drive the parasite from the nest. Cooperatively breeding fairy-wrens, for example, mob as a group [47], and otherwise non-cooperative oriental reed warblers will join in attacking cuckoos at neighbours' nests [51]. Solitary bees also aggressively defend their provisioned nests against brood parasites, and indeed against parasites attempting to attack nearby nests [52], generating group defences similar to those in the avian examples.…”

Section: (Ii) Defending the Body/nestmentioning

confidence: 98%

Defences against brood parasites from a social immunity perspective

Cotter

Pincheira‐Donoso

Thorogood

2019

Phil. Trans. R. Soc. B

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“…The water system in Yongnianwa Wetland, which remains wet year-round, is well-developed with many tributaries. The wetland is also the lowest elevation point in Yongnian County with a warm, temperate, semi-humid, and continental monsoon climate with four distinct seasons (Ma et al 2018). Common plant species in the wetland include Reeds (Phragmites australis) and Broad Leaf Cattails (Typha latifolia).…”

Section: Study Areamentioning

confidence: 99%

Adaptation or ecological trap? Altered nest-site selection by Reed Parrotbills after an extreme flood

Zhang

Liu

et al. 2019

Avian Res

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Background: Floods and other extreme events have disastrous effects on wetland breeding birds. However, such events and their consequences are difficult to study due to their rarity and unpredictable occurrence. Methods:Here we compared nest-sites chosen by Reed Parrotbills (Paradoxornis heudei) during June-August 2016 in Yongnianwa Wetlands, Hebei Province, China, before and after an extreme flooding event.Results: Twenty-three nests were identified before and 13 new nests after the flood. There was no significant difference in most nest-site characteristics, such as distance from the road, height of the reeds in which nests were built, or nest volume before or after the flood. However, nests after the flood were located significantly higher in the vegetation compared to before the flood (mean ± SE: 1.17 ± 0.13 m vs. 0.75 ± 0.26 m, p < 0.01). However, predation rate also increased significantly after the flood (67% vs. 25%, p = 0.030). Conclusions:Our results suggested that Reed Parrotbills demonstrated behavioral plasticity in their nest-site selection. Thus, they appeared to increase the height of their nests in response to the drastically changing water levels in reed wetlands, to reduce the likelihood that their nests would be submerged again by flooding. However, predation rate also increased significantly after the flood, suggesting that the change in nest height to combat the threat of flooding made the nests more susceptible to other threats, such as predation. Animals' response to rare climatic events, such as flooding, may produce ecological traps if they make the animals more susceptible to other kinds of threats they are more likely to continue to encounter.

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Costs of breeding far away from neighbors: Isolated host nests are more vulnerable to cuckoo parasitism

Cited by 27 publications

References 51 publications

Hawk mimicry does not reduce attacks of cuckoos by highly aggressive hosts

Hawk mimicry does not reduce attacks of cuckoos by highly aggressive hosts

Defences against brood parasites from a social immunity perspective

Adaptation or ecological trap? Altered nest-site selection by Reed Parrotbills after an extreme flood

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