How does human disturbance affect brood parasitism and nest predation in hosts inhabiting a highly fragmented landscape?

Nahid, Mominul Islam; Fossøy, Frode; Stokke, Bård G.; Begum, Sajeda; Ranke, Peter Sjolte

doi:10.1016/j.gecco.2020.e01295

Cited by 9 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 93 publications

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“…Moreover, in theory, if shrikes can detect Asian koel eggs, they might benefit by abandoning the parasitized clutch and starting a new brood, as parasitism reduces shrike reproductive success [ 57 ]. However, since Asian koels are non-evictors and nest predation is high at our study site (50.8% of shrike nests were predated, [ 71 ]), the benefits of accepting the Asian koel egg might outweigh the costs, since they are sometimes able to raise their own young with an Asian koel nestling. It may therefore be better for the host to do the “best of a bad job” and accept reduced reproductive output (i.e.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Fieldwork was carried out on the Jahangirnagar University campus (23°52΄ N, 90°16΄ E) including a teacher housing area, Arunapolli (23°52΄ N, 90°17΄ E), from 2008–2013 and 2015–2017. The study area is about 280 hectares and consists of diverse habitats including woodlands, grasslands, wetlands, cultivated lands and human settlements which make the campus area a fragmented habitat [ 70 , 71 ].…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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No evidence of host-specific egg mimicry in Asian koels

et al. 2021

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Avian brood parasitism is costly for the host, in many cases leading to the evolution of defenses like discrimination of parasitic eggs. The parasite, in turn, may evolve mimetic eggs as a counter-adaptation to host egg rejection. Some generalist parasites have evolved host-specific races (gentes) that may mimic the eggs of their main hosts, while others have evolved ‘jack-of-all-trades’ egg phenotypes that mimic key features of the eggs of several different host species. The Asian koel (Eudynamys scolopaceus) is a widely distributed generalist brood parasite that exploits a wide range of host species. Based on human vision, previous studies have described Asian koel eggs as resembling those of its main host, the house crow (Corvus splendens). Using measurements of egg length and breadth, digital image analysis, reflectance spectrophotometry and avian visual modelling, we examined Asian koel egg variation and potential mimicry in egg size and shape, and eggshell pattern and color in three sympatrically occurring host species in Bangladesh: the common myna (Acridotheres tristis), house crow, and long-tailed shrike (Lanius schach). We found some differences among Asian koel eggs laid in different host nests: a) Asian koel eggs in long-tailed shrike nests were larger than those laid in common myna and house crow nests, and b) Asian koel eggs in house crow nests were less elongated than those in common myna nests. However, these changes in Asian koel egg volume and shape were in the opposite direction with respect to their corresponding host egg characteristics. Thus, our study found no evidence for Asian koel host-specific egg mimicry in three sympatrically occurring host species.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

No evidence of host-specific egg mimicry in Asian koels

et al. 2021

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“…In addition, we take advantage of existing data for non‐hosts from this area (during the period 2008–2017, as supportive data). The study area is approximately 280 ha and is a heterogeneous landscape, including woodlands, grasslands, wetlands, cultivated lands, and human settlements (Nahid et al., 2020 ). Multiple cuckoo species (Asian koel, Indian cuckoo ( Cuculus micropterus ), common hawk cuckoo ( Hierococcyx varius ), jacobin cuckoo ( Clamator jacobinus ), and plaintive cuckoo ( Cacomantis merulinus )) differing in size from small to large coexist and breed sympatrically in the study area (Nahid, Begum, & Feeroz, 2016 ; Nahid, Fossøy, et al., 2016 ).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Asian koel rapidly locates host breeding in novel nest sites

Nahid,

Ranke,

Liang

2024

Ecology and Evolution

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Avian brood parasites depend upon locating host nests to lay their eggs. However, how brood parasites locate host nests and select the nests for parasitism remains poorly studied. Here, we examined how a non‐evicting brood parasite, the Asian koel (Eudynamys scolopaceus) were able to locate host nests in locally novel nest sites. We provided a set of novel nest sites (i.e., nestboxes, n = 100) to the common myna (Acridotheres tristis), a regular host of the Asian koel, at a field site in Central Bangladesh. We found that common myna quickly utilized the novel breeding sites (n = 99 nests across 59 boxes) and similarly, 21.2% of these nests were parasitized by the Asian koel. Unsurprisingly, none of the inactive nest boxes were parasitized, neither were empty nests of common myna (i.e., either predated or fledged clutches, thus lack of parental activity, n = 83). Our results provide an experimental demonstration of the Asian koel ability to rapidly locate nests in locally novel nest sites, potentially facilitated by close monitoring of host activity and behavior around the nest site. However, the underlying mechanisms for this rapid adjustment to novel nest sites remain unresolved.

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“…In comparison, nesting density is primarily related to local habitat characteristics, in particular playing a vital role for colonial breeding ground-nesting birds, gaining social anti-predated vigilance from other nests. Furthermore, increasing human disturbance and landscape heterogeneity have reshaped patterns of nest site selection and nest predator communities, resulting in habitat mosaics with regional differences in breeding densities and nest predation risks (Nahid et al, 2020;Williams et al, 2009).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In comparison, nesting density is primarily related to local habitat characteristics, in particular playing a vital role for colonial breeding ground‐nesting birds, gaining social anti‐predated vigilance from other nests. Furthermore, increasing human disturbance and landscape heterogeneity have reshaped patterns of nest site selection and nest predator communities, resulting in habitat mosaics with regional differences in breeding densities and nest predation risks (Nahid et al, 2020; Williams et al, 2009). Therefore, the landscape composition of protected areas situated in regions with adjacent and differently managed non‐protected areas with equivalent habitat types provides an ideal model landscape with which to examine how ground‐nesting birds' breeding performance in taxa such as shorebirds – which tend to have low survival rates (e.g., Que et al, 2015) – is affected by the protected area versus non‐protected area management regimes.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mammalian predators and vegetated nesting habitat drive reduced protected area nesting success of Kentish plovers, Yellow Sea region, China

Bai

Lei

et al. 2023

Ecology and Evolution

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Protected areas provide essential habitats for wildlife by conserving natural and seminatural habitats and reducing human disturbance. However, whether breeding birds vulnerable to nest predation can benefit from strict land management in the protected area is unclear. Here, we compare the nesting performance of two groups of a groundnesting shorebird, the Kentish plover (Charadrius alexandrinus), in the protected area (Liaohekou Natural Reserve, hereinafter PA), and the control non-protected area (non-PA) around the Liaohekou Natural Reserve, in the north of the Yellow Sea, China, and identify which environmental factors, such as nesting habitat and nest materials, influence the daily nest survival rate (DSR). We found similar nesting habitats in both study areas, dominated by bare land or Suaeda salsa grassland. However, DSR was lower in PA (0.91 ± 0.01) than in non-PA (0.97 ± 0.01). Kentish plovers nesting in areas with vegetation cover experienced lower DSR than in bare lands in both areas, and nests built with materials of S. salsa sticks had the lowest DSR in the bare land. Data from infrared cameras confirmed relatively higher predator abundances and nest predation rates by nocturnal mammals, such as Eurasian badgers (Meles meles), in PA than in non-PA, and this pattern was especially evident for plover nests located in S. salsa grassland. Our results suggest that Liaohekou Natural Reserve protected area may not necessarily provide safe nesting sites for Kentish plovers due to the abundance of

show abstract

How does human disturbance affect brood parasitism and nest predation in hosts inhabiting a highly fragmented landscape?

Cited by 9 publications

References 93 publications

No evidence of host-specific egg mimicry in Asian koels

No evidence of host-specific egg mimicry in Asian koels

Asian koel rapidly locates host breeding in novel nest sites

Mammalian predators and vegetated nesting habitat drive reduced protected area nesting success of Kentish plovers, Yellow Sea region, China

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