Nest Size Matters: Common Cuckoos Prefer to Parasitize Larger Nests of Oriental Reed Warblers
Background
Avian brood parasites leave parental care of their offspring to foster parents. Theory predicts that parasites should select for large host nests when they have sufficient available host nests at a given time. We developed an empirical experimental design to address this hypothesis by studying nest choice of common cuckoos (Cuculus canorus) among nests of its Oriental reed warbler (Acrocephalus orientalis) hosts.
Results
We presented two groups of experimental nests: 1) nest dyads comprise one large and one small artificial nest from reed leaves, and 2) nest triads tied together use the modified old own warbler nests including enlarged, reduced and medium sized nests to elicit parasitism by common cuckoos. We predicted that cuckoos prefer larger nests over medium sized ones, and over the smallest nest. Our experimental findings show that common cuckoo females generally prefer large nests over medium or small sized nests. Furthermore, experiments showed that cuckoo parasitism was significantly more common than in previous studies of the same warbler population.
Conclusions
Our results implying that larger, taller and more exposed host nests effectively increased the probability of cuckoo parasitism.
Figure 1
Figure 2
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Really interesting work. My question is that in case there are different sized nests at one place, they are highly likely prefer to larger sized one, according to the authors' work, but what if the all of the nests were small enough? do they still prefer large one, which means they still look for large one, instead of laying their eggs?
Posted 18 Feb, 2021
On 17 Feb, 2021
Received 09 Feb, 2021
On 07 Feb, 2021
Received 07 Feb, 2021
Invitations sent on 07 Feb, 2021
On 06 Feb, 2021
On 06 Feb, 2021
On 06 Feb, 2021
On 03 Feb, 2021
Nest Size Matters: Common Cuckoos Prefer to Parasitize Larger Nests of Oriental Reed Warblers
Posted 18 Feb, 2021
On 17 Feb, 2021
Received 09 Feb, 2021
On 07 Feb, 2021
Received 07 Feb, 2021
Invitations sent on 07 Feb, 2021
On 06 Feb, 2021
On 06 Feb, 2021
On 06 Feb, 2021
On 03 Feb, 2021
Background
Avian brood parasites leave parental care of their offspring to foster parents. Theory predicts that parasites should select for large host nests when they have sufficient available host nests at a given time. We developed an empirical experimental design to address this hypothesis by studying nest choice of common cuckoos (Cuculus canorus) among nests of its Oriental reed warbler (Acrocephalus orientalis) hosts.
Results
We presented two groups of experimental nests: 1) nest dyads comprise one large and one small artificial nest from reed leaves, and 2) nest triads tied together use the modified old own warbler nests including enlarged, reduced and medium sized nests to elicit parasitism by common cuckoos. We predicted that cuckoos prefer larger nests over medium sized ones, and over the smallest nest. Our experimental findings show that common cuckoo females generally prefer large nests over medium or small sized nests. Furthermore, experiments showed that cuckoo parasitism was significantly more common than in previous studies of the same warbler population.
Conclusions
Our results implying that larger, taller and more exposed host nests effectively increased the probability of cuckoo parasitism.
Figure 1
Figure 2
Really interesting work. My question is that in case there are different sized nests at one place, they are highly likely prefer to larger sized one, according to the authors' work, but what if the all of the nests were small enough? do they still prefer large one, which means they still look for large one, instead of laying their eggs?