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Research
Nest Size Matters: Common Cuckoos Prefer to Parasitize Larger Nests of Oriental Reed Warblers
Wei Liang
Hainan Normal University
Corresponding Author
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This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License. Read Full License
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.
Keywords
brood parasitism, common cuckoo, nest preference, nest size, Oriental reed warbler
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Shamshidin Abduriyim
commented on 02 March, 2021
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?
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Peer Review Timeline
CURRENT STATUS: Under Review
Version 1
Posted 18 Feb, 2021
Community comments: 1
Reviewer #2 agreed
On 17 Feb, 2021
Review #1 received
Received 09 Feb, 2021
Reviewer #1 agreed
On 07 Feb, 2021
Review #? received
Received 07 Feb, 2021
Reviewers invited
Invitations sent on 07 Feb, 2021
Editor assigned
On 06 Feb, 2021
Submission checks complete
On 06 Feb, 2021
Editor invited
On 06 Feb, 2021
First submitted
On 03 Feb, 2021
Metrics
Comments: 1
PDF Downloads: ...
HTML Views: ...
Subject Areas
Animal Science
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This preprint is under consideration at Frontiers in Zoology. A preprint is a preliminary version of a manuscript that has not completed peer review at a journal. Research Square does not conduct peer review prior to posting preprints. The posting of a preprint on this server should not be interpreted as an endorsement of its validity or suitability for dissemination as established information or for guiding clinical practice.
Learn more about In Review
Research
Nest Size Matters: Common Cuckoos Prefer to Parasitize Larger Nests of Oriental Reed Warblers
Wei Liang
Hainan Normal University
Corresponding Author
Badges
Prescreen
This manuscript passed our Prescreen assessment
Complete author information
Appropriate declaration statements
Potential risks to human health
Prescreen
Peer Review Timeline
CURRENT STATUS: Under Review
Version 1
Posted 18 Feb, 2021
Community comments: 1
Reviewer #2 agreed
On 17 Feb, 2021
Review #1 received
Received 09 Feb, 2021
Reviewer #1 agreed
On 07 Feb, 2021
Review #? received
Received 07 Feb, 2021
Reviewers invited
Invitations sent on 07 Feb, 2021
Editor assigned
On 06 Feb, 2021
Submission checks complete
On 06 Feb, 2021
Editor invited
On 06 Feb, 2021
First submitted
On 03 Feb, 2021
Metrics
Comments: 1
PDF Downloads: ...
HTML Views: ...
Subject Areas
Animal Science
License:
This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License. Read Full License
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
Shamshidin Abduriyim
commented on 02 March, 2021
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?