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Related Experiment Video

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Probing the Limits of Egg Recognition Using Egg Rejection Experiments Along Phenotypic Gradients

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Published on: August 22, 2018

Nestling polymorphism in a cuckoo-host system.

Nozomu J Sato¹, Keita D Tanaka², Yuji Okahisa³

¹School of Science, Rikkyo University, 3-34-1 Nishi-Ikebukuro, Toshima, Tokyo 171-8501, Japan; Museum and Institute for Zoology, Polish Academy of Sciences, 00-679 Warsaw, Poland.

Current Biology : CB

|December 26, 2015

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Avian brood parasites and hosts engage in a coevolutionary arms race. This study reveals chick skin color polymorphism in a cuckoo-host system, suggesting this extends beyond egg mimicry.

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Area of Science:

Evolutionary biology
Behavioral ecology
Ornithology

Background:

Brood parasitism drives coevolutionary arms races between avian hosts and parasites.
Host parents evolve to reject parasitic eggs/chicks, while parasites evolve mimicry.
Host polymorphism, particularly in egg appearance, is a known strategy to counter brood parasitism.

Discussion:

Parasite mimicry accuracy can favor new host morphs, maintaining polymorphism via negative frequency-dependent selection.
Uniformity of host morphs within nests prevents targeted parasitism and aids detection.
This study investigates chick skin coloration polymorphism as an extension of this evolutionary dynamic.

Key Insights:

Presents evidence of chick skin coloration polymorphism in the fan-tailed gerygone (Gerygone flavolateralis).
Identifies the shining bronze-cuckoo (Chalcites lucidus) as a specialist parasite in this system.
Suggests chick appearance polymorphism may evolve in response to escalating host-parasite arms races.

Outlook:

Further research can explore the genetic basis and selective pressures behind chick coloration polymorphism.
Investigating other cuckoo-host systems may reveal the prevalence of chick appearance mimicry.
Understanding these dynamics is crucial for avian conservation efforts.