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Spatial variation in egg polymorphism among cuckoo hosts across 4 continents.

Canchao Yang1, Xingfeng Si2,3, Wei Liang1

  • 1Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Tropical Plant and Animal Ecology, College of Life Sciences, Hainan Normal University, Haikou 571158, China.

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Host birds evolve egg color polymorphism to defend against brood parasitism. This trait is more common in Asia and Africa, correlating with higher cuckoo diversity and selection pressure.

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Area of Science:

  • Evolutionary Biology
  • Ornithology
  • Behavioral Ecology

Background:

  • Egg color polymorphism is a key host defense against brood parasitism.
  • Spatial variations in this defensive trait are not well understood globally.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate global patterns of egg color polymorphism in avian hosts.
  • To assess the relationship between cuckoo diversity and host egg polymorphism.

Main Methods:

  • Analyzed egg polymorphism in 647 host species across Asia, Europe, Africa, and Australia.
  • Examined parasitism by 41 species of Old World cuckoos.
  • Correlated host egg polymorphism frequency with cuckoo diversity and host specificity.

Main Results:

  • Egg polymorphism found in 24.1% of host species and 47.6% of host families.
  • Higher cuckoo diversity on continents like Asia and Africa correlated with more frequent host egg polymorphism.
  • Hosts of the common cuckoo (Cuculus canorus) and Chrysococcyx species showed higher rates of polymorphism.

Conclusions:

  • Continental cuckoo diversity drives the evolution of host egg color polymorphism.
  • Increased parasitic pressure from diverse or generalist cuckoo species favors polymorphic hosts.
  • Geographic variation in egg polymorphism reflects differing intensities of brood parasitism.