Egg mimicry in cuckoos parasitizing four sympatric species of Acrocephalus warblers Export

@article{Edvardsen2001, abstract = {The Cuckoo (Cuculus canorus) is an interspecific brood parasite that mimics the eggs of its hosts. In this study we tested the resemblance between Cuckoo and host eggs in four host species breeding in sympatry: the Reed Warbler (Acrocephalus scirpaceus), Great Reed Warbler (A. arundinaceus), Sedge Warbler (A. schoenobaenus), and Marsh Warbler (A. palustris). According to the ``gentes theory,'' individual Cuckoos lay eggs that mimic those of a single host species, and they parasitize only that species. We therefore expected the Cuckoo eggs to more closely resemble the eggs of their respective host species than eggs of sympatric hosts. However, analyses showed no such resemblance; test subjects were not able to distinguish Cuckoo eggs taken from nests of different host species. The most common Cuckoo egg type resembled the eggs of the Garden Warbler (Sylvia borin), a frequent European Cuckoo host which, however, has not been found parasitized. in the study area. A possible evolutionary origin for this resemblance is discussed. Results from radio-tracking of Cuckoo females in the study area have shown that host preference does exist. This preference has not yet been manifested in the evolution of clear Cuckoo egg morphs adapted to the different host species.}, address = {Moksnes, ANorwegian Univ Sci \& Technol, NTNU, Dept Zool, N-7491 Trondheim, NorwayNorwegian Univ Sci \& Technol, NTNU, Dept Zool, N-7491 Trondheim, NorwayAcad Sci Czech Republ, Inst Vertebrate Biol, CS-60365 Brno, Czech Republic}, author = {Edvardsen, E. and Moksnes, A. and Roskaft, E. and Oien, I. J. and Honza, M.}, citeulike-article-id = {1867712}, citeulike-linkout-0 = {#}, comment = {491XMTimes Cited:11Cited References Count:41}, journal = {Condor}, keywords = {acrocephalus, bibtex-import, warblers}, pages = {829--837}, posted-at = {2007-11-05 13:41:55}, priority = {2}, title = {Egg mimicry in cuckoos parasitizing four sympatric species of Acrocephalus warblers}, url = {<Go to ISI>://000172135400017}, volume = {103}, year = {2001} }

TY - JOUR ID - Edvardsen2001 L3 - citeulike-article-id:1867712 N2 - The Cuckoo (Cuculus canorus) is an interspecific brood parasite that mimics the eggs of its hosts. In this study we tested the resemblance between Cuckoo and host eggs in four host species breeding in sympatry: the Reed Warbler (Acrocephalus scirpaceus), Great Reed Warbler (A. arundinaceus), Sedge Warbler (A. schoenobaenus), and Marsh Warbler (A. palustris). According to the ``gentes theory,'' individual Cuckoos lay eggs that mimic those of a single host species, and they parasitize only that species. We therefore expected the Cuckoo eggs to more closely resemble the eggs of their respective host species than eggs of sympatric hosts. However, analyses showed no such resemblance; test subjects were not able to distinguish Cuckoo eggs taken from nests of different host species. The most common Cuckoo egg type resembled the eggs of the Garden Warbler (Sylvia borin), a frequent European Cuckoo host which, however, has not been found parasitized. in the study area. A possible evolutionary origin for this resemblance is discussed. Results from radio-tracking of Cuckoo females in the study area have shown that host preference does exist. This preference has not yet been manifested in the evolution of clear Cuckoo egg morphs adapted to the different host species. JF - Condor AD - Moksnes, ANorwegian Univ Sci \& Technol, NTNU, Dept Zool, N-7491 Trondheim, NorwayNorwegian Univ Sci \& Technol, NTNU, Dept Zool, N-7491 Trondheim, NorwayAcad Sci Czech Republ, Inst Vertebrate Biol, CS-60365 Brno, Czech Republic EP - 837 TI - Egg mimicry in cuckoos parasitizing four sympatric species of Acrocephalus warblers VL - 103 SP - 829 KW - acrocephalus KW - bibtex-import KW - warblers N1 - 491XMTimes Cited:11Cited References Count:41 AU - Edvardsen, E AU - Moksnes, A AU - Roskaft, E AU - Oien, IJ AU - Honza, M PY - 2001/// UR - # ER -