BioOne.org will be down briefly for maintenance on 17 December 2024 between 18:00-22:00 Pacific Time US. We apologize for any inconvenience.
How to translate text using browser tools
1 December 2009 Nest Defence Against Conspecific Intruders in the Common Pochard Aythya ferina: Natural Observations and an Experimental Test
Marcel Honza, Radka Piálková, Tomáš Albrecht, Šárka Neužilová
Author Affiliations +
Abstract

The reproductive behaviour of brood parasitic birds has been of long-standing interest to evolutionary biologists, but some key features of this breeding tactic are largely unknown in particular species. Here we investigated antiparasitic tactics in ground nesting Common Pochard Aythya ferina females towards intraspecific brood parasitism. Using a conspecific female dummy we experimentally simulated a situation where a female returning to her own nest is confronted with a conspecific parasite. The behaviour of the tested females towards the experimental dummy was compared with their responses towards the stuffed female Ring-necked Pheasant Phasianus colchicus used as a control. The reactions towards both dummies were similar: Pochard females typically swam silently around their nests and observed the dummy. The lack of differences between the measured parameters recorded in the experiments with conspecific and pheasant dummies may indicate that female Pochards do not recognize the conspecific intruder as a specific threat. In addition, the responses of the incubating female towards the conspecific female on her nest were studied using continuous video recordings. The defence was not sufficient, since the intruders were never expelled from the nest. The only rejection technique recorded was that of the parasitic egg being removed from the nest with the aid of the bill. The data indicate that active sophisticated anti-parasitic tactics have not evolved in Pochards, although there is some level of defence towards intruding conspecific parasites.

Marcel Honza, Radka Piálková, Tomáš Albrecht, and Šárka Neužilová "Nest Defence Against Conspecific Intruders in the Common Pochard Aythya ferina: Natural Observations and an Experimental Test," Acta Ornithologica 44(2), 151-158, (1 December 2009). https://doi.org/10.3161/000164509X482713
Received: 1 November 2008; Accepted: 1 November 2009; Published: 1 December 2009
KEYWORDS
breeding strategy
brood parasitism
egg rejection
intraspecific parasitism
waterfowl
RIGHTS & PERMISSIONS
Get copyright permission
Back to Top