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1 November 2003 FREQUENCY OF EGG REJECTION BY POTENTIAL HOSTS OF THE NEW ZEALAND CUCKOOS
James V. Briskie
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Abstract

Host-specific brood parasites use a limited diversity of host species to raise their young. The two species of parasitic cuckoo that occur in New Zealand, Shining Cuckoo (Chrysococcyx lucidus) and Long-tailed Cuckoo (Eudynamys taitensis), are both host specific despite the availability of other apparently suitable species to act as hosts. To determine if host specificity has been shaped by the widespread occurrence of egg rejection among potential hosts, I tested the response of nine native passerine species to brood parasitism by the experimental addition of artificial cuckoo eggs to their nests. Artificial Shining Cuckoo eggs were rejected at least some of the time in eight of nine species tested, but levels of rejection were generally low. The majority of hosts accepted artificial Long-tailed Cuckoo eggs, and only the Brown Creeper (Mohoua novaeseelandiae) rejected eggs of both cuckoos. The occurrence of egg rejection in species currently not used as hosts (e.g., New Zealand Robin [Petroica australis]) suggests that they may have been parasitized by cuckoos in the past. Although egg rejection appears to limit the number of species currently suitable as hosts, it is not clear why acceptor species such as Fantails (Rhipidura fuliginosa) and Bellbirds (Anthornis melanura) are rarely parasitized, nor why egg mimicry as a counteradaptation to rejector species such as Brown Creepers and the New Zealand Pipit (Anthus novaeseelandiae) is poorly developed. On islands with depauperate avifaunas such as New Zealand, it is possible that the evolution of antiparasite adaptations in a small number of potential hosts may restrict the ability of brood parasites to evolve generalist strategies of host use.

Frecuencia de Rechazo de Huevos por Hospederos Potenciales de los Cucos de Nueva Zelanda

Resumen. Los parásitos de cría hospedero-específico utilizan una diversidad limitada de especies hospederas para criar a sus pichones. Las dos especies de cucos parásitos que se encuentran en Nueva Zelanda, Chrysococcyx lucidus y Eudynamys taitensis, son hospedero-específicas a pesar de la disponibilidad de otras especies aparentemente apropiadas para servir como hospederas. Para determinar si la especificidad de hospedero ha sido moldeada por una alta frecuencia de rechazo de huevos por parte de los hospederos potenciales, puse a prueba la respuesta de nueve especies de paserinos nativos ante el parasitismo de cría añadiendo huevos de cucos en sus nidos experimentalmente. Los huevos artificiales de C. lucidus fueron rechazados al menos algunas veces en ocho de las nueve especies estudiadas, pero los niveles de rechazo fueron generalmente bajos. La mayoría de los hospederos aceptaron los huevos artificiales de E. taitensis, y sólo Mohoua novaeseelandiae rechazó los huevos de ambos cucos. La ocurrencia de rechazo de huevos en especies no utilizadas actualmente como hospederos (e.g., Petroica australis) sugiere que éstas podrían haber sido parasitadas por cucos en el pasado. Aunque el rechazo de huevos parece limitar el número de especies actualmente apropiadas para servir como hospederas, no es claro por qué especies que aceptan los huevos (como Rhipidura fuliginosa y Anthornis melanura) son raramente parasitadas, ni por qué está poco desarrollado el mimetismo de huevos como una contra-adaptación ante especies que rechazan los huevos (como

James V. Briskie "FREQUENCY OF EGG REJECTION BY POTENTIAL HOSTS OF THE NEW ZEALAND CUCKOOS," The Condor 105(4), 719-727, (1 November 2003). https://doi.org/10.1650/7106
Received: 29 April 2002; Accepted: 1 July 2003; Published: 1 November 2003
KEYWORDS
antiparasite adaptations
brood parasitism
Chrysococcyx lucidus
Eudynamys taitensis
Long-tailed Cuckoo
New Zealand
Shining Cuckoo
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