Responses of Reed Warblers Acrocephalus scirpaceus to non-mimetic eggs of different sizes in a nest parasitism experiment

0346258 - ÚBO 2011 RIV PL eng J - Journal Article
Stokke, B. G. - Polačiková, Lenka - Dyrcz, A. - Hafstad, I. - Moksnes, A. - Roskaft, E.
Responses of Reed Warblers Acrocephalus scirpaceus to non-mimetic eggs of different sizes in a nest parasitism experiment.
Acta Ornithologica. Roč. 45, č. 1 (2010), s. 98-104. ISSN 0001-6454. E-ISSN 1734-8471
R&D Projects: GA ČR(CZ) GD524/05/H536
Institutional research plan: CEZ:AV0Z60930519
Keywords : wing morphology * migration * microsatellites * genetic diversity
Subject RIV: EG - Zoology
Impact factor: 0.889, year: 2010

We examined the influence of egg size differences between host and parasite eggs on egg rejection behaviour in a population of Reed Warblers Acrocephalus scirpaceus parasitized by Common Cuckoos Cuculus canorus To this end, we experimentally parasitized host clutches using real Chinese Quail Column: chinensis and conspecific eggs Both egg types were painted immaculate blue The Chinese Quail eggs differed from host eggs in both size and colour, while the conspecific eggs differed only in colour There were no differences in the rate of rejection rate of the two types of experimental eggs However, Chinese Quail eggs were rejected primarily by nest desertion, whereas conspecific eggs were mostly ejected. Moreover, clutches with Chinese Quail eggs were deserted significantly sooner in comparison with the ejection of conspecific eggs Therefore, egg size differences apparently affect the mode and speed but not the rate of egg rejection in this host population.
Permanent Link: http://hdl.handle.net/11104/0187328