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Brood parasitism and host-parasite relationships: Cuckoos adapt to reduce the time of hatching ahead of host nestlings by increasing egg thickness

Narushin, Valeriy G., Romanov, Michael N., Avni-Magen, Nili, Griffin, Darren K. (2024) Brood parasitism and host-parasite relationships: Cuckoos adapt to reduce the time of hatching ahead of host nestlings by increasing egg thickness. International Journal for Parasitology: Parasites and Wildlife, 25 (Dec.). Article Number 100979. ISSN 2213-2244. (doi:10.1016/j.ijppaw.2024.100979) (KAR id:107014)

Abstract

Highlights

• We assumed that cuckoo eggs have shorter incubation time (I) due to thicker shells.

• To test this, we analyzed published data for 454 eggs from 447 bird species.

• We found that I can be determined by shell thickness-to surface area ratio (T/S).

• Mother cuckoo seems to be adapted to increasing the T/S ratio by increasing T.

• We derived empirical formulae for calculating I based on S/V and T/S ratios.

Abstract:

The phenomenon of cuckoos’ brood parasitism is well known and can be investigated using applied mathematical techniques. Among adaptive features of this phenomenon are certain egg parameters that ensure their shortened incubation period (I) and thus the successful survival of their offspring. In particular, the volume of a cuckoo egg is not less than, or exceeds, that of the host species, which should, in theory, increase I. Also, cuckoo eggs have thicker shell than that of nest hosts. Here, we analyzed the available geometric dimensions of eggs in 447 species and found an inverse correlation (−0.585, p < 0.05) between I and the shell thickness-to-egg surface area ratio (T/S). A mathematical relationship was derived to calculate I depending on T/S. This premise was confirmed by comparative calculations using egg images of two parasitic species, common (Cuculus canorus) and plaintive cuckoo (Cacomantis merulinus) and their hosts: great reed warbler (Acrocephalus arundinaceus), European robin (Erithacus rubecula), rufescent prinia (Prinia rufescens), and common tailorbird (Orthotomus sutorius). An average calculated I value for cuckoo eggs was one day less than that for host eggs. Our findings unravel additional details of how cuckoos adapt to brood parasitism and specific host-parasite relationships.

Item Type: Article
DOI/Identification number: 10.1016/j.ijppaw.2024.100979
Uncontrolled keywords: Japanese quail eggs; Egg quality; Egg volume; Egg surface area; Topology; Non-destructive testing technology
Subjects: Q Science > QA Mathematics (inc Computing science)
Q Science > QA Mathematics (inc Computing science) > QA440 Geometry
Q Science > QH Natural history > QH324.2 Computational biology
Q Science > QL Zoology
Divisions: Divisions > Division of Natural Sciences > Centre for Interdisciplinary Studies of Reproduction
Divisions > Division of Natural Sciences > Biosciences
Signature Themes: Food Systems, Natural Resources and Environment
Funders: University of Kent (https://ror.org/00xkeyj56)
Depositing User: Mike Romanov
Date Deposited: 27 Aug 2024 08:37 UTC
Last Modified: 04 Oct 2024 13:12 UTC
Resource URI: https://kar.kent.ac.uk/id/eprint/107014 (The current URI for this page, for reference purposes)

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