Advances in the Study of Coevolution Between Avian Brood Parasites and Their Hosts

The interactions between avian obligate interspecific brood parasites and their hosts provide tractable systems for studying coevolutionary processes in nature. This review highlights recent advances in understanding coevolution in these systems. First, we discuss the evolution and phylogenetic hist...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Annual review of ecology, evolution, and systematics evolution, and systematics, 2014-01, Vol.45 (1), p.227-246
Main Authors: Feeney, William E, Welbergen, Justin A, Langmore, Naomi E
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animal nesting
arms race
Arms races
Biological adaptation
Bird nesting
Birds
Brood parasitism
Chicks
Coevolution
Defense mechanisms
Ecology
Evolution
Evolutionary biology
Host parasite relationships
Mimicry
Nesting
Parasites
Parasitism
Parasitology
Phylogenetics
species interactions
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Summary:The interactions between avian obligate interspecific brood parasites and their hosts provide tractable systems for studying coevolutionary processes in nature. This review highlights recent advances in understanding coevolution in these systems. First, we discuss the evolution and phylogenetic history of avian brood parasitism. Next, we examine coevolved adaptations and counteradaptations in brood parasites and hosts at all stages of the host nesting cycle: those that precede laying of the parasitic egg and those at the egg, chick, and fledgling stages. We then consider the factors that affect the evolution of offense and defense portfolios (the suites of adaptations and counteradaptations across the nesting cycle), and the outcomes of coevolutionary interactions between brood parasites and hosts. Ongoing efforts to document the diversity of host defenses and parasite offenses will facilitate understanding of coevolutionary processes and the ecological and evolutionary consequences of species interactions in the natural world.
ISSN:1543-592X
1545-2069
DOI:10.1146/annurev-ecolsys-120213-091603