The frontline of avian brood parasite–host coevolution

The interactions between avian interspecific brood parasites and their hosts provide tractable and informative systems for investigating coevolution. Generally, these investigations have emphasized the egg and chick stages of the coevolutionary arms race; however, recent studies demonstrate that coe...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Animal behaviour 2012-07, Vol.84 (1), p.3-12
Main Authors: Feeney, William E., Welbergen, Justin A., Langmore, Naomi E.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adaptability
Animal behavior
arms race
Biodiversity
Birds
brood parasitism
chicks
coevolution
cowbird
cuckoo
eggs
Evolutionary biology
host-parasite relationships
hosts
life history
nesting
nests
Parasites
the frontline
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:The interactions between avian interspecific brood parasites and their hosts provide tractable and informative systems for investigating coevolution. Generally, these investigations have emphasized the egg and chick stages of the coevolutionary arms race; however, recent studies demonstrate that coevolution operates at all stages of the host nesting cycle and emphasize the importance of reciprocal adaptations prior to deposition of the parasite egg in the host nest: the ‘frontline’ of the arms race. Here we review the diversity of adaptations at the frontline and its implications for our understanding of brood parasite–host relationships. Coevolution at the frontline can fundamentally shape the life histories, morphologies, physiologies and behaviours of both brood parasites and their hosts, and influences the trajectories and outcomes of their subsequent coevolutionary interactions. We advocate the incorporation of frontline interactions in empirical and theoretical investigations of brood parasite–host arms races to provide a more holistic understanding of the coevolutionary processes in these systems. ► We review frontline adaptations in avian brood parasite–host relationships. ► Frontline adaptations operate prior to parasite egg deposition in host nests. ► Like adaptations at the other host nesting stages they result from coevolution. ► They may also influence evolutionary trajectories of arms races. ► Thus, they are essential for a holistic understanding of parasite–host arms races.
ISSN:0003-3472
1095-8282
DOI:10.1016/j.anbehav.2012.04.011