Open AccessBreeding success of common cuckoos Cuculus canorus parasitising four sympatric species of Acrocephalus warblers
Author(s) -
Kleven Oddmund,
Moksnes Arne,
Røskaft Eivin,
Rudolfsen Geir,
Stokke Bård G.,
Honza Marcel
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
journal of avian biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.022
H-Index - 76
eISSN - 1600-048X
pISSN - 0908-8857
DOI - 10.1111/j.0908-8857.2004.03359.x
Subject(s) - acrocephalus , warbler , biology , cuckoo , brood parasite , ecology , planktivore , zoology , mimicry , parasitism , host (biology) , population , demography , habitat , phytoplankton , sociology , nutrient
We investigated the level of parasitism, egg mimicry and breeding success of cuckoos parasitising four sympatric species of Acrocephalus warblers in southern Moravia, Czech Republic. The parasitism rate was highest in the marsh warbler Acrocephalus palustris (44.8%) followed by great reed warbler A. arundinaceus (33.8%), sedge warbler A. schoenobaenus (26.5%) and reed warbler A. scirpaceus (11.6%). Although the cuckoo eggs showed a high level of mimicry the eggs of the marsh warbler this host species rejected 72% of the cuckoo eggs, resulting in a cuckoo breeding success of only 4.3%. Cuckoo eggs laid in great reed warbler and reed warbler nests showed a similar hatching success, but the cuckoo chicks survived better in great reed warbler nests, resulting in a breeding success of 30.4%, as compared to 16.4% in nests of the reed warbler. The relationship between the level of parasitism, host rejection of cuckoo eggs, cuckoo chick survival and breeding success is discussed for the four host species.