Abstract
The great spotted cuckoo (Clamator glandarius) is an important brood parasite of carrion crows (Corvus corone corone) in northern Spain. We recently found that, unlike what is commonly known for cuckoo-host interactions, the great spotted cuckoo has no negative impact on average crow fitness in this region. The explanation for this surprising effect is a repulsive secretion that the cuckoo chicks produce when they are harassed and that may protect the brood against predation. Here, we provide details on the chemical composition of the cuckoo secretion, as well as conclusive evidence that the dominating volatile chemicals in the secretion are highly repellent to model species representative of common predators of the crows. These results support the notion that, in this particular system, the production of a repulsive secretion by the cuckoo chicks has turned a normally parasitic interaction into a mutualistic one.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
References
Canestrari D, Bolopo D, Turlings TCJ, Röder G, Marcos JM, Baglione V (2014) From parasitism to mutualism: unexpected interactions between a cuckoo and its host. Science 343:1350–1352
Dekeirsschieter J, Verheggen F, Gohy M, Hubrecht F, Bourguignon L, Lognay G, Haubruge E (2009) Cadaveric volatile organic compounds released by decaying pig carcases (Sus domesticus L.) in different biotopes. Forensic Sci Int 189:46–53
Dumbacher JP, Beehler BM, Spande TF, Garraffo HM, Daly JW (1992) Homobatrachotoxin in the genus Pitohui: chemical defense in birds? Science 258:799–801
Kilner RM, Langmore NE (2011) Cuckoos versus hosts in insects and birds: adaptations, counter-adaptations and outcomes. Biol Rev 86:836–852
Krüger O (2007) Cuckoos, cowbirds and hosts: adaptations, trade-offs and constraints. Phil Trans R Soc B 362:1873–1886
Krüger O (2011) Brood parasitism selects for no defence in a cuckoo host. Proc R Soc Lond B 278:2777–2783
Landa A, Tømmerås BA (1997) A test of aversive agents on wolverines. J Wildl Manag 61:510–516
Lehner PN, Krumm R, Cringan AT (1976) Tests for olfactory repellents for coyotes and dogs. J Wildl Manag 40:145–150
Martin-Vivaldi M, Peña A, Peralta-Sanchez JM, Sánchez L, Ananou S, Ruiz-Rodriguez M, Soler JJ (2010) Antimicrobial chemicals in hoopoe preen secretions are produced by symbiotic bacteria. Proc R Soc Lond B 277:123–130
Parejo D, Avilés JM, Peña A, Sánchez L, Ruano F, Zamora-Muñoz C, Martín-Vivaldi M (2013) Armed rollers: does nestling’s vomit function as a defence against predators? PLoS One 8:e68862. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0068862
Rajchard J (2010) Biologically active substances of bird skin: a review. Vet Med 55:413–421
Rothstein SI (1990) A model system for coevolution—avian brood parasitism. Annu Rev Ecol Syst 21:481–508
Spottiswoode C, Kilner R, Davies NB (2012) Brood parasitism. In: Royle NJ, Smiseth PT, Kölliker M (eds) The evolution of parental care. Oxford University Press, Oxford, pp pp 226–356
Warham J (1990) The petrels: their ecology and breeding systems. Academic, London, p 440
Weldon PJ, Rappole JH (1997) A survey of birds odorous or unpalatable to humans: possible indications of chemical defense. J Chem Ecol 23:2609–2633
Winfree R (1999) Cuckoos, cowbirds and the persistence of brood parasitism. Trends Ecol Evol 14:338–343
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Electronic supplementary material
Below is the link to the electronic supplementary material.
ESM 1
(JPEG 5063 kb)
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Röder, G., Canestrari, D., Bolopo, D. et al. Chicks of the Great Spotted Cuckoo May Turn Brood Parasitism into Mutualism by Producing a Foul-Smelling Secretion that Repels Predators. J Chem Ecol 40, 320–324 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10886-014-0426-0
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10886-014-0426-0