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Feeney, W. E., Medina, I., Somveille, M. 
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6868-5080, Heinsohn, R., Hall, M. L., Mulder, R. A., Stein, J. A., Kilner, R. M. and Langmore, N. E.
(2013)
Brood parasitism and the evolution of cooperative breeding in birds.
Science, 342 (6165).
pp. 1506-1508.
ISSN 0036-8075
Abstract
The global distribution of cooperatively breeding birds is highly uneven, with hotspots in Australasia and sub-Saharan Africa. The ecological drivers of this distribution remain enigmatic yet could yield insights into the evolution and persistence of cooperative breeding. We report that the global distributions of avian obligate brood parasites and cooperatively breeding passerines are tightly correlated and that the uneven phylogenetic distribution of cooperative breeding is associated with the uneven targeting of hosts by brood parasites. With a long-term field study, we show that brood parasites can acquire superior care for their young by targeting cooperative breeders. Conversely, host defenses against brood parasites are strengthened by helpers at the nest. Reciprocally selected interactions between brood parasites and cooperative breeders may therefore explain the close association between these two breeding systems.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | general ,/dk/atira/pure/subjectarea/asjc/1000 |
| Faculty \ School: | Faculty of Science > School of Environmental Sciences |
| UEA Research Groups: | Faculty of Science > Research Centres > Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Conservation |
| Related URLs: | |
| Depositing User: | LivePure Connector |
| Date Deposited: | 22 Jul 2024 10:33 |
| Last Modified: | 09 Oct 2024 13:40 |
| URI: | https://ueaeprints.uea.ac.uk/id/eprint/95991 |
| DOI: | 10.1126/science.1240039 |
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