Birds learn from neighbours how to defend nests.Byline: ANI Washington, June 5 (ANI): A new study by scientists at the University of Cambridge has shown that inexperienced reed warblers (Zool.) A small European warbler (Acrocephalus streperus); - called also reed wren. Any one of several species of Indian and Australian warblers of the genera Acrocephalus, Calamoherpe, and Arundinax. They are excellent singers. See also: Reed Reed learn how to stop cuckoos from laying eggs in their nests by watching how other members of their species deal with the parasitic birds. Reed warblers live with the threat that a cuckoo cuckoo, common name for members of the extensive avian family Cuculidae, including the ani and the roadrunner (Geococcyx californianus), widely distributed in temperate and tropical regions. will infiltrate infiltrate /in·fil·trate/ (in-fil´trat) 1. to penetrate the interstices of a tissue or substance. 2. the material or solution so deposited. in·fil·trate v. 1. their nest, remove one of their eggs, replace it with a cuckoo egg An MP3 file designed to aggravate music swapping users and help deter illegal copying. Cuckoo eggs are either erroneously named or edited. For example, a song with a heavy metal title is really elevator music, or, after a few seconds of the original music, random noise, speech or even , and leave cuckoo chicks to be raised by the unsuspecting reed warblers. New experiments show that reed warblers will attack or "mob" cuckoos on their territory to prevent them from laying eggs in their nests and inexperienced birds learn from observing the mobbing behaviour. This social learning was specific to cuckoos but not to harmless control birds, such as parrots, suggesting that the warblers are primed to learn defensive behaviour only in response to true threats. "Our previous work showed that reed warblers distinguish cuckoos from other nest enemies and adjust their defences according to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. local parasitism parasitism: see parasite. parasitism Relationship between two species in which one benefits at the expense of the other. Ectoparasites live on the body surface of the host; endoparasites live in their hosts' organs, tissues, or cells and often rely risk. Our current work demonstrates that reed warblers can use social information to fine-tune their defences to the nature of the local threat," said Dr. Justin Welbergen, co-author of the study. It had previously been established that cuckoos (the parasites) and reed warblers (the hosts) are engaged in a co-evolutionary arms race. Once one had evolved an advantage, such as the reed warblers' ability to eject the cuckoos' eggs from their nests, the other would evolve a counter tactic, such as the cuckoo evolving eggs similar to those of the warbler warbler, name applied in the New World to members of the wood warbler family (Parulidae) and in the Old World to a large family (Sylviidae) of small, drab, active songsters, including the hedge sparrow, the kinglet, and the tailorbird of SE Asia, . However, although genetic adaptations were to be expected, it was a surprise to the scientists that social learning provided another mechanism by which the warblers rapidly increased their nest defence. "Studies of co-evolutionary arms races between brood parasites and hosts have emphasized genetic adaptations and counter adaptations; however, our field experiments show that transmission through social learning provides a mechanism by which hosts can adjust their nest defence and so respond rapidly to changes in parasitism," Welbergen said. The findings are reported in June issue of the journal Science. (ANI) Copyright 2009 Asian News International The Asian News International (ANI) agency provides multimedia news to China and 50 bureaus in India. It covers virtually all of South Asia since its foundation and presently claims, on its official website, to be the leading South Asia-wide news agency. (ANI) - All Rights Reserved. Provided by Syndigate.info an Albawaba.com company |
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