Supernormal stimulus begging calls of brood-parasitic nestlings depress the parental care of an uncommon host

Supernormal stimulus begging calls of brood-parasitic nestlings depress the parental care of an uncommon host | Authorea try { document.documentElement.classList.add('js'); } catch (e) { } var _gaq = _gaq || []; _gaq.push(['_setAccount', 'G-8VDV14Y67G']); _gaq.push(['_trackPageview']); (function() { var ga = document.createElement('script'); ga.type = 'text/javascript'; ga.async = true; ga.src = ('https:' == document.location.protocol ? 'https://ssl' : 'http://www') + '.google-analytics.com/ga.js'; var s = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(ga, s); })(); Skip to main content Preprints Collections Wiley Open Research IET Open Research Ecological Society of Japan All Collections About About Authorea FAQs Contact Us Quick Search anywhere Search for preprint articles, keywords, etc. Search Search ADVANCED SEARCH SCROLL Ecology and Evolution This is a preprint and has not been peer reviewed. Data may be preliminary. 14 February 2025 V1 Latest version Share on Supernormal stimulus begging calls of brood-parasitic nestlings depress the parental care of an uncommon host Authors : Li Tian 0000-0002-7438-2502 , Ruiying Han , Jingyi Shu , Shuting Jia , Cuiping Yi , Jieru Wen , Zhengwang Zhang 0000-0003-1063-7198 , Donglai Li 0000-0001-9155-5148 , and Yu Liu 0000-0002-4217-2535 [email protected] Authors Info & Affiliations https://doi.org/10.22541/au.173951852.22102130/v1 Published Ecology and Evolution Version of record Peer review timeline 293 views 192 downloads Contents Abstract Supplementary Material Information & Authors Metrics & Citations View Options References Figures Tables Media Share Abstract During the nestling period, brood-parasitic birds stimulate host parents to provide food through complex visual and auditory signals, including emitting supernormal stimuli in the form of begging calls to increase the feeding frequency. However, whether the begging calls of brood-parasitic nestlings act as a universal type of supernormal stimulus signal and their effects on less common host species still require further research. In this study, we used playback recordings to verify the impact of the begging calls of Common Cuckoo nestlings on the parental care behaviour of host Barn Swallow parents. The results showed that male Barn Swallow parents, but not female parents, reduced their feeding frequency in response to both type of cuckoo nestling calls (the begging calls of cuckoo nestlings reared by common/uncommon hosts). Thus, the total feeding frequency in the two experimental groups was significantly lower than the control group. Additionally, brood size, temperature, and weather all affected the feeding frequency in the Barn Swallow. This study supports the idea that the supernormal stimulus of brood-parasitic nestling begging calls does not always work as a universal signal; the behavioural adaptations formed by parasitic birds in response to common hosts may lead to reduced fitness when utilising uncommon hosts, e.g., the Barn Swallow. Supplementary Material File (cuckoo.supernormal.stimulus_20250210.docx) Download 1.21 MB Information & Authors Information Version history V1 Version 1 14 February 2025 Peer review timeline Published Ecology and Evolution Version of Record 20 Jul 2025 Published Copyright This work is licensed under a Non Exclusive No Reuse License. Collection Ecology and Evolution Keywords behavioral ecology ecological experiment ecosystem laboratory multiple vertebrate Authors Affiliations Li Tian 0000-0002-7438-2502 Lingnan Normal University View all articles by this author Ruiying Han Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences View all articles by this author Jingyi Shu Liaoning University View all articles by this author Shuting Jia Liaoning University View all articles by this author Cuiping Yi Lingnan Normal University View all articles by this author Jieru Wen Lingnan Normal University View all articles by this author Zhengwang Zhang 0000-0003-1063-7198 Beijing Normal University View all articles by this author Donglai Li 0000-0001-9155-5148 Liaoning University View all articles by this author Yu Liu 0000-0002-4217-2535 [email protected] Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences View all articles by this author Metrics & Citations Metrics Article Usage 293 views 192 downloads .FvxKWukQNSOunydq8rnd { width: 100px; } Citations Download citation Li Tian, Ruiying Han, Jingyi Shu, et al. Supernormal stimulus begging calls of brood-parasitic nestlings depress the parental care of an uncommon host. Authorea . 14 February 2025. DOI: https://doi.org/10.22541/au.173951852.22102130/v1 If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download. For more information or tips please see 'Downloading to a citation manager' in the Help menu . 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