Work

Host personality and seasonal parasitism risk do not account for egg rejection behavior in the azure-winged magpie

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Brood parasitism reduces the reproductive success of hosts and many host birds have evolved a range of anti-parasitism strategies, including egg recognition and egg rejection. Recent studies have shown that host egg rejection behavior can vary according to personality traits and parasitism risk. However, these relationships have not been clearly determined. The aim of this study was to further investigate the influence of seasonal parasitism pressure and host personality traits on egg rejection behavior in the azure-winged magpie ( Cyanopica cyanus ). Our results showed no significant difference in the proportion of egg rejection between hosts with low (before the arrival of cuckoos) and high (after the arrival of cuckoos) parasitism pressure. In addition, no significant difference was detected in the proportion of egg rejection between bold individuals (shorter flight initiation distance, FID) and shy individuals (longer FID). We hypothesized that the relatively weak effect of the presence or absence of cuckoos on this species could be attributed to their inherently strong egg recognition abilities. Moreover, the quantification of host behavior along a single personality axis (boldness-shyness) may be insufficient to capture behavioral differences that arise from the combined effects of various personality traits. Our study provides novel insights into the influence of seasonal parasitism risk and personality traits on host egg rejection behavior. There was no significant difference in egg rejection rate between Azure-winged Magpies ( Cyanopica cynaus ) experimentally parasitized before the arrival of cuckoos and those experimentally parasitized after the arrival of cuckoos.In addition, no significant difference was detected in the proportion of egg rejection between bold magpie individuals (shorter flight initiation distance, FID) and shy individuals (longer FID).The quantification of host behavior along a single personality axis (boldness-shyness) may be insufficient to capture behavioral differences that arise from the combined effects of various personality traits. • In the magpie-cuckoo parasitic system, the high egg rejection by the azure-winged magpies ( Cyanopica cyanus ) indicates a coevolutionary history with parasitic cuckoos. • Neither the presence of cuckoos (i.e., the risk of cuckoo parasitism) nor the boldness-shyness personality axis of the magpies was correlated with egg rejection behavior. • Our study provides new evidence regarding the influence of seasonal parasitism risk and personality traits on host egg recognition and rejection behavior.

Source: International Journal for Parasitology Parasites and Wildlife

DOI: 10.1016/j.ijppaw.2025.101056

Authors: Xingyi Jiang, Wei Liang, Yanyun Zhang

Institutions: Beijing Normal University, Hainan Normal University

Language: English

Topic: Animal Behavior and Reproduction

Subfield: Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics

Field: Agricultural and Biological Sciences

Domain: Life Sciences

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $1,930

Funder: National Natural Science Foundation of China