Alternative mechanisms of increased eggshell hardness of avian brood parasites relative to host species

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dc.contributor.authorIgic, B.
dc.contributor.authorBraganza, K.
dc.contributor.authorHyland, M.
dc.contributor.authorSilyn-Roberts, H.
dc.contributor.authorCassey, P.
dc.contributor.authorGrim, T.
dc.contributor.authorRutila, J.
dc.contributor.authorMoskat, C.
dc.contributor.authorHauber, M.
dc.date.issued2011
dc.description.abstractObligate brood parasitic birds lay their eggs in nests of other species and parasite eggs typically have evolved greater structural strength relative to host eggs. Increased mechanical strength of the parasite eggshell is an adaptation that can interfere with puncture ejection behaviours of discriminating hosts. We investigated whether hardness of eggshells is related to differences between physical and chemical traits from three different races of the parasitic common cuckoo Cuculus canorus, and their respective hosts. Using tools developed for materials science, we discovered a novel correlate of increased strength of parasite eggs: the common cuckoo's egg exhibits a greater microhardness, especially in the inner region of the shell matrix, relative to its host and sympatric non-host species. We then tested predictions of four potential mechanisms of shell strength: (i) increased relative thickness overall, (ii) greater proportion of the structurally harder shell layers, (iii) higher concentration of inorganic components in the shell matrix, and (iv) elevated deposition of a high density compound, MgCO3, in the shell matrix. We confirmed support only for hypothesis (i). Eggshell characteristics did not differ between parasite eggs sampled from different host nests in distant geographical sites, suggesting an evolutionarily shared microstructural mechanism of stronger parasite eggshells across diverse host-races of brood parasitic cuckoos.
dc.description.statementofresponsibilityBranislav Igic, Kim Braganza, Margaret M. Hyland, Heather Silyn-Roberts, Phillip Cassey, Tomas Grim, Jarkko Rutila, Csaba Moskát and Mark E. Hauber
dc.identifier.citationJournal of the Royal Society Interface, 2011; 8(64):1654-1664
dc.identifier.doi10.1098/rsif.2011.0207
dc.identifier.issn1742-5689
dc.identifier.issn1742-5662
dc.identifier.orcidCassey, P. [0000-0002-2626-0172]
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/2440/68256
dc.language.isoen
dc.publisherThe Royal Society Publishing
dc.rightsThis journal is © 2011 The Royal Society
dc.source.urihttps://doi.org/10.1098/rsif.2011.0207
dc.subjectHost–parasite coevolution
dc.subjectmicrohardness
dc.subjectpuncture ejection
dc.subjectrecognition systems
dc.titleAlternative mechanisms of increased eggshell hardness of avian brood parasites relative to host species
dc.typeJournal article
pubs.publication-statusPublished

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