Brood Parasitism and Cooperative Breeding

These flashcards cover fundamental concepts related to brood parasitism and cooperative breeding as discussed in the lecture.

Brood Parasitism

A reproductive strategy where one species lays its eggs in the nest of another species, leaving parental care to the host.

Brood Parasitic Species

Species that engage in brood parasitism, such as cuckoos and cowbirds.

Host Species

Species that have their eggs replaced by those of a brood parasite, such as wrens and reed warblers.

Extra-Pair Copulation (EPC)

Mating by one partner in a pair bond with another individual, leading to potential offspring outside of the primary mating partnership.

Arms Race

An evolutionary struggle where the parasite evolves to exploit the host's parental care while the host evolves defenses against the parasite.

Innate Behavior

Behavior that is inherited or instinctive, as opposed to being learned.

Sign Stimulus

An innate signal such as color or sound that prompts a specific behavioral response, particularly in parental care.

Conspecific Brood Parasitism

A reproductive strategy where a female lays her eggs in the nest of another female of the same species.

Mimetic

Eggs that closely resemble the eggs of the host species, making them less likely to be rejected.

Non-mimetic

Eggs that do not resemble the host's eggs, increasing the likelihood of rejection.

Cooperative Breeding

A breeding strategy where unrelated individuals work together to raise offspring.

Cuckoo Chick Behavior

Cuckoo chicks exhibit innate behaviors such as evicting host eggs from the nest to monopolize parental care.

Evolutionary Adaptation

Changes in an organism that enhance its survival and reproduction in its environment.