The evolution of cuckoo parasitism: a comparative analysis

• Published in: Proceedings of the Royal Society. B, Biological sciences Vol. 269; no. 1489; pp. 375 - 381
• Main Authors: Krüger, O, Davies, N B
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England The Royal Society 22.02.2002
• Subjects: Adaptation, Physiological; Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; Animals; Biological Evolution; Birds - classification; Birds - parasitology; Birds - physiology; Breeding; Breeding seasons; Breeding sites; Brood Parasitism; Cuckoo; Cuculidae; Diet; Ecosystem; Eggs; Evolution; Female; Genera; Host-Parasite Interactions; Independent Contrasts; Life-History Evolution; Nesting Behavior - physiology; Obligate parasites; Phylogeny

Cuckoos (family Cuculidae) show the highest diversity of breeding strategies within one bird family (parental care, facultative and obligate brood parasites). We used independent contrasts from two phylogenies to examine how this variation was related to 13 ecological and life-history variables. The...