Some years ago the Canberra Birds Conservation Fund was able to
support William Feeney's doctoral research at the Research School of
Biology at The Australian National University. He investigated the
nature of coevolved reciprocal adaptations prior to egg insertion by
the parasite in the host nest (the ‘front-line’). The research
focused on the interactions between the Superb Fairy-wren and the
Horsfield’s bronze-cuckoo. The research site was Gungahlin Hill
Nature Reserve in Canberra.
Will has now completed this work and has published some fascinating
papers from it. His PhD exit seminar will be held at ANU (Gould
seminar room in Gould building) on Wednesday 23 July at 1pm - all
are welcome to attend. Here is the abstract for the presentation:
Studying interactions within and between species
provides opportunities to observe consequences of natural
selection. Interspecific brood parasitism is a bizarre
breeding strategy, in which a parasite manipulates a host from
another species to raise its offspring. Brood parasitism is
generally costly to the host, and the resulting interactions have
produced some of the most charismatic examples of reciprocal
evolution in nature.
I have been studying these interactions for the past 3 years, and
in this seminar I will discuss some of my findings. Using the
Australian superb fairy-wren as a model to study host defences I
ask: How do they learn what a cuckoo is? Is recognition specific?
Do they change their behaviour when cuckoos are around? And does
cooperation help these birds defend their nests against brood
parasitism?
I then use the African cuckoo finch, and the Australian
Horsfield’s bronze-cuckoo, as models to study parasite
counter-adaptations. Adult African cuckoo finches bear a
striking resemblance to harmless weavers (little brown
birds), and I investigated whether this resemblance had
evolved to disguise them from their hosts. The Horsfield’s
bronze-cuckoo parasitizes a variety of host species, and I
investigated whether their eggs are tailored to be disguised in
the nests of these different hosts.
This further demonstrates the value of the Canberra Birds
Conservation Fund in attaining COG's objectives:
To encourage interest in, and develop knowledge of, the birds of
the Canberra region
To promote and co-ordinate the study of birds
To promote the conservation of native birds and their habitats.
You are welcome to make tax-deductible donations to the Fund. You
may also consider making provision in your will for a bequest to the
Fund.
In addition, the Fund is always keen to receive applications to
support activities that assist in attaining the objectives stated
above, with special reference to the Canberra region. Although all
the projects supported to date have been for research or monitoring,
applications covering other types of projects are also welcome.
For further information on the projects funded, and on how to apply
for a grant, please visit
http://canberrabirds.org.au/conservation-2/conservation/ or contact
the undersigned.
Thanks - David
--
David McDonald
Convenor, Canberra Birds Conservation Fund
1004 Norton Road
Wamboin NSW 2620
Australia
T: (02) 6238 3706
M: 0416 231 890
F: (02) 9475 4274
E:
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