摘要
In Europe, eggs of the Common Cuckoo (Cuculus canorus) have been found in more than 125 different host species. However, very few species are frequently parasitized. The Cuckoo is divided into several distinct races termed gentes. Females of each gens specialize in parasitizing a particular host species. More than 20 such gentes are recognized in Europe. Each female Cuckoo lays eggs of constant appearance. Most gentes can be separated based on their distinct egg types, which in many cases mimic those of their hosts. Different gentes may occur in sympatry or may be separated geographically. Some gentes may occur in restricted parts of the host’s distribution area. These patterns raise some fundamental questions like: Why are some passerine species preferred as hosts while others are not? Why does a host population consist of individuals either accepting or rejecting Cuckoo eggs? Why is there marked variation in egg rejection behavior between various host populations? How distinct and host-specialized are Cuckoo gentes? These questions are discussed in relation to existing knowledge and future perspectives.
在欧洲,有超过125种宿主鸟类的巢里都发现有大杜鹃(Cuculus canorus)的卵,但其实常被大杜鹃寄生和利用的宿主种类并不多。寄生不同宿主的大杜鹃可分成显著不同的宿主专一类群(gentes),迄今欧洲已有超过20种宿主专一类群被报道。每一类群的大杜鹃雌鸟所产的卵的颜色和卵形(如斑点)都较为一致,并专门寄生某一特定的宿主鸟。宿主专一类群可同域出现,也可因为地理隔离而不同,甚至仅局限于宿主分布区的某一区域。不同的宿主专一类群可通过卵的不同而加以区分,在大多数情况下,每一宿主专一类群的卵都模拟其寄生的宿主的卵。为什么一些雀形目鸟类被寄生,而另一些却不被利用?为什么同一宿主种群内一些个体能识别和拒绝杜鹃卵,而另一些个体却接受?为什么同一宿主鸟的不同地理种群对杜鹃卵的识别和拒绝变化很大?大杜鹃不同的宿主专一类群之间的差异到底有多大?本文根据目前已有的知识探讨了这些问题,并对未来的研究进行了展望。
