In brood-parasitic Cuculus cuckoos,male vocalizations are species-specific and easily distinguishable,whereas female calls are remarkably similar across species,making species identification challenging.In this study,...In brood-parasitic Cuculus cuckoos,male vocalizations are species-specific and easily distinguishable,whereas female calls are remarkably similar across species,making species identification challenging.In this study,we examined the structural characteristics and variability of female bubbling calls among four Cuculus species(Common Cuckoo C.canorus,Oriental Cuckoo C.optatus,Indian Cuckoo C.micropterus,and Lesser Cuckoo C.poliocephalus)breeding in South Korea.Comprehensive acoustic analyses of seven call parameters,using recordings from 2021 to 2023,were conducted to quantify the characteristics of their calls and compare withinand between-individual variability across species.Significant differences were found across all call parameters,with the Common Cuckoo producing the highest number of notes and the Oriental Cuckoo the lowest-frequency calls.Despite these differences,the overall structure of the calls remained acoustically similar,with overlapping characteristics across species.Furthermore,female Common Cuckoos exhibited greater within-individual variability in their calls,while the other species showed higher between-individual variability,which may further complicate species identification based vocalization alone.These findings highlight the complexities of female vocalizations in Cuculus cuckoos and suggest that ecological,social,and evolutionary factors may contribute to this vocal variability.展开更多
Avian brood parasitism is a unique reproductive behavior in which parasitic birds depend on other species to incubate their eggs and raise their offspring.In China,there are 20 species of cuckoos in the family Cuculid...Avian brood parasitism is a unique reproductive behavior in which parasitic birds depend on other species to incubate their eggs and raise their offspring.In China,there are 20 species of cuckoos in the family Cuculidae,order Cuculiformes,of which 17 species are parasitic cuckoos.This makes China one of the countries with the largest number of parasitic cuckoo species worldwide.Understanding the host utilization of cuckoos provides fundamental data for studying the coevolution of cuckoos with their hosts.We collected information on cuckoo hosts from the literature,photographs provided by birdwatchers,and online short video platforms,combined these data with our field observations,and summarized the parasitic cuckoos and their host species in China.A total of 1155 parasitism events were counted,involving 12 parasitic cuckoo species and 87 bird host species.These hosts belonged to 26 families,among which Muscicapidae was the most diverse with 19 species,accounting for 21.8%of the total hosts,followed by the families Phylloscopidae and Leiothrichidae with 8 species each,accounting for 9.2%of the total hosts recorded.The Common Cuckoo(Cuculus canorus)had the largest number of host taxa with 38 species,accounting for 43.7%of the total host species.This study adds 14 host species that have not been reported in China.However,for five species,the Jacobin Cuckoo(Clamator jacobinus),Banded Bay Cuckoo(Cacomantis sonneratii),Violet Cuckoo(Chrysococcyx xanthorhynchus),Common Hawkcuckoo(Hierococcyx varius),and Whistling Hawk-cuckoo(Hierococcyx nisicolor),information regarding host utilization is still lacking.展开更多
Sperm competition has been studied in numerous species as a representative example of postcopulatory sexual selection,where sampling sperm from male is the most basic and important step.Sperm collection can be tricky ...Sperm competition has been studied in numerous species as a representative example of postcopulatory sexual selection,where sampling sperm from male is the most basic and important step.Sperm collection can be tricky in birds,however,because unlike mammals,the genitals of birds are generally latent in the cloacal region and their characteristics vary among species.Various methods to collect sperm from different birds have been tested,such as cloacal massage,feces collection,and electro-stimulation,but their applicability varies depending on species.In this study,we introduced the urodeum stimulation method(UroS method)to collect sperm from Cuculus cuckoos,such as the Common Cuckoo(C.canorus).These species are expected to have interesting patterns of pair bonding and sperm competition because of their unique breeding strategy called brood parasitism;however,it remains unexplored.In this study,we described the application of our new method to expel semen from male common cuckoos,measured the volume of semen collected,checked the presence of sperm in the semen sample,and finally estimated its success rate among 82 males.Samples were successfully collected from 76 cuckoos(approximately 93%)and the colors and volumes of the samples were very diverse.Sperm was present in 43 of these samples(57%),showing a sperm observation rate approximately twice as high as that of the conventional cloacal massage method.We believe that this novel method will contribute to a better understanding of postcopulatory sexual selection in avian brood parasites and facilitate the process of sperm collection and artificial insemination in other medium-sized birds.展开更多
Hole-nesting tits Parus spp.have been classified as"unsuitable"hosts for cuckoo parasitism because cuckoos cannot enter a cavity if the entrance is too small.However,Chinese tits could re-ject alien eggs and...Hole-nesting tits Parus spp.have been classified as"unsuitable"hosts for cuckoo parasitism because cuckoos cannot enter a cavity if the entrance is too small.However,Chinese tits could re-ject alien eggs and egg ejection rate increased with the local diversity of parasitic cuckoo species.Antiparasitic behavior among Chinese tits may have evolved due to greater size variation among sympatric cuckoo species.This raises the question of whether differently sized parasitic cuckoos pose different threats to Chinese tits.A green-backed tit Parus monticolus population that is sym-patric with Asian emerald cuckoo Chrysococcyx maculatus(eme-cuckoo,small-sized parasite)and common cuckoo Cuculus canorus(com-cuckoo,large-sized parasite),and a cinereous tit P.cinereus population that is only sympatric with com-cuckoo were chosen as study organisms.We observed behavioral response and recorded alarm calls of the 2 tit species to eme-cuckoo,com-cuckoo,chipmunk Tamias sibiricus(a nest predator)and dove Streptopelia orientalis(a harm-less control),and subsequently played back alarm calls to conspecific incubating females.In dummy experiments,both tit species performed intense response behavior to chipmunk,but rarely responded strongly to the 3 avian species.In playback experiments,both tit species responded strongly to conspecific chipmunk alarm calls,but rarely responded to dove alarm calls.The inten-sity of response of incubating female green-backed tits to eme-cuckoo and com-cuckoo alarm calls were similar to that of chipmunk alarm calls,while the intensity to eme-cuckoo alarm calls was higher than the intensity to dove alarm calls which was similar to that of com-cuckoo alarm calls.In contrast,few female cinereous tits responded to eme-cuckoo and com-cuckoo alarm calls.These findings indicated that the threat level of eme-cuckoo was slightly greater than that of com-cuckoo for sympatric green-backed tits,but not for allopatric cinereous tits.展开更多
Background: Resemblance to raptors such as hawks(Accipiter spp.) is considered to be an adaptive strategy of cuckoos(Cuculus spp.), which has evolved to protect cuckoos against host attacks. However, the effectiveness...Background: Resemblance to raptors such as hawks(Accipiter spp.) is considered to be an adaptive strategy of cuckoos(Cuculus spp.), which has evolved to protect cuckoos against host attacks. However, the effectiveness of the mimicry remains controversial, and is not yet fully studied for highly aggressive hosts.Methods: We evaluated the effectiveness of sparrowhawk(Accipiter nisus) mimicry by common cuckoos(Cuculus canorus) in oriental reed warblers(Acrocephaus orientalis), which are highly aggressive hosts. Using a both the single and the paired dummy experiment, defense behaviors and attack intensities of oriental reed warblers against common cuckoos, sparrowhawks and oriental turtle doves(Streptopelia orientalis) were assessed.Results: Oriental reed warblers exhibit strong nest defense behaviors, and such behaviors do not change with breeding stage(i.e., egg stage and nestling stage). Furthermore, assistance from conspecific helpers may increase attack intensities. However, they were deterred from mobbing overall by the presence of the hawk.Conclusions: Oriental reed warblers are able to distinguish cuckoos from harmless doves. However, they may be deterred from mobbing by the presence of the predatory hawk, suggesting hawk mimicry may be ineffective and does not reduce attacks of cuckoos by highly aggressive hosts.展开更多
Brood parasites,such as the Common Cuckoo(Cuculus canorus),rely on manipulating hosts from other species to raise their offspring.Selection should favor individuals that are able to identify and choose host nests that...Brood parasites,such as the Common Cuckoo(Cuculus canorus),rely on manipulating hosts from other species to raise their offspring.Selection should favor individuals that are able to identify and choose host nests that closely match the incubation stage of their own eggs.While intuitive,and supported by the findings of numerous longterm monitoring studies,experimental evidence of this remains sparse.By using video monitoring,we used three experimental groups to explore whether Common Cuckoos preferentially choose host Oriental Reed Warbler(Acrocephalus orientalis)nests that are early in their laying cycle.We found that Common Cuckoos preferentially parasitize nests of the host Oriental Reed Warbler that are earlier in their laying(less vs.more eggs)or nesting cycle(eggs vs.chicks),and videos of our experiments provide direct insights into their decision making process.Our results provide strong experimental evidence that Common Cuckoos are able to assess nesting stage and strategically choose nests that increase the likelihood of successful parasitism.展开更多
The coevolutionary interaction between cuckoos and their hosts has been studied for a long time, but to date some puzzles still remain unsolved. Whether cuckoos parasitize their hosts by laying eggs randomly or matchi...The coevolutionary interaction between cuckoos and their hosts has been studied for a long time, but to date some puzzles still remain unsolved. Whether cuckoos parasitize their hosts by laying eggs randomly or matching the egg morphs of their hosts is one of the mysteries of the cuckoo problem. Scientists tend to believe that cuckoos lay eggs matching the appearance of host eggs due to selection caused by the ability of the hosts to recognize their own eggs.In this paper, we first review previous empirical studies to test this mystery and found no studies have provided direct evidence of cuckoos choosing to parasitize host nests where egg color and pattern match. We then present examples of unmatched cuckoo eggs in host nests and key life history traits of cuckoos, e.g. secretive behavior and rapid egg-laying and link them to cuckoo egg laying behavior. Finally we develop a conceptual model to demonstrate the egg laying behaviour of cuckoos and propose an empirical test that can provide direct evidence of the egg-laying properties of female cuckoos. We speculate that the degree of egg matching between cuckoo eggs and those of the host as detected by humans is caused by the ability of the hosts to recognize their own eggs, rather than the selection of matching host eggs by cuckoos. The case of Common Cuckoos(Cuculus canorus) and their parrotbill hosts(Paradoxornis alphonsianus), where it has been shown that both have evolved polymorphic eggs(mainly blue and white), was used to develop a conceptual model to demonstrate why cuckoos should utilize parrotbill hosts by laying eggs randomly rather than laying eggs matching the appearance of host eggs.In conclusion, we found no evidence for the hypothesis that cuckoos lay eggs based on own egg color matching that of the parrotbill-cuckoo system. We argue theoretically that laying eggs matching those of the hosts in this system violates a key trait of the life history of cuckoos and therefore should be maladaptive.展开更多
Background: Individuality in vocalizations may provide an effective tool for surveying populations of the Common Cuckoo(Cuculus canorus) but there remains few data on which technique to use to identify individuality. ...Background: Individuality in vocalizations may provide an effective tool for surveying populations of the Common Cuckoo(Cuculus canorus) but there remains few data on which technique to use to identify individuality. In this research, we compared the within-and between-individual variation in cuckoo calls using two different analytical methods, and discuss the feasibility of using call individuality to count male cuckoos within a population.Methods: We recorded vocalization from 13 males, and measured 15 spectro-temporal variables for each call. The majority of these call variables(n = 12) have greater variation between individuals than within individual. We first calculated the similarity(Pearson's R) for each paired calls in order to find a threshold that could distinguish calls emitted from the same or different males, and then counted the number of males based on this distinction. Second, we used the more widely accepted technique of discriminant function analysis(DFA) to identify individual male cuckoos, and compared the correct rate of classifying individuals between the two analytical methods.Results: Similarity of paired calls from the same male was significantly higher than from different males. Under a relatively broad threshold interval, we achieved a high(>90%) correct rate to distinguish calls and an accurate estimate of male numbers. Based on banded males(n = 3), we found the similarity of paired calls from different days was lower when compared with paired calls from the same day, but this change did not obscure individual identification, as similarity values of paired calls from different days were still larger than the threshold used to distinguish calls from the same or different males. DFA also yielded a high rate(91.9%) of correct classification of individuals.Conclusions: Our study suggests that identifying individual vocalizations can form the basis of an appropriate survey method for counting male cuckoos within a population, provided the performance of different analytical techniques are compared.展开更多
Generalist avian brood parasites vary considerably in their degree of host specialization(e.g.,number of hosts);some parasitize the nests of just a few host species,whereas others exploit more than 100 species.Several...Generalist avian brood parasites vary considerably in their degree of host specialization(e.g.,number of hosts);some parasitize the nests of just a few host species,whereas others exploit more than 100 species.Several factors,including habitat range,habitat type,and geographic location,have been suggested to account for these variations.However,inter-specific differences in individual attributes,such as personality and plasticity,have rarely been considered as potential factors of such variation,despite their potential relationship to,for example,range expansion.Using cage experiments,we tested the hypothesis that parasitic species exploiting more host species may be more active and exploratory.To this end,we quantified behaviors exhibited by two Cuculus cuckoos(Common Cuckoo C.canorus and Oriental Cuckoo C.optatus)that vary greatly in their number of host species.Specifically,we evaluated exploratory behavior displayed by birds in the cage,such as the number of movements,head-turning,wing-flapping,and stepping.The Common Cuckoo,which has a higher number of host species,tended to exhibit higher levels of exploratory behaviors than the Oriental Cuckoo.Our study showed that the two cuckoo species exhibited different exploratory levels,as predicted by the differences in their number of hosts.Further studies regarding the causality between individual attributes and host specialization with improved experimental methodology would greatly enhance our understanding of the role of individual characteristics in the coevolution of avian brood parasites and their hosts.展开更多
Many birds develop brood patches on their ventral apterium under hormonal regulation to effectively transmit body heat to eggs during incubation.The developed patch has several characteristics,including de-feathering,...Many birds develop brood patches on their ventral apterium under hormonal regulation to effectively transmit body heat to eggs during incubation.The developed patch has several characteristics,including de-feathering,vascularization,and edema.However,little is known about whether avian brood parasites that do not incubate their eggs exhibit brood patch development during the breeding season.In this study,we measured the size of the ventral apterium in 114 Common Cuckoos(Cuculus canorus)captured in the field throughout the breeding season and examined the appearance of the ventral apterium to confirm the development of brood patches.We also examined whether morphological traits and various factors correlated with the size of the ventral apterium(sternal apterium and abdominal apterium)and how it changed during the breeding season.We found no clear signs of brood patch development in Common Cuckoos captured throughout the breeding season,indicating that they likely did not develop brood patches on the ventral apterium during this period.We also found that ventral apterium size was positively correlated with wing length and body weight.In addition,Common Cuckoos with newly growing feathers on the boundary of the ventral apterium with pteryla were frequently observed as seasons progressed to the end.In conclusion,Common Cuckoos exhibit neither brood patch development nor the vestigial characteristics of ancestral brood patches,except for the growth of feathers on boundary the ventral apterium.Further studies examining brood patches across different groups of avian brood parasites are valuable for enhancing our understanding of the developmental and physiological adaptations of avian brood parasites.展开更多
The strategies used by parasitic cuckoos to fool their hosts have intrigued naturalists and ornithologists for centuries. Here I review some of the tricks used by Australian parasitic cuckoos to increase host nest ava...The strategies used by parasitic cuckoos to fool their hosts have intrigued naturalists and ornithologists for centuries. Here I review some of the tricks used by Australian parasitic cuckoos to increase host nest availability, access host nests, and fool their hosts into accepting their eggs and chicks. Some of these strategies are widely used by cuckoo species around the world, but other traits, such as cryptic eggs and mimetic chicks, appear to be largely restricted to the Australasian cuckoos. Generalist cuckoos face greater challenges than specialists if they must fool multiple host species, and this provides a possible explanation for why different species of cuckoos have evolved different strategies for host deception.展开更多
This study introduces a hybrid Cuckoo Search-Deep Neural Network(CS-DNN)model for uncertainty quantification and composition optimization of Na_(1/2)Bi_(1/2)TiO_(3)(NBT)-based dielectric energy storage ceramics.Addres...This study introduces a hybrid Cuckoo Search-Deep Neural Network(CS-DNN)model for uncertainty quantification and composition optimization of Na_(1/2)Bi_(1/2)TiO_(3)(NBT)-based dielectric energy storage ceramics.Addressing the limitations of traditional ferroelectric materials—such as hysteresis loss and low breakdown strength under high electric fields—we fabricate(1−x)NBBT8-xBMT solid solutions via chemical modification and systematically investigate their temperature stability and composition-dependent energy storage performance through XRD,SEM,and electrical characterization.The key innovation lies in integrating the CS metaheuristic algorithm with a DNN,overcoming localminima in training and establishing a robust composition-property prediction framework.Our model accurately predicts room-temperature dielectric constant(ε_(r)),maximum dielectric constant(ε_(max)),dielectric loss(tanδ),discharge energy density(W_(rec)),and charge-discharge efficiency(η)from compositional inputs.A Monte Carlo-based uncertainty quantification framework,combined with the 3σ statistical criterion,demonstrates that CSDNN outperforms conventional DNN models in three critical aspects:Higher prediction accuracy(R^(2)=0.9717 vs.0.9382 for ε_(max));Tighter error distribution,satisfying the 99.7% confidence interval under the 3σprinciple;Enhanced robustness,maintaining stable predictions across a 25% composition span in generalization tests.While the model’s generalization is constrained by both the limited experimental dataset(n=45)and the underlying assumptions of MC-based data augmentation,the CS-DNN framework establishes a machine learning-guided paradigm for accelerated discovery of high-temperature dielectric capacitors through its unique capability in quantifying composition-level energy storage uncertainties.展开更多
Deep learning algorithm is an effective data mining method and has been used in many fields to solve practical problems.However,the deep learning algorithms often contain some hyper-parameters which may be continuous,...Deep learning algorithm is an effective data mining method and has been used in many fields to solve practical problems.However,the deep learning algorithms often contain some hyper-parameters which may be continuous,integer,or mixed,and are often given based on experience but largely affect the effectiveness of activity recognition.In order to adapt to different hyper-parameter optimization problems,our improved Cuckoo Search(CS)algorithm is proposed to optimize the mixed hyper-parameters in deep learning algorithm.The algorithm optimizes the hyper-parameters in the deep learning model robustly,and intelligently selects the combination of integer type and continuous hyper-parameters that make the model optimal.Then,the mixed hyper-parameter in Convolutional Neural Network(CNN),Long-Short-Term Memory(LSTM)and CNN-LSTM are optimized based on the methodology on the smart home activity recognition datasets.Results show that the methodology can improve the performance of the deep learning model and whether we are experienced or not,we can get a better deep learning model using our method.展开更多
Heart failure prediction is crucial as cardiovascular diseases become the leading cause of death worldwide,exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.Age,cholesterol,and blood pressure datasets are becoming inadequate becau...Heart failure prediction is crucial as cardiovascular diseases become the leading cause of death worldwide,exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.Age,cholesterol,and blood pressure datasets are becoming inadequate because they cannot capture the complexity of emerging health indicators.These high-dimensional and heterogeneous datasets make traditional machine learning methods difficult,and Skewness and other new biomarkers and psychosocial factors bias the model’s heart health prediction across diverse patient profiles.Modern medical datasets’complexity and high dimensionality challenge traditional predictionmodels like SupportVectorMachines and Decision Trees.Quantum approaches include QSVM,QkNN,QDT,and others.These Constraints drove research.The“QHF-CS:Quantum-Enhanced Heart Failure Prediction using Quantum CNN with Optimized Feature Qubit Selection with Cuckoo Search in Skewed Clinical Data”system was developed in this research.This novel system leverages a Quantum Convolutional Neural Network(QCNN)-based quantum circuit,enhanced by meta-heuristic algorithms—Cuckoo SearchOptimization(CSO),Artificial BeeColony(ABC),and Particle SwarmOptimization(PSO)—for feature qubit selection.Among these,CSO demonstrated superior performance by consistently identifying the most optimal and least skewed feature subsets,which were then encoded into quantum states for circuit construction.By integrating advanced quantum circuit feature maps like ZZFeatureMap,RealAmplitudes,and EfficientSU2,the QHF-CS model efficiently processes complex,high-dimensional data,capturing intricate patterns that classical models overlook.The QHF-CS model improves precision,recall,F1-score,and accuracy to 0.94,0.95,0.94,and 0.94.Quantum computing could revolutionize heart failure diagnostics by improving model accuracy and computational efficiency,enabling complex healthcare diagnostic breakthroughs.展开更多
Background Interconnection of different power systems has a major effect on system stability.This study aims to design an optimal load frequency control(LFC)system based on a proportional-integral(PI)controller for a ...Background Interconnection of different power systems has a major effect on system stability.This study aims to design an optimal load frequency control(LFC)system based on a proportional-integral(PI)controller for a two-area power system.Methods Two areas were connected through an AC tie line in parallel with a DC link to stabilize the frequency of oscillations in both areas.The PI parameters were tuned using the cuckoo search algorithm(CSA)to minimize the integral absolute error(IAE).A state matrix was provided,and the stability of the system was verified by calculating the eigenvalues.The frequency response was investigated for load variation,changes in the generator rate constraint,the turbine time constant,and the governor time constant.Results The CSA was compared with particle swarm optimization algorithm(PSO)under identical conditions.The system was modeled based on a state-space mathematical representation and simulated using MATLAB.The results demonstrated the effectiveness of the proposed controller based on both algorithms and,it is clear that CSA is superior to PSO.Conclusion The CSA algorithm smoothens the system response,reduces ripples,decreases overshooting and settling time,and improves the overall system performance under different disturbances.展开更多
Brood parasitic birds constitute a model system for the study of coevolution.Such parasites are unique by having evolved unusually thick eggshells for their body size.ick eggshells have been hypothesized to evolve as ...Brood parasitic birds constitute a model system for the study of coevolution.Such parasites are unique by having evolved unusually thick eggshells for their body size.ick eggshells have been hypothesized to evolve as 1) a means of preventing damage to parasite eggs when the brood parasite lays its egg at a distance from the host clutch(the laying damage hypothesis);2) a consequence of host puncture ejection(the puncture resistance hypothesis);3) a means for the brood parasite to allocate calcium to development of a disproportionately large skeleto-muscular system in evicting parasite chicks(the chick vigour hypothesis);or 4) a means of protecting the cuckoo embryo from microorganisms in the nest of the host(the anti-bacterial protection hypothesis).Here we review the literature studying the evolutionary mechanisms promoting thick eggshells in avian brood parasites,and provide proposals for future studies to test their validity.Available data are insu cient to rigorously test exclusive predictions and assumptions of these not necessarily exclusive hypotheses,although the laying damage and the puncture resistance hypotheses seem to currently be the most well supported alternatives.We discuss how quanti cation of rejection modes(grasp ejection,puncture ejection and desertion) may disclose the validity of the puncture resistance hypothesis,and nally we provide perspectives for future research on testing this speci c hypothesis.展开更多
The artificial nestbox on an Asian White Birch (Betula platyphylla) (1360 m in elevation) was used by a pair of Yellow-rumped Flycatcher (Ficedula zanthopygia) in Beijing, and five eggs were found in the nest in 2005....The artificial nestbox on an Asian White Birch (Betula platyphylla) (1360 m in elevation) was used by a pair of Yellow-rumped Flycatcher (Ficedula zanthopygia) in Beijing, and five eggs were found in the nest in 2005. One was much larger and was identified as the Oriental Cuckoo’s (Cuculus optatus) egg.展开更多
基金supported by Basic Science Research Program through the National Research Foundation of Korea(NRF)funded by The Ministry of Education(NRF-2020R1I1A2063567)。
文摘In brood-parasitic Cuculus cuckoos,male vocalizations are species-specific and easily distinguishable,whereas female calls are remarkably similar across species,making species identification challenging.In this study,we examined the structural characteristics and variability of female bubbling calls among four Cuculus species(Common Cuckoo C.canorus,Oriental Cuckoo C.optatus,Indian Cuckoo C.micropterus,and Lesser Cuckoo C.poliocephalus)breeding in South Korea.Comprehensive acoustic analyses of seven call parameters,using recordings from 2021 to 2023,were conducted to quantify the characteristics of their calls and compare withinand between-individual variability across species.Significant differences were found across all call parameters,with the Common Cuckoo producing the highest number of notes and the Oriental Cuckoo the lowest-frequency calls.Despite these differences,the overall structure of the calls remained acoustically similar,with overlapping characteristics across species.Furthermore,female Common Cuckoos exhibited greater within-individual variability in their calls,while the other species showed higher between-individual variability,which may further complicate species identification based vocalization alone.These findings highlight the complexities of female vocalizations in Cuculus cuckoos and suggest that ecological,social,and evolutionary factors may contribute to this vocal variability.
基金supported by the National Key R&D Program of China(2023YFF1304600)supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.32160242 to JL,32470513 and 32270526 to W.L.)supported by the 2023 Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region Youth Science and Technology Support Talent Training Project。
文摘Avian brood parasitism is a unique reproductive behavior in which parasitic birds depend on other species to incubate their eggs and raise their offspring.In China,there are 20 species of cuckoos in the family Cuculidae,order Cuculiformes,of which 17 species are parasitic cuckoos.This makes China one of the countries with the largest number of parasitic cuckoo species worldwide.Understanding the host utilization of cuckoos provides fundamental data for studying the coevolution of cuckoos with their hosts.We collected information on cuckoo hosts from the literature,photographs provided by birdwatchers,and online short video platforms,combined these data with our field observations,and summarized the parasitic cuckoos and their host species in China.A total of 1155 parasitism events were counted,involving 12 parasitic cuckoo species and 87 bird host species.These hosts belonged to 26 families,among which Muscicapidae was the most diverse with 19 species,accounting for 21.8%of the total hosts,followed by the families Phylloscopidae and Leiothrichidae with 8 species each,accounting for 9.2%of the total hosts recorded.The Common Cuckoo(Cuculus canorus)had the largest number of host taxa with 38 species,accounting for 43.7%of the total host species.This study adds 14 host species that have not been reported in China.However,for five species,the Jacobin Cuckoo(Clamator jacobinus),Banded Bay Cuckoo(Cacomantis sonneratii),Violet Cuckoo(Chrysococcyx xanthorhynchus),Common Hawkcuckoo(Hierococcyx varius),and Whistling Hawk-cuckoo(Hierococcyx nisicolor),information regarding host utilization is still lacking.
基金financially supported by Basic Science Research Program through the National Research Foundation of Korea(NRF)funded by The Ministry of Education(NRF2020R1I1A2063567)。
文摘Sperm competition has been studied in numerous species as a representative example of postcopulatory sexual selection,where sampling sperm from male is the most basic and important step.Sperm collection can be tricky in birds,however,because unlike mammals,the genitals of birds are generally latent in the cloacal region and their characteristics vary among species.Various methods to collect sperm from different birds have been tested,such as cloacal massage,feces collection,and electro-stimulation,but their applicability varies depending on species.In this study,we introduced the urodeum stimulation method(UroS method)to collect sperm from Cuculus cuckoos,such as the Common Cuckoo(C.canorus).These species are expected to have interesting patterns of pair bonding and sperm competition because of their unique breeding strategy called brood parasitism;however,it remains unexplored.In this study,we described the application of our new method to expel semen from male common cuckoos,measured the volume of semen collected,checked the presence of sperm in the semen sample,and finally estimated its success rate among 82 males.Samples were successfully collected from 76 cuckoos(approximately 93%)and the colors and volumes of the samples were very diverse.Sperm was present in 43 of these samples(57%),showing a sperm observation rate approximately twice as high as that of the conventional cloacal massage method.We believe that this novel method will contribute to a better understanding of postcopulatory sexual selection in avian brood parasites and facilitate the process of sperm collection and artificial insemination in other medium-sized birds.
基金the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.31770419 and 31470458 to H.W.,31772453 and 31970427 to W.L.)the Open Project Program of Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Resource Conservation and Utilization(130028823)+1 种基金the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities(2412018QD009)the Project funded by China Postdoctoral Science Foundation(2018M631854).
文摘Hole-nesting tits Parus spp.have been classified as"unsuitable"hosts for cuckoo parasitism because cuckoos cannot enter a cavity if the entrance is too small.However,Chinese tits could re-ject alien eggs and egg ejection rate increased with the local diversity of parasitic cuckoo species.Antiparasitic behavior among Chinese tits may have evolved due to greater size variation among sympatric cuckoo species.This raises the question of whether differently sized parasitic cuckoos pose different threats to Chinese tits.A green-backed tit Parus monticolus population that is sym-patric with Asian emerald cuckoo Chrysococcyx maculatus(eme-cuckoo,small-sized parasite)and common cuckoo Cuculus canorus(com-cuckoo,large-sized parasite),and a cinereous tit P.cinereus population that is only sympatric with com-cuckoo were chosen as study organisms.We observed behavioral response and recorded alarm calls of the 2 tit species to eme-cuckoo,com-cuckoo,chipmunk Tamias sibiricus(a nest predator)and dove Streptopelia orientalis(a harm-less control),and subsequently played back alarm calls to conspecific incubating females.In dummy experiments,both tit species performed intense response behavior to chipmunk,but rarely responded strongly to the 3 avian species.In playback experiments,both tit species responded strongly to conspecific chipmunk alarm calls,but rarely responded to dove alarm calls.The inten-sity of response of incubating female green-backed tits to eme-cuckoo and com-cuckoo alarm calls were similar to that of chipmunk alarm calls,while the intensity to eme-cuckoo alarm calls was higher than the intensity to dove alarm calls which was similar to that of com-cuckoo alarm calls.In contrast,few female cinereous tits responded to eme-cuckoo and com-cuckoo alarm calls.These findings indicated that the threat level of eme-cuckoo was slightly greater than that of com-cuckoo for sympatric green-backed tits,but not for allopatric cinereous tits.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.31672303 to CY,31472013 and 31772453 to WL)
文摘Background: Resemblance to raptors such as hawks(Accipiter spp.) is considered to be an adaptive strategy of cuckoos(Cuculus spp.), which has evolved to protect cuckoos against host attacks. However, the effectiveness of the mimicry remains controversial, and is not yet fully studied for highly aggressive hosts.Methods: We evaluated the effectiveness of sparrowhawk(Accipiter nisus) mimicry by common cuckoos(Cuculus canorus) in oriental reed warblers(Acrocephaus orientalis), which are highly aggressive hosts. Using a both the single and the paired dummy experiment, defense behaviors and attack intensities of oriental reed warblers against common cuckoos, sparrowhawks and oriental turtle doves(Streptopelia orientalis) were assessed.Results: Oriental reed warblers exhibit strong nest defense behaviors, and such behaviors do not change with breeding stage(i.e., egg stage and nestling stage). Furthermore, assistance from conspecific helpers may increase attack intensities. However, they were deterred from mobbing overall by the presence of the hawk.Conclusions: Oriental reed warblers are able to distinguish cuckoos from harmless doves. However, they may be deterred from mobbing by the presence of the predatory hawk, suggesting hawk mimicry may be ineffective and does not reduce attacks of cuckoos by highly aggressive hosts.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.31960105 to LW,and 31970427 to WL)the specific research fund of the Innovation Platform for Academicians of Hainan Provincefunded by the Guizhou Natural Science Foundation(No.ZK[2022]-316)。
文摘Brood parasites,such as the Common Cuckoo(Cuculus canorus),rely on manipulating hosts from other species to raise their offspring.Selection should favor individuals that are able to identify and choose host nests that closely match the incubation stage of their own eggs.While intuitive,and supported by the findings of numerous longterm monitoring studies,experimental evidence of this remains sparse.By using video monitoring,we used three experimental groups to explore whether Common Cuckoos preferentially choose host Oriental Reed Warbler(Acrocephalus orientalis)nests that are early in their laying cycle.We found that Common Cuckoos preferentially parasitize nests of the host Oriental Reed Warbler that are earlier in their laying(less vs.more eggs)or nesting cycle(eggs vs.chicks),and videos of our experiments provide direct insights into their decision making process.Our results provide strong experimental evidence that Common Cuckoos are able to assess nesting stage and strategically choose nests that increase the likelihood of successful parasitism.
基金funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(nos.31071938,31272328 and 31472013 to WL,and 31260514 to CY)the Program for New Century Excellent Talents in University(NCET-13-0761)+1 种基金the Key Project of the Chinese Ministry of Education(no.212136)the Program of International S&T Cooperation(KJHZ2013-12)to CY
文摘The coevolutionary interaction between cuckoos and their hosts has been studied for a long time, but to date some puzzles still remain unsolved. Whether cuckoos parasitize their hosts by laying eggs randomly or matching the egg morphs of their hosts is one of the mysteries of the cuckoo problem. Scientists tend to believe that cuckoos lay eggs matching the appearance of host eggs due to selection caused by the ability of the hosts to recognize their own eggs.In this paper, we first review previous empirical studies to test this mystery and found no studies have provided direct evidence of cuckoos choosing to parasitize host nests where egg color and pattern match. We then present examples of unmatched cuckoo eggs in host nests and key life history traits of cuckoos, e.g. secretive behavior and rapid egg-laying and link them to cuckoo egg laying behavior. Finally we develop a conceptual model to demonstrate the egg laying behaviour of cuckoos and propose an empirical test that can provide direct evidence of the egg-laying properties of female cuckoos. We speculate that the degree of egg matching between cuckoo eggs and those of the host as detected by humans is caused by the ability of the hosts to recognize their own eggs, rather than the selection of matching host eggs by cuckoos. The case of Common Cuckoos(Cuculus canorus) and their parrotbill hosts(Paradoxornis alphonsianus), where it has been shown that both have evolved polymorphic eggs(mainly blue and white), was used to develop a conceptual model to demonstrate why cuckoos should utilize parrotbill hosts by laying eggs randomly rather than laying eggs matching the appearance of host eggs.In conclusion, we found no evidence for the hypothesis that cuckoos lay eggs based on own egg color matching that of the parrotbill-cuckoo system. We argue theoretically that laying eggs matching those of the hosts in this system violates a key trait of the life history of cuckoos and therefore should be maladaptive.
基金supported by the Youth Scholars Program of Beijing Normal University (No. 31601868 to CX)National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 31301888 to DL)+1 种基金General scientific research project of Education Department of Liaoning Province (L2015196 to DL)Open Fund of Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Biodiversity Sciences and Ecological Engineering, Beijing Normal University (K1401 to DL)
文摘Background: Individuality in vocalizations may provide an effective tool for surveying populations of the Common Cuckoo(Cuculus canorus) but there remains few data on which technique to use to identify individuality. In this research, we compared the within-and between-individual variation in cuckoo calls using two different analytical methods, and discuss the feasibility of using call individuality to count male cuckoos within a population.Methods: We recorded vocalization from 13 males, and measured 15 spectro-temporal variables for each call. The majority of these call variables(n = 12) have greater variation between individuals than within individual. We first calculated the similarity(Pearson's R) for each paired calls in order to find a threshold that could distinguish calls emitted from the same or different males, and then counted the number of males based on this distinction. Second, we used the more widely accepted technique of discriminant function analysis(DFA) to identify individual male cuckoos, and compared the correct rate of classifying individuals between the two analytical methods.Results: Similarity of paired calls from the same male was significantly higher than from different males. Under a relatively broad threshold interval, we achieved a high(>90%) correct rate to distinguish calls and an accurate estimate of male numbers. Based on banded males(n = 3), we found the similarity of paired calls from different days was lower when compared with paired calls from the same day, but this change did not obscure individual identification, as similarity values of paired calls from different days were still larger than the threshold used to distinguish calls from the same or different males. DFA also yielded a high rate(91.9%) of correct classification of individuals.Conclusions: Our study suggests that identifying individual vocalizations can form the basis of an appropriate survey method for counting male cuckoos within a population, provided the performance of different analytical techniques are compared.
基金supported by the National Research Foundation of Korea(NRF2017R1D1A1B03030329,NRF-2019K2A9A2A06022677)。
文摘Generalist avian brood parasites vary considerably in their degree of host specialization(e.g.,number of hosts);some parasitize the nests of just a few host species,whereas others exploit more than 100 species.Several factors,including habitat range,habitat type,and geographic location,have been suggested to account for these variations.However,inter-specific differences in individual attributes,such as personality and plasticity,have rarely been considered as potential factors of such variation,despite their potential relationship to,for example,range expansion.Using cage experiments,we tested the hypothesis that parasitic species exploiting more host species may be more active and exploratory.To this end,we quantified behaviors exhibited by two Cuculus cuckoos(Common Cuckoo C.canorus and Oriental Cuckoo C.optatus)that vary greatly in their number of host species.Specifically,we evaluated exploratory behavior displayed by birds in the cage,such as the number of movements,head-turning,wing-flapping,and stepping.The Common Cuckoo,which has a higher number of host species,tended to exhibit higher levels of exploratory behaviors than the Oriental Cuckoo.Our study showed that the two cuckoo species exhibited different exploratory levels,as predicted by the differences in their number of hosts.Further studies regarding the causality between individual attributes and host specialization with improved experimental methodology would greatly enhance our understanding of the role of individual characteristics in the coevolution of avian brood parasites and their hosts.
基金financially supported by Basic Science Research Program through the National Research Foundation of Korea(NRF)funded by The Ministry of Education(NRF-2020R1I1A2063567)。
文摘Many birds develop brood patches on their ventral apterium under hormonal regulation to effectively transmit body heat to eggs during incubation.The developed patch has several characteristics,including de-feathering,vascularization,and edema.However,little is known about whether avian brood parasites that do not incubate their eggs exhibit brood patch development during the breeding season.In this study,we measured the size of the ventral apterium in 114 Common Cuckoos(Cuculus canorus)captured in the field throughout the breeding season and examined the appearance of the ventral apterium to confirm the development of brood patches.We also examined whether morphological traits and various factors correlated with the size of the ventral apterium(sternal apterium and abdominal apterium)and how it changed during the breeding season.We found no clear signs of brood patch development in Common Cuckoos captured throughout the breeding season,indicating that they likely did not develop brood patches on the ventral apterium during this period.We also found that ventral apterium size was positively correlated with wing length and body weight.In addition,Common Cuckoos with newly growing feathers on the boundary of the ventral apterium with pteryla were frequently observed as seasons progressed to the end.In conclusion,Common Cuckoos exhibit neither brood patch development nor the vestigial characteristics of ancestral brood patches,except for the growth of feathers on boundary the ventral apterium.Further studies examining brood patches across different groups of avian brood parasites are valuable for enhancing our understanding of the developmental and physiological adaptations of avian brood parasites.
基金supported by an Australian Research Council Australian Research Fellowship
文摘The strategies used by parasitic cuckoos to fool their hosts have intrigued naturalists and ornithologists for centuries. Here I review some of the tricks used by Australian parasitic cuckoos to increase host nest availability, access host nests, and fool their hosts into accepting their eggs and chicks. Some of these strategies are widely used by cuckoo species around the world, but other traits, such as cryptic eggs and mimetic chicks, appear to be largely restricted to the Australasian cuckoos. Generalist cuckoos face greater challenges than specialists if they must fool multiple host species, and this provides a possible explanation for why different species of cuckoos have evolved different strategies for host deception.
基金supported by the Postgraduate Education Reform and Quality Improvement Project of Henan Province(Grant Nos.YJS2023JD52 and YJS2025GZZ48)the Zhumadian 2023 Major Science and Technology Special Project(Grant No.ZMD SZDZX2023002)+1 种基金2025 Henan Province International Science and Technology Cooperation Project(Cultivation Project,No.252102521011)Research Merit-Based Funding Program for Overseas Educated Personnel in Henan Province(Letter of Henan Human Resources and Social Security Office[2025]No.37).
文摘This study introduces a hybrid Cuckoo Search-Deep Neural Network(CS-DNN)model for uncertainty quantification and composition optimization of Na_(1/2)Bi_(1/2)TiO_(3)(NBT)-based dielectric energy storage ceramics.Addressing the limitations of traditional ferroelectric materials—such as hysteresis loss and low breakdown strength under high electric fields—we fabricate(1−x)NBBT8-xBMT solid solutions via chemical modification and systematically investigate their temperature stability and composition-dependent energy storage performance through XRD,SEM,and electrical characterization.The key innovation lies in integrating the CS metaheuristic algorithm with a DNN,overcoming localminima in training and establishing a robust composition-property prediction framework.Our model accurately predicts room-temperature dielectric constant(ε_(r)),maximum dielectric constant(ε_(max)),dielectric loss(tanδ),discharge energy density(W_(rec)),and charge-discharge efficiency(η)from compositional inputs.A Monte Carlo-based uncertainty quantification framework,combined with the 3σ statistical criterion,demonstrates that CSDNN outperforms conventional DNN models in three critical aspects:Higher prediction accuracy(R^(2)=0.9717 vs.0.9382 for ε_(max));Tighter error distribution,satisfying the 99.7% confidence interval under the 3σprinciple;Enhanced robustness,maintaining stable predictions across a 25% composition span in generalization tests.While the model’s generalization is constrained by both the limited experimental dataset(n=45)and the underlying assumptions of MC-based data augmentation,the CS-DNN framework establishes a machine learning-guided paradigm for accelerated discovery of high-temperature dielectric capacitors through its unique capability in quantifying composition-level energy storage uncertainties.
基金Supported by the Anhui Province Sports Health Information Monitoring Technology Engineering Research Center Open Project (KF2023012)。
文摘Deep learning algorithm is an effective data mining method and has been used in many fields to solve practical problems.However,the deep learning algorithms often contain some hyper-parameters which may be continuous,integer,or mixed,and are often given based on experience but largely affect the effectiveness of activity recognition.In order to adapt to different hyper-parameter optimization problems,our improved Cuckoo Search(CS)algorithm is proposed to optimize the mixed hyper-parameters in deep learning algorithm.The algorithm optimizes the hyper-parameters in the deep learning model robustly,and intelligently selects the combination of integer type and continuous hyper-parameters that make the model optimal.Then,the mixed hyper-parameter in Convolutional Neural Network(CNN),Long-Short-Term Memory(LSTM)and CNN-LSTM are optimized based on the methodology on the smart home activity recognition datasets.Results show that the methodology can improve the performance of the deep learning model and whether we are experienced or not,we can get a better deep learning model using our method.
文摘Heart failure prediction is crucial as cardiovascular diseases become the leading cause of death worldwide,exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.Age,cholesterol,and blood pressure datasets are becoming inadequate because they cannot capture the complexity of emerging health indicators.These high-dimensional and heterogeneous datasets make traditional machine learning methods difficult,and Skewness and other new biomarkers and psychosocial factors bias the model’s heart health prediction across diverse patient profiles.Modern medical datasets’complexity and high dimensionality challenge traditional predictionmodels like SupportVectorMachines and Decision Trees.Quantum approaches include QSVM,QkNN,QDT,and others.These Constraints drove research.The“QHF-CS:Quantum-Enhanced Heart Failure Prediction using Quantum CNN with Optimized Feature Qubit Selection with Cuckoo Search in Skewed Clinical Data”system was developed in this research.This novel system leverages a Quantum Convolutional Neural Network(QCNN)-based quantum circuit,enhanced by meta-heuristic algorithms—Cuckoo SearchOptimization(CSO),Artificial BeeColony(ABC),and Particle SwarmOptimization(PSO)—for feature qubit selection.Among these,CSO demonstrated superior performance by consistently identifying the most optimal and least skewed feature subsets,which were then encoded into quantum states for circuit construction.By integrating advanced quantum circuit feature maps like ZZFeatureMap,RealAmplitudes,and EfficientSU2,the QHF-CS model efficiently processes complex,high-dimensional data,capturing intricate patterns that classical models overlook.The QHF-CS model improves precision,recall,F1-score,and accuracy to 0.94,0.95,0.94,and 0.94.Quantum computing could revolutionize heart failure diagnostics by improving model accuracy and computational efficiency,enabling complex healthcare diagnostic breakthroughs.
基金Supported by the Russian Science Foundation(Agreement 23-41-10001,https://rscf.ru/project/23-41-10001/).
文摘Background Interconnection of different power systems has a major effect on system stability.This study aims to design an optimal load frequency control(LFC)system based on a proportional-integral(PI)controller for a two-area power system.Methods Two areas were connected through an AC tie line in parallel with a DC link to stabilize the frequency of oscillations in both areas.The PI parameters were tuned using the cuckoo search algorithm(CSA)to minimize the integral absolute error(IAE).A state matrix was provided,and the stability of the system was verified by calculating the eigenvalues.The frequency response was investigated for load variation,changes in the generator rate constraint,the turbine time constant,and the governor time constant.Results The CSA was compared with particle swarm optimization algorithm(PSO)under identical conditions.The system was modeled based on a state-space mathematical representation and simulated using MATLAB.The results demonstrated the effectiveness of the proposed controller based on both algorithms and,it is clear that CSA is superior to PSO.Conclusion The CSA algorithm smoothens the system response,reduces ripples,decreases overshooting and settling time,and improves the overall system performance under different disturbances.
基金supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos.31071938 to AA,BGS and WL,31272328 to WL,31101646 and 31260514 to CY)Program for New Century Excellent Talents in University (NCET-10-0111 to WL)BGS and FF were funded by the Research Council of Norway (218144)
文摘Brood parasitic birds constitute a model system for the study of coevolution.Such parasites are unique by having evolved unusually thick eggshells for their body size.ick eggshells have been hypothesized to evolve as 1) a means of preventing damage to parasite eggs when the brood parasite lays its egg at a distance from the host clutch(the laying damage hypothesis);2) a consequence of host puncture ejection(the puncture resistance hypothesis);3) a means for the brood parasite to allocate calcium to development of a disproportionately large skeleto-muscular system in evicting parasite chicks(the chick vigour hypothesis);or 4) a means of protecting the cuckoo embryo from microorganisms in the nest of the host(the anti-bacterial protection hypothesis).Here we review the literature studying the evolutionary mechanisms promoting thick eggshells in avian brood parasites,and provide proposals for future studies to test their validity.Available data are insu cient to rigorously test exclusive predictions and assumptions of these not necessarily exclusive hypotheses,although the laying damage and the puncture resistance hypotheses seem to currently be the most well supported alternatives.We discuss how quanti cation of rejection modes(grasp ejection,puncture ejection and desertion) may disclose the validity of the puncture resistance hypothesis,and nally we provide perspectives for future research on testing this speci c hypothesis.
文摘The artificial nestbox on an Asian White Birch (Betula platyphylla) (1360 m in elevation) was used by a pair of Yellow-rumped Flycatcher (Ficedula zanthopygia) in Beijing, and five eggs were found in the nest in 2005. One was much larger and was identified as the Oriental Cuckoo’s (Cuculus optatus) egg.
