• Animal cells and systems
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.77-80
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• 2004

To investigate the effect of host egg color dimorphism on the vinous-throated parrotbill (Paradoxornis webbianus) - common cuckoo (Cuculus canorus) interactions, we monitored breeding nests of vinous-throated parrotbills, and conducted model egg experiments, using two colors: white and blue. Of the 190 nests examined in this study, cuckoo parasitism occurred at 10 nests (8 blue and 2 white egg clutches, respectively), and only blue cuckoo eggs were found. This frequency was similar to the egg-color ratio of all host nests found (151 blue and 39 white egg clutches). Vinous-throated parrotbills showed high rejection rate towards both cuckoo eggs and model ones. There was a significant difference in rejection rates towards mimetic (blue) and non-mimetic (white) eggs in blue egg clutches. Mimetic eggs put in nests took significantly longer to be rejected than non-mimetic ones. The most common rejection method used by the hosts was egg ejection (puncture-ejection). The costs of ejecting non-mimetic eggs tended to be lower than those of ejecting mimetic eggs. These results indicate that egg-color dimorphism in this species favors the individuals having white egg clutches in terms of higher rejection rate and lower ejection costs of the parasitic eggs. This study also suggests that egg-color dimorphism of the vinous-throated parrotbill decreases the effect of cuckoo parasitism on host populations.

• Animal cells and systems
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.211-213
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• 2005

In bird species that suffer brood parasitism, the question about which sex is responsible for egg rejection has important implications for determining the coevolutionary relationship between brood parasites and their hosts. In order to determine which sex rejects a parasitic egg in vinous-throated parrotbills (Paradoxornis webbianus) which have egg color dimorphism, we conducted model egg experiments and video-recorded the behavior of the focal pair. Both sexes showed rejection behavior to the parasitic eggs. It indicates that the vinous-throated parrotbill may have a high rejection rate and faster spread of any rejection alleles through out populations. However, further studies are still needed to confirm the egg recognition mechanism in this species, which will expand our knowledge of the evolutionary relationship between host and parasite.

• Proceedings of the Zoological Society Korea Conference
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• 1995.10b
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• pp.180.2-180
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• 1995

No Abstract, See Full Text

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.277-286
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• 2006

Population ecology of Cobitis tetralineata was examined at Churyeong Stream, Seomjin River, Korea. C. tetralineata inhabited on the sand bottoms with $10{\sim}20cm/see$ in current velocity, and $30{\sim}150cm$ in water depth. This species was active on the sand during the daylight hours from March to October, but they hibernated in the inside of the sand during the winter season. Sex ratio of female to male was 1:0.57, and female was $20{\sim}30mm$ (TL) larger than male. The age group of C. tetralineata (female) population showed that the $20{\sim}40mm$ group is 0+ years old, the $45{\sim}65mm$ group 1+ years old, the $65{\sim}90mm$ group 2+ years old, and the group longer than 90 mm over 3 years old. Males $13{\sim}14$ months old after hatching had lamina circularis at the base of its pectoral fin as a secondary sexual character. And in its spawning season, lateral color pattern of male was changed as a sexual dimorphism. The spawning season may be from late June to middle July, $22{\sim}26^{\circ}C$ water temperature. The average number of mature eggs in ovary was about $1,288{\pm}583(474{\sim}2,976)$, egg diameter was about $0.98{\pm}0.1mm$. C. tetralineata fed mainly on Chironomidae, Arcellidae, Branchioda and Algae. The feeding rate was the highest in April and September, but they did not fed in the winter.