NEET 2022 Biology Notes
Explain About Brood Parasitism with Example?
BY Team Aakash Byju's
Parasitism
Parasitism is a close relationship between the living creatures, where one creature lives on/inside the other creature.
Parasite
Organisms that depend on other host organisms for food and shelter.
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Organisms that provide shelter and food to the parasite.
Host
Brood parasitism is a kind of parasitism where some birds lay the eggs in the nest of other birds. Example: Cuckoos, cowbirds.
Brood parasitism
These birds do not build nests. They lay the eggs in other birds’ nests when they temporarily leave the nest.
The host cannot differentiate the eggs of the parasite bird. All the nestlings share the food provided by the host bird.
Brood parasitism benefits parasitic parents, enabling them to spend more time on other activities.
Brood parasitism has different effects on different host species.
Effects of Brood Parasitism on Host Bird
Brood parasitism causes a potential threat to the host organism and its nestlings.
Brood parasites decrease the survival chances of the larva of the host organisms.