{"product_id":"cuckoos-cowbirds-and-other-cheats-9781408136669","title":"Cuckoos Cowbirds and Other Cheats","description":"\u003cb\u003eBook Synopsis\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eThis fascinating study describes the natural  histories of these brood parasites and examines many of the exciting  questions they raise about the evolution of cheating and the arms race  between parasites and their prey.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eBrood parasites fill their armoury with  adaptations including exquisite egg mimicry, rapid laying, ejection of  host eggs, murder of host young, chick mimicry and manipulative begging  behaviour: ploys shown by recent research to have evolved in response to  host defence behaviour or through competition among the parasites  themselves. While many host species appear defenceless, accepting  parasite eggs quite unlike their own, many are more discriminating  against odd-looking eggs and some have evolved the ability to  discriminate against odd-looking chicks as well.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eHow is this arms race  conducted? Will defenceless hosts develop defences in time, or are there  constraints which limit the evolution and perfection of host defences?  And why are\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Bloomsbury Publishing PLC","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51019798610263,"sku":"9781408136669","price":60.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0817\/1739\/5799\/files\/9781408136669.jpg?v=1750781292","url":"https:\/\/bookcurl.com\/products\/cuckoos-cowbirds-and-other-cheats-9781408136669","provider":"Book Curl","version":"1.0","type":"link"}