Database egg rejection latency meta analysis

Egg rejection is the most widespread defence strategy used by hosts of avian brood parasites to mitigate the fitness costs imposed by parasitism. The time interval between the parasitic event and egg rejection is a crucial aspect of anti-parasitic host defences, yet the main factors shaping latency to egg rejection across different brood parasite-host systems and contexts remain uncertain. Through meta-analysis of egg-rejection experiments across diverse parasite-host systems, we identified key factors influencing rejection latency. We found that hosts in sympatric populations with parasites rejected eggs more quickly than those in allopatric populations. Egg characteristics significantly affected rejection timing: more mimetic eggs were rejected later; similarly-sized eggs took longest to reject, while smaller eggs were rejected fastest. Additionally, higher rejection rates were associated with faster rejection. Notably, the duration of nest monitoring by researchers was a significant factor influencing results, underscoring the importance of methodological considerations. Our findings confirm that characteristics known to trigger egg rejection often also influence rejection timing. This study advances our understanding of the key characteristics underlying host defences while emphasizing the importance of standardized methodologies, particularly in nest monitoring duration, to ensure accurate assessment of egg rejection latency.