title: Behavioural ecology: niche construction via grooming and extortion?
abstract: A recent study shows that brood parasitic cowbirds employ Mafia-like tactics to discourage rejection of their broods by a common host. This may be a new example of animals adaptively 'constructing' key features of their ecological niches.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Ecology & Conservation, School of Biosciences, University of Exeter, Cornwall Campus, Penryn TR10 9EZ, UK. sashadall@iname.com <sashadall@iname.com>
authors.forename: Sasha R X
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Dall
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D009425:Nesting Behavior; D046109:Passeriformes / Q000502:physiology*; D012919:Social Behavior; D020308:Songbirds / Q000469:parasitology* / Q000502:physiology