Last Updated：2025/12/02
(biology) A hypothesis attempting to explain why most hosts of brood parasites care for the parasite's nestlings. Since the host's nest is attacked if the parasite's egg is detected and rejected, this indirectly enhances selective pressures favouring aggressive parasite behaviour that may result in positive feedback between mafia-like parasites and compliant hosts.
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mafia hypothesis
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Source Word
mafia hypothesis
Proper noun
(biology)
A
hypothesis
attempting
to
explain
why
most
hosts
of
brood
parasites
care
for
the
parasite's
nestlings.
Since
the
host's
nest
is
attacked
if
the
parasite's
egg
is
detected
and
rejected,
this
indirectly
enhances
selective
pressures
favouring
aggressive
parasite
behaviour
that
may
result
in
positive
feedback
between
mafia-like
parasites
and
compliant
hosts.
Japanese Meaning
生物学における「マフィア仮説」とは、寄生巣を持つ動物が、寄生鳥の卵を検知して拒否すると巣が攻撃されるため、結果的に寄生鳥の攻撃的な行動が選択圧として働き、これが寄生者と従順な宿主との間で正のフィードバックループを引き起こすという現象を説明する仮説を指します。
Sense（1）
(biology)
A
hypothesis
attempting
to
explain
why
most
hosts
of
brood
parasites
care
for
the
parasite's
nestlings.
Since
the
host's
nest
is
attacked
if
the
parasite's
egg
is
detected
and
rejected,
this
indirectly
enhances
selective
pressures
favouring
aggressive
parasite
behaviour
that
may
result
in
positive
feedback
between
mafia-like
parasites
and
compliant
hosts.
（ canonical ）
