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Jones L, Sanders C, England M, Cameron M, Carpenter S. Pupal Exuviae of Culex Pipiens L. (Diptera: Culicidae) Can be Utilised as a Non-Invasive Method of Biotype Differentiation. Biol Proced Online 2024; 26:17. [PMID: 38890570 PMCID: PMC11186230 DOI: 10.1186/s12575-024-00246-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2024] [Accepted: 05/18/2024] [Indexed: 06/20/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Culex pipiens L. is a principal vector of zoonotic arboviruses in Europe, acting in both an amplification role in enzootic transmission between avian hosts and as a bridge vector between avian hosts and mammals. The species consists of two forms which are indistinguishable using morphological methods but possess varying ecological and physiological traits that influence their vector capacity. In this study we validate methods that can be used to extract trace DNA from single pupal exuviae of Cx. pipiens for use in molecular speciation of samples. These DNA extraction methods are compared using measurement of the total yield and successful identification using a real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay. RESULTS Genomic DNA was initially extracted from colony-derived individuals using an ethanol precipitation method, two commercially available DNA extraction kits: DNeasy® Blood & Tissue Kit (Qiagen, UK) and Wizard® SV Genomic DNA Purification System (Promega, UK) and a direct real-time PCR method. Time elapsed between eclosion and processing of pupae significantly influenced Cx. pipiens form identification as nucleic acid concentration and PCR amplification success decreased with increased time elapsed. Real-time PCR amplification success, however, was not shown to vary significantly between the three extraction methods, with all methods successfully identifying all samples, but the direct real-time PCR method achieved a lesser amplification success rate of 70% (n = 20 for each treatment). More variable results were produced when field-derived exuviae were used, with no significant difference in real-time PCR amplification success found across the four methods and a lower overall rate of successful identification of 55-80%. CONCLUSIONS This study shows that both colony and field derived Cx. pipiens pupal exuviae can be a useful non-invasive source of trace DNA permitting accurate biotype differentiation for at least twenty-four hours post-eclosion. The significance and utility of this technique in ecological and behavioural studies of Cx. pipiens is discussed and recommendations made for use according to experimental scenario.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Jones
- The Pirbright Institute, Ash Road, Woking, Surrey, GU24 0NF, England.
- London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London, WC1E 7HT, England.
| | | | - Marion England
- The Pirbright Institute, Ash Road, Woking, Surrey, GU24 0NF, England
| | - Mary Cameron
- London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London, WC1E 7HT, England
| | - Simon Carpenter
- The Pirbright Institute, Ash Road, Woking, Surrey, GU24 0NF, England
- School of the Biological Sciences, University of Cambridge, 17 Mill Lane, Cambridge, CB2 1RX, England
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2
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Esattore B, Buczek M, Dušek A, Kotrba R, Pluháček J, Ceacero F, Komárková M, Bartošová J, Radwan J, Bartoš L. Ivermectin decreases parasite load, testosterone, and potentially antler length in a group of captive red deer males (Cervus elaphus). Res Vet Sci 2024; 166:105095. [PMID: 38016220 DOI: 10.1016/j.rvsc.2023.105095] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2023] [Revised: 10/23/2023] [Accepted: 11/15/2023] [Indexed: 11/30/2023]
Abstract
Secondary sex traits (SSTs) can favour males in intra-sexual competition, allowing females to reliably assess their quality. They can also be connected to other aspects of fitness, such as resistance to parasites and pathogens, as parasites have negative effects on the development of SSTs. Antlers are one of the most recognizable examples of SSTs whose development is regulated by testosterone and reflects the actual condition of the bearer. Elevated testosterone can exaggerate the size of SSTs while impairing the function of the immune system ("The Immunocompetence Handicap Hypothesis") posing a trade-off between antler development and immune function. In this study, we experimentally manipulated the parasite load in captive red deer (Cervus elaphus) males with Ivermectin during antler development for two consecutive years. Expecting an inverse proportionality between parasite load and antler size, we hypothesized the treated deer to have larger antlers than the untreated ones. Our results showed that, following the immunocompetence handicap hypothesis, parasite load was positively associated with testosterone levels. However, the application of Ivermectin suppressed the parasite load of the treated animals but did not lead to the development of larger antlers. Instead, it significantly suppressed the concentration of testosterone in the treated animals, whilst the animals that had higher testosterone also had the highest parasite load. Our findings show that Ivermectin can potentially decrease the levels of testosterone and, consequently, antler size. These findings have important implications for the management of captive populations, especially in contexts where the development of large trophies is desired.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bruno Esattore
- Department of Ethology, Institute of Animal Science, Prague, Czech Republic; Department of Game Management and Wildlife Biology, Faculty of Forestry and Wood Sciences, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Czech Republic.
| | - Mateusz Buczek
- Institute of Environmental Sciences, Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland
| | - Adam Dušek
- Department of Ethology, Institute of Animal Science, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Radim Kotrba
- Department of Ethology, Institute of Animal Science, Prague, Czech Republic; Department of Animal Science and Food Processing, Faculty of Tropical AgriSciences, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Jan Pluháček
- Department of Ethology, Institute of Animal Science, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Francisco Ceacero
- Department of Animal Science and Food Processing, Faculty of Tropical AgriSciences, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Martina Komárková
- Department of Animal Science and Food Processing, Faculty of Tropical AgriSciences, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Jitka Bartošová
- Department of Ethology, Institute of Animal Science, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Jacek Radwan
- Evolutionary Biology Group, Faculty of Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznań, Poland
| | - Luděk Bartoš
- Department of Ethology, Institute of Animal Science, Prague, Czech Republic; Department of Game Management and Wildlife Biology, Faculty of Forestry and Wood Sciences, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Czech Republic
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3
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Cantarero A, Dolnik OV, Griggio M, Hoi H. Mate choice is affected by parasite infestation rate of the choosing individual as well as of potential mating partners. Curr Zool 2023; 69:559-567. [PMID: 37637318 PMCID: PMC10449416 DOI: 10.1093/cz/zoac076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2022] [Accepted: 09/16/2022] [Indexed: 08/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Parasites are known to be a key driving force in mate choice and are important for the expression and evolution of ornaments and behavioral traits being used. However, there is little experimental evidence on how the parasite's burden of the choosing individual is integrated into the mate-choice process and how it affects decision-making, especially in relation to parasite infestation of potential mates. Thus, the aim of our study was to determine whether female house sparrows Passer domesticus adjust their mate preference according to their own as well as the parasite load of prospective partners. To do this, we experimentally manipulated female parasite load and determined their mate preferences prior to and after parasite treatment. We manipulated the chronic coccidian parasite burden of females either by initiating the acute infection phase via re-infecting them with coccidian or by temporally reducing the parasite load of coccidia. We then measured the effect of this manipulation on mate preference by presenting females with a choice of four stimuli: three males with similar ornaments, but unmanipulated, naturally varying chronic coccidiosis levels, and an unmanipulated control female. Additionally, we recorded some males' behavior in relation to their infection status pointing toward an increased or reduced interest in mating. We found that females preferred highly infested males prior to manipulation, regardless of their own infestation level. However, after manipulation, infested females avoided highly infested males probably in response to the deterioration of their health condition by parasites. Our study suggests that mate-choice decisions are more complex when they are mediated by parasites. The implications of parasites for evolutionary theories of sexual signaling and mate choice are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alejandro Cantarero
- Department of Physiology, Veterinary School, Complutense University of Madrid, Avenida Puerta de Hierro s/n, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Olga V Dolnik
- Department of Integrative Biology and Evolution, Konrad Lorenz Institute of Ethology (KLIVV), University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Savoyenstraße 1a, A-1160 Vienna, Austria
| | - Matteo Griggio
- Dipartimento di Biologia, Università di Padova, Via U. Bassi 58/B, I-35131 Padova, Italy
| | - Herbert Hoi
- Department of Integrative Biology and Evolution, Konrad Lorenz Institute of Ethology (KLIVV), University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Savoyenstraße 1a, A-1160 Vienna, Austria
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4
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Lizard Dewlap Color and Malaria Infection: Testing the Hamilton-Zuk Hypothesis. DIVERSITY 2023. [DOI: 10.3390/d15020209] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
The Hamilton-Zuk hypothesis indicates that parasites may have a negative effect on the appearance of sexual traits within an infected individual. Anolis sagrei, or brown anoles, are small invasive lizards common throughout Florida and many other areas where they have been introduced. The colorful dewlaps under the chins of males are used as a signal during territorial contests with other males and as an ornament to attract females. Anoles may be infected by the malaria parasite Plasmodium floridense. In this study, we investigated the relationship of malarial infection with dewlap color and spectral brightness of A. sagrei. We achieved this by capturing male brown anoles, taking blood samples to examine for malarial infection, and recording the color of their dewlaps. We found that the dewlaps of infected Anolis sagrei had duller coloration than the dewlaps of uninfected lizards. These results provide support for the Hamilton-Zuk hypothesis. Our results suggest that infection by P. floridense could potentially influence fitness of the lizards by reducing the expression of their color signals. Additional research on fitness effects of the malaria parasite on anoles is important for fully understanding this phenomenon.
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Pinto JA, Araujo JM, Gómez HL. Sex, immunity, and cancer. Biochim Biophys Acta Rev Cancer 2021; 1877:188647. [PMID: 34767966 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbcan.2021.188647] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2021] [Revised: 11/03/2021] [Accepted: 11/04/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
The composition of the tumor microenvironment is the complex result of the interaction between tumoral and host factors. Since there are several differences in the regulation of gene circuits between sexes, mainly influenced by sex hormones, the tumor-host interaction presents some differences, leading tumors to evolve under different conditions. Nowadays, it is well known the existence of sexual dimorphism in the regulation of the immune system, where women present an improved immunity to various infectious agents and, on the other hand, a higher incidence of autoimmune diseases than men. In oncology, differences in cancer susceptibility, response to treatment, and clinical outcomes between men and women patients are well known. Recently, sex-specific differences have also been reported in mutations in driver genes and the prognostic value of several biomarkers. Sex has been a widely forgotten biomarker in cancer therapy, but it has recently acquired great relevance due to the different results seen in immunotherapy treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseph A Pinto
- Escuela de Medicina Humana-Filial Ica, Universidad Privada San Juan Bautista, Panamericana Sur Km. 305, 11004 Ica, Peru.
| | - Jhajaira M Araujo
- Centro de Investigación Básica y Traslacional, AUNA-Ideas, Guardia Civil 571, San Borja, Lima 41, Peru
| | - Henry L Gómez
- Departamento de Medicina Oncológica, Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Neoplásicas, Av. Angamos Este 2520, Surquillo, Lima 34, Peru
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6
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Hund AK, Hubbard JK, Krausová S, Munclinger P, Safran RJ. Different underlying mechanisms drive associations between multiple parasites and the same sexual signal. Anim Behav 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2020.12.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
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7
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Joye P, Kawecki TJ. Sexual selection favours good or bad genes for pathogen resistance depending on males' pathogen exposure. Proc Biol Sci 2020; 286:20190226. [PMID: 31064300 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2019.0226] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Resistance to pathogens is often invoked as an indirect benefit of female choice, but experimental evidence for links between father's sexual success and offspring resistance is scarce and equivocal. Two proposed mechanisms might generate such links. Under the first, heritable resistance to diverse pathogens depends on general immunocompetence; owing to shared condition dependence, male sexual traits indicate immunocompetence independently of the male's pathogen exposure. By contrast, other hypotheses (e.g. Hamilton-Zuk) assume that sexual traits only reveal heritable resistance if the males have been exposed to the pathogen. The distinction between the two mechanisms has been neglected by experimental studies. We show that Drosophila melanogaster males that are successful in mating contests (one female with two males) sire sons that are substantially more resistant to the intestinal pathogen Pseudomonas entomophila-but only if the males have themselves been exposed to the pathogen before the mating contest. By contrast, sons of males sexually successful in the absence of pathogen exposure are less resistant than sons of unsuccessful males. We detected no differences in daughters' resistance. Thus, while sexual selection may have considerable consequences for offspring resistance, these consequences may be sex-specific. Furthermore, contrary to the 'general immunocompetence' hypothesis, these consequences can be positive or negative depending on the epidemiological context under which sexual selection operates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick Joye
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of Lausanne , 1015 Lausanne , Switzerland
| | - Tadeusz J Kawecki
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of Lausanne , 1015 Lausanne , Switzerland
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8
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Kawecki TJ. Sexual selection reveals a cost of pathogen resistance undetected in life-history assays. Evolution 2019; 74:338-348. [PMID: 31814118 PMCID: PMC7028033 DOI: 10.1111/evo.13895] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2019] [Accepted: 11/15/2019] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Mechanisms of resistance to pathogens and parasites are thought to be costly and thus to lead to evolutionary trade‐offs between resistance and life‐history traits expressed in the absence of the infective agents. On the other hand, sexually selected traits are often proposed to indicate “good genes” for resistance, which implies a positive genetic correlation between resistance and success in sexual selection. Here I show that experimental evolution of improved resistance to the intestinal pathogen Pseudomonas entomophila in Drosophila melanogaster was associated with a reduction in male sexual success. Males from four resistant populations achieved lower paternity than males from four susceptible control populations in competition with males from a competitor strain, indicating an evolutionary cost of resistance in terms of mating success and/or sperm competition. In contrast, no costs were found in larval viability, larval competitive ability and population productivity assayed under nutritional limitation; together with earlier studies this suggests that the costs of P. entomophila resistance for nonsexual fitness components are negligible. Thus, rather than indicating heritable pathogen resistance, sexually selected traits expressed in the absence of pathogens may be sensitive to costs of resistance, even if no such costs are detected in other fitness traits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tadeusz J Kawecki
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of Lausanne, CH 1015, Lausanne, Switzerland
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9
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Ali B, Zhou Y, Zhang Q, Niu C, Zhu Z. Development of an easy and cost-effective method for non-invasive genotyping of insects. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0216998. [PMID: 31158235 PMCID: PMC6546216 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0216998] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2019] [Accepted: 05/02/2019] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Non-invasive genotyping methods provide valuable information on insect populations. However, poor DNA amplification and time-consuming sampling procedures limit these methods, especially for small insects. An efficient and convenient method was developed for non-invasive, non-lethal genotyping of a large insect, Mythimna separata, and a small insect, Drosophila melanogaster, by amplification of endogenous and exogenous, nuclear and mitochondrial genes from insect frass, exuviae, and food waste. For M. separata, the chitin synthesis gene MsCHSB and the COI gene were successfully detected by PCR from exuviae DNA. However, a COI fragment could not be detected directly by PCR from frass, probably due to DNA degradation. To improve the detection rate, DNA from frass was first amplified by Multiple Displacement Amplification with phi29 DNA polymerase, after which the COI fragment was detected from all samples by PCR. For D. melanogaster, second instar larvae were reared individually for three days and then DNA was extracted from food waste of each individual. The endogenous fragment serendipity α (sryα), exogenous transgene ΦC31 integrase, and the kl-5 gene, a Y-chromosome-located male-specific marker gene were successfully detected from most samples. We developed a simple, non-invasive, non-lethal method to determine gender and identify transgenic individuals early in the larval stage. This universal method is applicable to most insects and has potential application in genetic and ecological studies of insects and other arthropods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bahar Ali
- Hubei Insect Resources Utilization and Sustainable Pest Management Key Laboratory, College of Plant Science & Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Yicheng Zhou
- Hubei Insect Resources Utilization and Sustainable Pest Management Key Laboratory, College of Plant Science & Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Qiuyuan Zhang
- Hubei Insect Resources Utilization and Sustainable Pest Management Key Laboratory, College of Plant Science & Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Changying Niu
- Hubei Insect Resources Utilization and Sustainable Pest Management Key Laboratory, College of Plant Science & Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Zhihui Zhu
- Hubei Insect Resources Utilization and Sustainable Pest Management Key Laboratory, College of Plant Science & Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
- * E-mail:
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10
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de Souza AR, Guimarães Simões T, Rantala MJ, Fernando Santos E, Lino-Netto J, do Nascimento FS. Sexual ornaments reveal the strength of melanization immune response and longevity of male paper wasps. JOURNAL OF INSECT PHYSIOLOGY 2018; 109:163-168. [PMID: 29870690 DOI: 10.1016/j.jinsphys.2018.06.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2018] [Revised: 05/25/2018] [Accepted: 06/01/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
It has been recently suggested that female mate choice, based on sexually selected ornaments, is an important component of social wasps' reproductive biology. The correlates of male ornaments that could be of a female's interest, however, remain to be investigated. Males of the Neotropical paper wasp Polistes simillimus have sexually dimorphic melanin-based black spots on their faces. In this species, male spots work like sexual ornaments, as it has been experimentally demonstrated that females prefer sexual partners with a higher proportion of black pigment on their faces. We have shown that, under laboratory conditions, male sexual ornamentation positively predicts the strength of the melanization immune response and longevity. Therefore, in P. simillimus, melanin-based facial patterns (ornaments) seem to be honest indicators of male quality.
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Affiliation(s)
- André Rodrigues de Souza
- Departamento de Biologia, Faculdade de Filosofia Ciências e Letras de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil; Departamento de Entomologia, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
| | | | - Markus J Rantala
- Department of Biology and Turku Brain and Mind Centre, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
| | - Eduardo Fernando Santos
- Departamento de Zoologia e Botânica, Instituto de Biociências, Letras e Ciências Exatas, Universidade Estadual Paulista "Júlio de Mesquita Filho", São José do Rio Preto, Brazil
| | - José Lino-Netto
- Departamento de Biologia Geral, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Fábio Santos do Nascimento
- Departamento de Biologia, Faculdade de Filosofia Ciências e Letras de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
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11
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Dhole S, Stern CA, Servedio MR. Direct detection of male quality can facilitate the evolution of female choosiness and indicators of good genes: Evolution across a continuum of indicator mechanisms. Evolution 2018. [PMID: 29528491 DOI: 10.1111/evo.13466] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
The evolution of mating displays as indicators of male quality has been the subject of extensive theoretical and empirical research for over four decades. Research has also addressed the evolution of female mate choice favoring such indicators. Yet, much debate still exists about whether displays can evolve through the indirect benefits of female mate choice. Here, we use a population genetic model to investigate how the extent to which females can directly detect male quality influences the evolution of female choosiness and male displays. We use a continuum framework that incorporates indicator mechanisms that are traditionally modeled separately. Counter to intuition, we find that intermediate levels of direct detection of male quality can facilitate, rather than impede, the evolution of female choosiness and male displays in broad regions of this continuum. We examine how this evolution is driven by selective forces on genetic quality and on the display, and find that direct detection of male quality results in stronger indirect selection favoring female choosiness. Our results imply that displays maybe more likely to evolve when female choosiness has already evolved to discriminate perceptible forms of male quality. They also highlight the importance of considering general female choosiness, as well as preference, in studies of "good genes."
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Affiliation(s)
- Sumit Dhole
- Department of Biology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599.,Current Address: Department of Entomology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina 27695
| | - Caitlin A Stern
- Department of Biology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599.,Current Address: Institute for Advanced Study in Toulouse, Manufacture des Tabacs, 21 Allée de Brienne, 31015 Toulouse Cedex 6, France
| | - Maria R Servedio
- Department of Biology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599
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12
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Prokop P, Semelbauer M. Biometrical and behavioural associations with offering nuptial gifts by males in the spider Pisaura mirabilis. Anim Behav 2017. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2017.05.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
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13
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Langeloh L, Behrmann-Godel J, Seppälä O. Natural selection on immune defense: A field experiment. Evolution 2017; 71:227-237. [PMID: 27925174 DOI: 10.1111/evo.13148] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2016] [Revised: 10/26/2016] [Accepted: 11/15/2016] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Predicting the evolution of phenotypic traits requires an understanding of natural selection on them. Despite its indispensability in the fight against parasites, selection on host immune defense has remained understudied. Theory predicts immune traits to be under stabilizing selection due to associated trade-offs with other fitness-related traits. Empirical studies, however, report mainly positive directional selection. This discrepancy could be caused by low phenotypic variation in the examined individuals and/or variation in host resource level that confounds trade-offs in empirical studies. In a field experiment where we maintained Lymnaea stagnalis snails individually in cages in a lake, we investigated phenotypic selection on two immune defense traits, phenoloxidase (PO)-like activity and antibacterial activity, in hemolymph. We used a diverse laboratory population and manipulated snail resource level by limiting their food supply. For six weeks, we followed immune activity, growth, and two fitness components, survival and fecundity of snails. We found that PO-like activity and growth were under stabilizing selection, while antibacterial activity was under positive directional selection. Selection on immune traits was mainly driven by variation in survival. The form of selection on immune defense apparently depends on the particular trait, possibly due to its importance for countering the present parasite community.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Langeloh
- Eawag, Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, 8600, Dübendorf, Switzerland.,Institute of Integrative Biology, ETH Zürich, 8092, Zürich, Switzerland
| | | | - Otto Seppälä
- Eawag, Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, 8600, Dübendorf, Switzerland.,Institute of Integrative Biology, ETH Zürich, 8092, Zürich, Switzerland
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14
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Seppälä O, Langeloh L. Estimating Genetic and Maternal Effects Determining Variation in Immune Function of a Mixed-Mating Snail. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0161584. [PMID: 27551822 PMCID: PMC4995018 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0161584] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2016] [Accepted: 08/08/2016] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Evolution of host defenses such as immune function requires heritable genetic variation in them. However, also non-genetic maternal effects can contribute to phenotypic variation, thus being an alternative target for natural selection. We investigated the role of individuals' genetic background and maternal effects in determining immune defense traits (phenoloxidase and antibacterial activity of hemolymph), as well as in survival and growth, in the simultaneously hermaphroditic snail Lymnaea stagnalis. We utilized the mixed mating system of this species by producing full-sib families in which each parental snail had produced offspring as both a dam and as a sire, and tested whether genetic background (family) and non-genetic maternal effects (dam nested within family) explain trait variation. Immune defense traits and growth were affected solely by individuals' genetic background. Survival of snails did not show family-level variation. Additionally, some snails were produced through self-fertilization. They showed reduced growth and survival suggesting recessive load or overdominance. Immune defense traits did not respond to inbreeding. Our results suggest that the variation in snail immune function and growth was due to genetic differences. Since immune traits did not respond to inbreeding, this variation is most likely due to additive or epistatic genetic variance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Otto Seppälä
- Institute of Integrative Biology, ETH Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
- Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, Dübendorf, Switzerland
- * E-mail:
| | - Laura Langeloh
- Institute of Integrative Biology, ETH Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
- Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, Dübendorf, Switzerland
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15
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Immune priming in arthropods: an update focusing on the red flour beetle. ZOOLOGY 2016; 119:254-61. [DOI: 10.1016/j.zool.2016.03.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2015] [Revised: 02/11/2016] [Accepted: 03/18/2016] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
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16
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Brokordt KB, González RC, Farías WJ, Winkler FM. Potential Response to Selection of HSP70 as a Component of Innate Immunity in the Abalone Haliotis rufescens. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0141959. [PMID: 26529324 PMCID: PMC4631488 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0141959] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2015] [Accepted: 10/15/2015] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Assessing components of the immune system may reflect disease resistance. In some invertebrates, heat shock proteins (HSPs) are immune effectors and have been described as potent activators of the innate immune response. Several diseases have become a threat to abalone farming worldwide; therefore, increasing disease resistance is considered to be a long-term goal for breeding programs. A trait will respond to selection only if it is determined partially by additive genetic variation. The aim of this study was to estimate the heritability (h2) and the additive genetic coefficient of variation (CVA) of HSP70 as a component of innate immunity of the abalone Haliotis rufescens, in order to assess its potential response to selection. These genetic components were estimated for the variations in the intracellular (in haemocytes) and extracellular (serum) protein levels of HSP70 in response to an immunostimulant agent in 60 full-sib families of H. rufescens. Levels of HSP70 were measured twice in the same individuals, first when they were young and again when they were pre-harvest adults, to estimate the repeatability (R), the h2 and the potential response to selection of these traits at these life stages. High HSP70 levels were observed in abalones subjected to immunostimulation in both the intracellular and extracellular haemolymph fractions. This is the first time that changes in serum levels of HSP70 have been reported in response to an immune challenge in molluscs. HSP70 levels in both fractions and at both ages showed low h2 and R, with values that were not significantly different from zero. However, HSP70 induced levels had a CVA of 13.3–16.2% in young adults and of 2.7–8.1% in pre-harvest adults. Thus, despite its low h2, HSP70 synthesis in response to an immune challenge in red abalone has the potential to evolve through selection because of its large phenotypic variation and the presence of additive genetic variance, especially in young animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherina B. Brokordt
- Centro de Estudios Avanzados en Zonas Áridas (CEAZA), Coquimbo, Chile
- Departamento de Biología Marina, Facultad de Ciencias del Mar, Universidad Católica del Norte, Coquimbo, Chile
- * E-mail:
| | - Roxana C. González
- Centro de Estudios Avanzados en Zonas Áridas (CEAZA), Coquimbo, Chile
- Departamento de Biología Marina, Facultad de Ciencias del Mar, Universidad Católica del Norte, Coquimbo, Chile
| | - William J. Farías
- Centro de Estudios Avanzados en Zonas Áridas (CEAZA), Coquimbo, Chile
- Departamento de Biología Marina, Facultad de Ciencias del Mar, Universidad Católica del Norte, Coquimbo, Chile
| | - Federico M. Winkler
- Centro de Estudios Avanzados en Zonas Áridas (CEAZA), Coquimbo, Chile
- Departamento de Biología Marina, Facultad de Ciencias del Mar, Universidad Católica del Norte, Coquimbo, Chile
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17
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Seppälä O. Natural selection on quantitative immune defence traits: a comparison between theory and data. J Evol Biol 2014; 28:1-9. [PMID: 25400248 DOI: 10.1111/jeb.12528] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2014] [Revised: 10/07/2014] [Accepted: 10/10/2014] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Parasites present a threat for free-living species and affect several ecological and evolutionary processes. Immune defence is the main physiological barrier against infections, and understanding its evolution is central for predicting disease dynamics. I review theoretical predictions and empirical data on natural selection on quantitative immune defence traits in the wild. Evolutionary theory predicts immune traits to be under stabilizing selection owing to trade-offs between immune function and life-history traits. Empirical data, however, support mainly positive directional selection, but also show variation in the form of selection among study systems, immune traits and fitness components. I argue that the differences between theory and empirical data may at least partly arise from methodological difficulties in testing stabilizing selection as well as measuring fitness. I also argue that the commonness of positive directional selection and the variation in selection may be caused by several biological factors. First, selection on immune function may show spatial and temporal variation as epidemics are often local/seasonal. Second, factors affecting the range of phenotypic variation in immune traits could alter potential for selection. Third, different parasites may impose different selective pressures depending on their characteristics. Fourth, condition dependence of immune defence can obscure trade-offs related to it, thus possibly modifying observed selection gradients. Fifth, nonimmunological defences could affect the form of selection by reducing the benefits of strong immune function. To comprehensively understand the evolution of immune defence, the role of above factors should be considered in future studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- O Seppälä
- Department of Aquatic Ecology, EAWAG, Dübendorf, Switzerland; Institute of Integrative Biology, ETH Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
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18
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Kelly CD. Effect of an immune challenge on the functional performance of male weaponry. Behav Processes 2014; 108:197-203. [PMID: 25444779 DOI: 10.1016/j.beproc.2014.11.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2014] [Revised: 10/30/2014] [Accepted: 11/01/2014] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
Theories of parasite-mediated sexual selection predict a positive association between immune function and the expression of sexually selected ornaments. Few studies, however, have investigated how an immune challenge affects the performance of sexually selected weaponry. Male Wellington tree weta (Hemideina crassidens) (Orthoptera: Anostostomatidae) possess enlarged mandibles that are used as weapons in fights for access to females residing in tree galleries. Intense sexual competition appears to have favoured the evolution of alternative male mating strategies in this species as males have a trimorphic phenotype in which weapon size varies across morphotype: 8th instar males have the smallest jaws, 10th instar males have the largest and 9th instar males being intermediate to the other two. After injecting males and females with either lipopolysaccharide (LPS; immune challenge) or saline (control) I measured over a 24h period each weta's body mass to assess whether they responded immunologically to the LPS and their bite force to assess the functional performance of their jaws. Both sexes responded immunologically to the immune-challenge as LPS-injected individuals lost significantly more body mass than saline-injected controls with females losing more mass than males. Female bite force was significantly reduced 8h after LPS-injection whereas male bite force did not significantly decline. Both sexes regained pre-injection functional performance of their jaws 24h after the immune challenge. My results suggest that females trade-off bite force for immune function whereas males do not. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: insert SI title.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clint D Kelly
- Department of Ecology, Evolution and Organismal Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011, USA; Département des Sciences Biologiques, Université du Québec à Montréal, CP-8888 succursale centre-ville, Montréal, QC, Canada H3C 3P8.
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19
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Brown DS, Symondson WOC. Sex and age-biased nematode prevalence in reptiles. Mol Ecol 2014; 23:3890-9. [DOI: 10.1111/mec.12688] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2013] [Revised: 01/30/2014] [Accepted: 01/31/2014] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- David S. Brown
- Cardiff School of Biosciences; Cardiff University; The Sir Martin Evans Building, Museum Avenue Cardiff CF10 3AX UK
| | - William O. C. Symondson
- Cardiff School of Biosciences; Cardiff University; The Sir Martin Evans Building, Museum Avenue Cardiff CF10 3AX UK
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20
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Ruiz-Guzmán G, Canales-Lazcano J, Jiménez-Cortés JG, Contreras-Garduño J. Sexual dimorphism in immune response: testing the hypothesis in an insect species with two male morphs. INSECT SCIENCE 2013; 20:620-628. [PMID: 23956189 DOI: 10.1111/j.1744-7917.2012.01551.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/25/2012] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
It has been proposed that given that males should invest in sexual traits at the expense of their investment in immune response, females are better immunocompetent than males. Typically, this idea has been tested in monomorphic species, but rarely has been evaluated in polymorphic male species. We used Paraphlebia zoe, a damselfly with two male morphs: the black-winged morph (Black-W) develop black spots as sexual traits and the hyaline-winged morph (Hyaline-W) resembles a female in size and wings color. We predicted that Black-W should have a lower immune response than Hyaline-W, but that the latter males should not differ from females in this respect. Nitric oxide (NO) and phenoloxidase (PO) production, as well as hemolymph protein content, were used as immune markers. Body size (wing length) was used as an indicator of the male condition. The results show that, as we predicted, females and Hyaline-W had higher values of NO than Black-W, corresponding to differences in size. However, the opposite was found in relation to PO production. Females had the highest levels of hemolymph protein content, whereas no differences were found between Black-W and Hyaline-W. These results partially support the sexual selection hypothesis and are discussed in the context of the life history of this species. Black-W, Hyaline-W, and females could express the immune markers that are prioritized by their particular condition, and probably neither of them could express all immune markers in an elevated manner, as this would result in an excessive accumulation of free radicals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gloria Ruiz-Guzmán
- Centro de Investigación Sobre Enfermedades Infecciosas, Instituto Nacional de Salud Pública, Av. Universidad No. 655, C. P. 62100, Cuernavaca, Morelos
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21
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Moreno-García M, Córdoba-Aguilar A, Condé R, Lanz-Mendoza H. Current immunity markers in insect ecological immunology: assumed trade-offs and methodological issues. BULLETIN OF ENTOMOLOGICAL RESEARCH 2013; 103:127-139. [PMID: 22929006 DOI: 10.1017/s000748531200048x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
The field of ecological immunology currently relies on using a number of immune effectors or markers. These markers are usually used to infer ecological trade-offs (via conflicts in resource allocation), though physiological nature of these markers remains elusive. Here, we review markers frequently used in insect evolutionary ecology research: cuticle darkening, haemocyte density, nodule/capsule formation, phagocytosis and encapsulation/melanization via use of nylon filaments and beads, phenoloxidase activity, nitric oxide production, lysozyme and antimicrobial peptide production. We also provide physiologically based information that may shed light on the probable trade-offs inferred when these markers are used. In addition, we provide a number of methodological suggestions to improve immune marker assessment.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Moreno-García
- Departamento de Ecología Evolutiva, Instituto de Ecología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, México
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22
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Nokelainen O, Lindstedt C, Mappes J. Environment-mediated morph-linked immune and life-history responses in the aposematic wood tiger moth. J Anim Ecol 2013; 82:653-62. [PMID: 23356667 DOI: 10.1111/1365-2656.12037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2012] [Accepted: 11/20/2012] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
1. Warning signals are expected to evolve towards conspicuousness and monomorphism, and thereby hamper the evolution of multiple colour morphs. Here, we test fitness responses to different rearing densities to explain colour polymorphism in aposematic wood tiger moth (Parasemia plantaginis) males. 2. We used larval lines sired by white or yellow adult males selected for small or large melanization patterns of coloration. We reared these selected lines either solitarily (favourable conditions) or in aggregations (challenged conditions), and followed their performance to adult stage. We tested whether differences in larval density affected life-history traits, adult melanin expression, adult morph (white or yellow) survival and immunological responses. 3. We found that the aggregated environment increased mortality of larvae, but decreased larval developmental time and pupa weight. Adult wing melanin pigmentation was dependent on larval melanin expression but not rearing density. We also confirmed that adult wing coloration had a genetic basis (h(2) = 0.42) and was not influenced by larval growth density. Adult yellow males survived better from aggregations in comparison with white males, which may be related to differences in immune defence. White males had better encapsulation ability, whereas yellow males had increased lytic activity of haemolymph in the aggregations. 4. Our main results highlight, that morph-linked immune responses mediated by differential growth density may facilitate the maintenance of colour polymorphism in aposematic species. In nature, risk of diseases and parasites vary spatially and temporally. Therefore, both yellow and white adult morphs can be maintained due to their differential investment in immune defence in heterogeneous environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ossi Nokelainen
- Centre of Excellence in Biological Interactions, Department of Biological and Environmental Science, University of Jyväskylä, Jyväskylä, P.O. Box 35, 40014, Finland
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Seppälä O, Karvonen A, Rellstab C, Louhi KR, Jokela J. Reciprocal Interaction Matrix Reveals Complex Genetic and Dose-Dependent Specificity among Coinfecting Parasites. Am Nat 2012; 180:306-15. [DOI: 10.1086/666985] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
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24
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Sexual signaling and immune function in the black field cricket Teleogryllus commodus. PLoS One 2012; 7:e39631. [PMID: 22808047 PMCID: PMC3392257 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0039631] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2012] [Accepted: 05/28/2012] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The immunocompetence handicap hypothesis predicts that male sexual trait expression should be positively correlated with immunocompetence. Here we investigate if immune function in the cricket, Teleogryllus commodus, is related to specific individual components of male sexual signals, as well as to certain multivariate combinations of these components that females most strongly prefer. Male T. commodus produce both advertisement and courtship calls prior to mating. We measured fine-scale structural parameters of both call types and also recorded nightly advertisement calling effort. We then measured two standard indices of immune function: lysozyme-like activity of the haemolymph and haemocyte counts. We found a weak, positive relationship between advertisement calling effort and lysozyme-like activity. There was, however, little evidence that individual structural call components or the net multivariate attractiveness of either call type signalled immune function. The relationships between immunity and sexual signaling did not differ between inbred and outbred males. Our data suggest that it is unlikely that females assess overall male immune function using male calls.
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25
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Prokop ZM, Michalczyk Ł, Drobniak SM, Herdegen M, Radwan J. META-ANALYSIS SUGGESTS CHOOSY FEMALES GET SEXY SONS MORE THAN “GOOD GENES”. Evolution 2012; 66:2665-73. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1558-5646.2012.01654.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 95] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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26
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Stange N, Ronacher B. Grasshopper calling songs convey information about condition and health of males. J Comp Physiol A Neuroethol Sens Neural Behav Physiol 2012; 198:309-18. [PMID: 22246210 DOI: 10.1007/s00359-012-0709-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2011] [Revised: 01/02/2012] [Accepted: 01/03/2012] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Females of the grasshopper Chorthippus biguttulus invest much more in the offspring than do males. As a consequence, females are the more selective sex and exert a sexual selection on males by responding to the songs of certain conspecific males while rejecting others. What kind of information about the sender may a female obtain from a male's song, in addition to its species identity? We searched for correlations between a series of song features and morphometric parameters of individual males. In addition, also the immunocompetence of males was assessed by implanting small pieces of nylon thread. We found significant, positive correlations between certain song characteristics and indicators of male size and immunocompetence. Thus, grasshopper females may--in principle--be able to judge a male's condition and health from the acoustic signals he produces.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicole Stange
- Department of Behavioral Physiology, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
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27
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Simmons LW. Resource allocation trade-off between sperm quality and immunity in the field cricket, Teleogryllus oceanicus. Behav Ecol 2011. [DOI: 10.1093/beheco/arr170] [Citation(s) in RCA: 76] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
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28
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Seppälä O, Karvonen A, Haataja M, Kuosa M, Jokela J. Food makes you a target: disentangling genetic, physiological, and behavioral effects determining susceptibility to infection. Evolution 2010; 65:1367-75. [PMID: 21121912 DOI: 10.1111/j.1558-5646.2010.01205.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Genetics, physiology, and behavior are all expected to influence the susceptibility of hosts to parasites. Furthermore, interactions between genetic and other factors are suggested to contribute to the maintenance of genetic polymorphism in resistance when the relative susceptibility of host genotypes is context dependent. We used a maternal sibship design and long- and short-term food deprivation treatments to test the role of family-level genetic variation, body condition, physiological state, and foraging behavior on the susceptibility of Lymnaea stagnalis snails to infection by a trematode parasite that uses chemical cues to locate its hosts. In experimental exposures, we found that snails in the long-term food deprivation treatment contracted fewer parasites than snails that were continuously well-fed, possibly because well-fed snails grew larger and attracted more transmission stages. When we kept the long-term feeding rates the same, but manipulated the physiological state and foraging behavior of the snails with short-term food deprivation treatment, we found that snails that were fed before the exposure contracted more parasites than snails that were fed during the exposure. This suggests that direct physiological effects of food processing, but not foraging behavior, predisposed snails to infection. Feeding treatments also affected the family-level variation in snail susceptibility, suggesting that the relative susceptibility of host genotypes was context dependent.
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Affiliation(s)
- Otto Seppälä
- EAWAG, Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, 8600 Dübendorf, Switzerland ETH-Zürich, Institute of Integrative Biology, 8092 Zürich, Switzerland.
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29
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Female spotted cucumber beetles use own cuticular hydrocarbon signature to choose immunocompatible mates. Anim Behav 2010. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2010.03.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
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30
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Seppälä O, Jokela J. Maintenance of genetic variation in immune defense of a freshwater snail: role of environmental heterogeneity. Evolution 2010; 64:2397-407. [PMID: 20298461 DOI: 10.1111/j.1558-5646.2010.00995.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Natural populations often show genetic variation in pathogen resistance, which is paradoxal because natural selection is expected to erode genetic variation in fitness-related traits. Several different factors have been suggested to maintain such variation, but their relative importance is still poorly understood. Here we examined if environmental heterogeneity and genetic trade-offs could contribute to the maintenance of genetic variation in immune function of a freshwater snail Lymnaea stagnalis. We assessed the immunocompetence of snails originating from different families and maintained in different feeding treatments (ad libitum feeding, no food) by measuring the density of circulating hemocytes, phenoloxidase activity, and antibacterial activity of snail hemolymph. Food limitation reduced snail immune function, and we found significant among-family variation in hemocyte concentration and PO activity, but not in antibacterial activity. Interestingly, food availability modified the family-level variation observed in PO activity so that the relative immunocompetence of different snail families changed over environmental conditions (G x E interaction). We found no evidence for genetic trade-offs between snail growth and immune defense nor among immune traits. Thus, our findings support the idea that environmental heterogeneity may promote maintenance of genetic variation in immune defense, but also suggest that different immune traits might not respond similarly to environmental variation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Otto Seppälä
- EAWAG, Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, 8600 Dübendorf, Switzerland, and ETH-Zürich, Institute of Integrative Biology (IBZ), 8092 Zürich, Switzerland.
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31
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Moreno-García M, Lanz-Mendoza H, Córdoba-Aguilar A. Genetic variance and genotype-by-environment interaction of immune response in Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae). JOURNAL OF MEDICAL ENTOMOLOGY 2010; 47:111-120. [PMID: 20380290 DOI: 10.1603/me08267] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
Immune response can be negatively affected by resource limitation, so it is expected that organisms evolve strategies to minimize the impact of this environmental outcome. Phenotypic plasticity in immune response could represent a genetic response to face such situations. We investigated the effects of high and low quality and quantity of food at the larval stage on two important immune components, phenoloxidase activity (PO) and nitric oxide production (NO) measured in adults of the Dengue vector, Aedes aegypti. We reared families to determine the magnitude and pattern of expression of genetic variance, environmental variance and genotype-by-environment interaction (GEI). In addition, we quantified whether there were differences in plastic immune responses in both sexes. Our results indicated additive variance for PO and NO, but rearing environment did not produce differences among individuals. For NO and PO in males, there were large differences among families in plasticity, as indicated by the different slopes produced by each reaction norm. Therefore, there is additive genetic variation in plasticity for NO production and PO activity. One possible interpretation of these results is that different genotypes may be favored to fight pathogens under the different food quality situations. Males and females showed similar overall GEI strategies but there were differences in PO and NO. Males showed a phenotypic correlation between PO and NO, but we did not find genetic correlations between immune parameters in both sexes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miguel Moreno-García
- Departamento de Ecología Evolutiva, Instituto de Ecología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Circuito Exterior s/n, Apdo. Postal 70-275, México, D. F. 04510, México.
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Zhang JX, Sun L, Zhang YH. Foxn1 Gene Knockout Suppresses Sexual Attractiveness and Pheromonal Components of Male Urine in Inbred Mice. Chem Senses 2009; 35:47-56. [DOI: 10.1093/chemse/bjp081] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
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33
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Gilburn AS, Stewart KM, Edward DA. Sex-biased phoretic mite load on two seaweed flies: Coelopa frigida and Coelopa pilipes. ENVIRONMENTAL ENTOMOLOGY 2009; 38:1608-1612. [PMID: 20021755 DOI: 10.1603/022.038.0612] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
Two hypotheses explain male-biased parasitism. Physiological costs of male sexually selected characteristics can reduce immunocompetence. Alternatively, ecological differences could generate male-biased parasitism. One method of comparing the importance of the two theories is to investigate patterns of phoresy, which are only likely to be generated by ecological rather than immunological differences between the sexes. Here we studied the pattern of phoresy of the mite, Thinoseius fucicola, on two species of seaweed fly hosts, Coelopa frigida and Coelopa pilipes. We found a highly male-biased pattern of phoresy of T. fucicola on both species. These are the first reported instances of sex-biased phoresy in a solely phoretic parasite. We also show the first two cases of size-biased phoresy. We suggest that ecological factors, particularly, male mate searching, generated male biased patterns of phoresy. We highlight the potential importance of studies of phoresy in determining the relative roles of the immunocompetence and ecological theories in generating male-biased parasitism. We suggest that more studies of patterns of phoresy are carried out to allow detailed comparisons with patterns of parasitism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andre S Gilburn
- School of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Stirling, Scotland FK12 5PD, UK.
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Roth O, Joop G, Eggert H, Hilbert J, Daniel J, Schmid-Hempel P, Kurtz J. Paternally derived immune priming for offspring in the red flour beetle, Tribolium castaneum. J Anim Ecol 2009; 79:403-13. [PMID: 19840170 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2656.2009.01617.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 158] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
1. Parasitized females in mammals, fish and birds can enhance the immune defence of their offspring by transferring specific antibodies for the embryo. Likewise, social insect mothers transfer immunity despite the fact that invertebrates lack antibodies. 2. Female trans-generational immune priming is consistent with parental investment theory, because mothers invest more into rearing their offspring than fathers. However, when immune priming is not directly linked to parental care, as is often the case in insects that abandon their eggs after oviposition, both sexes might benefit from protecting their offspring. 3. Using the red flour beetle, Tribolium castaneum, we show that after parental exposure to heat-killed bacteria, trans-generational immune priming occurs through fathers as well as mothers. 4. This novel finding challenges the traditional view that males provide only genes to their offspring in species without paternal care, and raises the possibility of a division of tasks with respect to immune protection between parents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olivia Roth
- Institute for Integrative Biology, Experimental Ecology, Universitätsstrasse 16, ETH-Zentrum, CH-8092 Zürich, Switzerland.
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35
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Van Anders SM. Gonadal steroids and salivary IgA in healthy young women and men. Am J Hum Biol 2009; 22:348-52. [DOI: 10.1002/ajhb.20997] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
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36
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Kock D, Engels S, Fritsche C, Sauer KP. Sexual coercion in Panorpa scorpionflies?—The function of the notal organ reconsidered. Behav Ecol 2009. [DOI: 10.1093/beheco/arp043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
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37
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Kock D, Sauer KP. Female mating frequency in a wild population of scorpionflies (Panorpa germanica, Panorpidae, Mecoptera). J ZOOL SYST EVOL RES 2008. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1439-0469.2007.00454.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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Zala SM, Chan BK, Bilbo SD, Potts WK, Nelson RJ, Penn DJ. Genetic resistance to infection influences a male's sexual attractiveness and modulation of testosterone. Brain Behav Immun 2008; 22:381-7. [PMID: 17945466 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2007.09.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2007] [Revised: 08/17/2007] [Accepted: 09/06/2007] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Females may be attracted to males genetically resistant to infectious diseases, and one potential mechanism for this mating bias is that such males may be better able to maintain high testosterone. To test these two hypotheses, we collected scent-marks from male house mice (Mus domesticus) genetically resistant and susceptible to Salmonella due to a single locus (Nramp 1, also known as Slc11a1). We tested whether females are more attracted to the scent-marks of resistant males, and whether such males are better able to maintain testosterone concentrations during an experimental Salmonella infection. We found that females preferred the scent-marks of genetically resistant males compared to susceptible ones; but they showed no preferences 5d after males were infected. As predicted, genetically resistant males maintained their testosterone concentrations during the experimental infection, whereas susceptible males showed a significant decline 14 d after inoculation. These differences in the males' ability to modulate testosterone, however, do not explain females' attraction to resistant males. Thus, our results indicate that females sometimes prefer males genetically resistant to infection, and they provide the first evidence that males modulate their testosterone depending upon their genetic resistance to infection; however, we found no evidence to link these two findings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah M Zala
- Konrad Lorenz Institute for Ethology, Austrian Academy of Sciences, Savoyenstr. 1a, 1160 Vienna, Austria.
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Simková A, Lafond T, Ondracková M, Jurajda P, Ottová E, Morand S. Parasitism, life history traits and immune defence in cyprinid fish from Central Europe. BMC Evol Biol 2008; 8:29. [PMID: 18226212 PMCID: PMC2270801 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2148-8-29] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2007] [Accepted: 01/28/2008] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The main prediction of life-history theory is that optimal energy allocated among the traits is related to the growth, maintenance and survival. It is hypothesized that the optimal resource allocated to immune function, which generates resistance towards parasites and reduce the fitness losses caused by parasitism, is depending on other requirements for energetic resource and the benefits associated with them. The aims of this study are to investigate in a comparative way (1) how parasitism is related to fish life history traits (fecundity, longevity, mortality), (2) whether there is a trade-off between reproduction and immune investments in fish females (i.e. energetic hypothesis) and in males (i.e. immunohandicap hypothesis), (3) whether parasitism influences host immunity (spleen size) and reproduction (gonad size) in females and males. Results Data on metazoan parasites of 23 cyprinid fish species from Central Europe were used for the analyses as well as new data collected from a field study. Ectoparasite species richness was negatively correlated with the fish mortality estimated by the k-value and positively correlated with fish body size, suggesting that parasite diversity increases with fish longevity. A negative relationship between spleen size and gonad size, controlling for fish body size, was found in females but not in males. Moreover, parasite abundance was positively correlated with fish spleen size and negatively with fish gonad size in females. Conclusion The comparative analyses using cyprinid fish species demonstrated that natural mortality could be considered as a factor contributing to the variability of parasite species richness and moreover, parasite species benefit from long-lived fish. The results obtained from the analyses investigating the potential trade-off between reproduction and immunity could be interpreted as an energetic trade-off between female reproduction and immune function. The lack of negative relationship between gonad size and spleen size in males did not support our prediction based on the immunohandicap hypothesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Simková
- Institute of Botany and Zoology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kotlárská 2, 61137 Brno, Czech Republic.
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Cotter SC, Beveridge M, Simmons LW. Male morph predicts investment in larval immune function in the dung beetle, Onthophagus taurus. Behav Ecol 2007. [DOI: 10.1093/beheco/arm137] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
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Kurtz J. The correlation between immunocompetence and an ornament trait changes over lifetime in Panorpa vulgaris scorpionflies. ZOOLOGY 2007; 110:336-43. [PMID: 17720464 DOI: 10.1016/j.zool.2007.07.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2007] [Revised: 07/03/2007] [Accepted: 07/07/2007] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
The immunocompetence-handicap hypothesis posits that costly male ornament traits might function to signal superior heritable immunocompetence to females. Quite a number of studies have aimed at testing this hypothesis. Yet the empirical data obtained so far are ambiguous. Many studies analysed the phenotypic correlation between handicap expression and immunocompetence at the same time point. However, since immunocompetence may change drastically over an individual's lifetime, such a singular measurement may not represent genetic differences among males and the benefits of choosing handicapped males for females might thus be weak. Here, I tested the correlation of a potential immunocompetence-handicap, the production of salivary secretions as nuptial gifts in a scorpionfly (Panorpa vulgaris), with immunocompetence at two different time points. I found a positive correlation with the handicap, but only if immunocompetence was measured shortly after expression of the handicap, i.e. briefly after mating in 2 weeks old scorpionflies. By contrast, there was no correlation with immunocompetence of the same flies at a younger age, i.e. shortly after adult emergence and a weak, insignificant trend for increased immunocompetence in offspring. These results are in agreement with positive phenotypic correlations between immunocompetence and handicap expression reported from other species, but advise caution when generalizing such one-time correlations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joachim Kurtz
- Institute for Evolutionary Biology and Ecology, University of Bonn, An der Immenburg 1, D-53121, Bonn, Germany.
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Not all Panorpa (Mecoptera: Panorpidae) scorpionfly mating systems are characterized by resource defence polygyny. Anim Behav 2007. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2006.10.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
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Bakker TCM, Lubjuhn T, Kullmann H, Starck JM. Causal and historical evolutionary biology: papers in honour of Professor Klaus Peter Sauer. ZOOLOGY 2007; 110:331-5. [PMID: 17962006 DOI: 10.1016/j.zool.2007.08.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
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Kurtz J, Kalbe M, Langefors A, Mayer I, Milinski M, Hasselquist D. An Experimental Test of the Immunocompetence Handicap Hypothesis in a Teleost Fish: 11‐Ketotestosterone Suppresses Innate Immunity in Three‐Spined Sticklebacks. Am Nat 2007; 170:509-19. [PMID: 17891730 DOI: 10.1086/521316] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2007] [Accepted: 06/08/2007] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
The immunocompetence handicap hypothesis (ICHH) provides a functional explanation for how sexual ornaments can provide honest signals of male quality. A key aspect of this hypothesis is that testosterone (T) has a bimodal effect: a higher T level enhances the expression of ornaments (increasing mating success and, ultimately, fitness); however, at the same time, it suppresses immune function. Tests of the latter assumption, which have focused mainly on aspects of adaptive immunity in birds, led to equivocal results. We performed a hormone-implant experiment in male three-spined sticklebacks (Gasterosteus aculeatus) to test the key assumptions of the ICHH in a fish, where the dominant circulating androgen is 11-ketotestosterone (11kT) rather than T. Males were implanted with 11-ketoandrostenedione, which is a natural precursor of 11kT. Each individual's circulating 11kT level, ornamentation, and immunocompetence were measured 2 weeks later. In addition, we quantified oxidative tissue damage because the ICHH has been hypothesized to work via oxidative stress. We found that the males' 11kT levels correlated positively with ornamentation but negatively with immunocompetence, in particular, measures of innate immunity. Moreover, there was a trend for fish with high 11kT levels to suffer more from oxidative stress. Thus, our data provide support for the ICHH.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joachim Kurtz
- Department of Evolutionary Ecology, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Biology, August Thienemann Strasse 2, D-24306 Plon, Germany.
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Nuptial feeding in the scorpionfly Panorpa vulgaris: maintenance of genetic variance in sexual advertisement through dependence on condition influencing traits. Evol Ecol 2007. [DOI: 10.1007/s10682-007-9191-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
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Rantala MJ, Roff DA. Inbreeding and extreme outbreeding cause sex differences in immune defence and life history traits in Epirrita autumnata. Heredity (Edinb) 2007; 98:329-36. [PMID: 17314921 DOI: 10.1038/sj.hdy.6800945] [Citation(s) in RCA: 131] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Empirical studies in vertebrates support the hypothesis that inbreeding reduces resistance against parasites and pathogens. However, studies in insects have not found any evidence that inbreeding compromises immune defence. Here we tested whether one generation of brother-sister mating or extreme outbreeding (mating between two populations) have an effect on innate immunity and life history traits in the autumnal moth, Epirrita autumnata. We show that the effect of inbreeding on immune response differed between the sexes: whereas in females, inbreeding significantly reduced encapsulation response against nylon monofilament ability, it did not have a significant effect on male immune response. There were also differences in the correlation of the immune response with other traits: in females increased immune response was positively correlated with large size, whereas in males immune response increased with a reduction in development time. Immune response differed significantly among families in males but not in females, both for the inbreeding and extreme outbreeding experiments. In conjunction with the observed immune responses to inbreeding, these data suggest that in males genetic variation for immune response is largely additive or non-directional with respect to dominance, whereas in females variation is much reduced and consists of directional dominance variance. Further, we show that encapsulation response against nylon monofilament is associated with the resistance against real pathogens suggesting that this widely used method to measure the strength of immune defence in insects is also a biologically relevant method.
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Affiliation(s)
- M J Rantala
- Department of Biology, Section of Ecology, University of Turku, Turku, Finland.
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RANTALA MARKUSJ, ROFF DEREKA, RANTALA LIISAM. Forceps size and immune function in the earwig Forficula auricularia L. Biol J Linn Soc Lond 2007. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1095-8312.2007.00741.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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Vahed K. All that Glisters is not Gold: Sensory Bias, Sexual Conflict and Nuptial Feeding in Insects and Spiders. Ethology 2007. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1439-0310.2006.01312.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 138] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
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Foraging ability in the scorpionfly Panorpa vulgaris: individual differences and heritability. Behav Ecol Sociobiol 2006. [DOI: 10.1007/s00265-006-0277-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
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50
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Condition and androgen levels: are condition-dependent and testosterone-mediated traits two sides of the same coin? Anim Behav 2006. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2005.09.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 70] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
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