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Pennell TM, Sharma MD, Sutter A, Wilson DT, House CM, Hosken DJ. The condition-dependence of male genital size and shape. Ecol Evol 2024; 14:e11180. [PMID: 38495435 PMCID: PMC10944674 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.11180] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2023] [Revised: 02/12/2024] [Accepted: 03/05/2024] [Indexed: 03/19/2024] Open
Abstract
The male genitals of internal fertilisers evolve rapidly and divergently, and sexual selection is generally responsible for this. Many sexually selected traits are condition-dependent-with their expression dependent upon the resources available to be allocated to them-as revealed by genetic or environmental manipulations of condition. However, it is not clear whether male genitals are also condition-dependent. Here we manipulate condition in two ways (via inbreeding and diet) to test the condition-dependence of the genital arch of Drosophila simulans. We found that genital size but not genital shape suffered from inbreeding depression, whereas genital size and shape were affected by dietary manipulation of condition. The differential effects of these treatments likely reflect underlying genetic architecture that has been shaped by past selection: inbreeding depression is only expected when traits have a history of directional selection, while diet impacts traits regardless of historical selection. Nonetheless, our results suggest genitals can be condition-dependent like other sexually selected traits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tanya M. Pennell
- Centre for Ecology & Conservation, Faculty of Environment, Science and Economy (ESE)University of ExeterExeterUK
| | - Manmohan D. Sharma
- Centre for Ecology & Conservation, Faculty of Environment, Science and Economy (ESE)University of ExeterExeterUK
| | - Andreas Sutter
- Centre for Ecology & Conservation, Faculty of Environment, Science and Economy (ESE)University of ExeterExeterUK
| | - Drew T. Wilson
- Centre for Ecology & Conservation, Faculty of Environment, Science and Economy (ESE)University of ExeterExeterUK
| | - Clarissa M. House
- School of ScienceWestern Sydney UniversityRichmondNew South WalesAustralia
| | - David J. Hosken
- Centre for Ecology & Conservation, Faculty of Environment, Science and Economy (ESE)University of ExeterExeterUK
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2
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Townsend AK, Sewall KB, Leonard AS, Hawley DM. Infectious disease and cognition in wild populations. Trends Ecol Evol 2022; 37:899-910. [PMID: 35872026 DOI: 10.1016/j.tree.2022.06.005] [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: 03/31/2022] [Revised: 06/08/2022] [Accepted: 06/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Infectious disease is linked to impaired cognition across a breadth of host taxa and cognitive abilities, potentially contributing to variation in cognitive performance within and among populations. Impaired cognitive performance can stem from direct damage by the parasite, the host immune response, or lost opportunities for learning. Moreover, cognitive impairment could be compounded by factors that simultaneously increase infection risk and impair cognition directly, such as stress and malnutrition. As highlighted in this review, however, answers to fundamental questions remain unresolved, including the frequency, duration, and fitness consequences of infection-linked cognitive impairment in wild animal populations, the cognitive abilities most likely to be affected, and the potential for adaptive evolution of cognition in response to accelerating emergence of infectious disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea K Townsend
- Department of Biology, Hamilton College, 198 College Hill Road, Clinton, NY 13323, USA.
| | - Kendra B Sewall
- Department of Biological Sciences, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA
| | - Anne S Leonard
- Department of Biology, University of Nevada, Reno, NV 89557, USA
| | - Dana M Hawley
- Department of Biological Sciences, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA
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3
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Wheeler SS, Taff CC, Reisen WK, Townsend AK. Mosquito blood-feeding patterns and nesting behavior of American crows, an amplifying host of West Nile virus. Parasit Vectors 2021; 14:331. [PMID: 34158103 PMCID: PMC8220764 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-021-04827-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2021] [Accepted: 06/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Although American crows are a key indicator species for West Nile virus (WNV) and mount among the highest viremias reported for any host, the importance of crows in the WNV transmission cycle has been called into question because of their consistent underrepresentation in studies of Culex blood meal sources. Here, we test the hypothesis that this apparent underrepresentation could be due, in part, to underrepresentation of crow nesting habitat from mosquito sampling designs. Specifically, we examine how the likelihood of a crow blood meal changes with distance to and timing of active crow nests in a Davis, California, population. Methods Sixty artificial mosquito resting sites were deployed from May to September 2014 in varying proximity to known crow nesting sites, and Culex blood meal hosts were identified by DNA barcoding. Genotypes from crow blood meals and local crows (72 nestlings from 30 broods and 389 local breeders and helpers) were used to match mosquito blood meals to specific local crows. Results Among the 297 identified Culex blood meals, 20 (6.7%) were attributable to crows. The mean percentage of blood meals of crow origin was 19% in the nesting period (1 May–18 June 2014), but 0% in the weeks after fledging (19 June–1 September 2014), and the likelihood of a crow blood meal increased with proximity to an active nest: the odds that crows hosted a Culex blood meal were 38.07 times greater within 10 m of an active nest than > 10 m from an active nest. Nine of ten crow blood meals that could be matched to a genotype of a specific crow belonged to either nestlings in these nests or their mothers. Six of the seven genotypes that could not be attributed to sampled birds belonged to females, a sex bias likely due to mosquitoes targeting incubating or brooding females. Conclusion Data herein indicate that breeding crows serve as hosts for Culex in the initial stages of the WNV spring enzootic cycle. Given their high viremia, infected crows could thereby contribute to the re-initiation and early amplification of the virus, increasing its availability as mosquitoes shift to other moderately competent later-breeding avian hosts.![]() Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13071-021-04827-x.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah S Wheeler
- Sacramento-Yolo Mosquito and Vector Control District, 8631 Bond Road, Elk Grove, CA, 95624, USA.
| | - Conor C Taff
- Cornell Lab of Ornithology and Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14850, USA
| | - William K Reisen
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA, 95616, USA
| | - Andrea K Townsend
- Department of Biology, Hamilton College, 198 College Hill Rd, Clinton, NY, 13323, USA
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4
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Ujvari B, Klaassen M, Raven N, Russell T, Vittecoq M, Hamede R, Thomas F, Madsen T. Genetic diversity, inbreeding and cancer. Proc Biol Sci 2019; 285:rspb.2017.2589. [PMID: 29563261 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2017.2589] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2017] [Accepted: 02/28/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Genetic diversity is essential for adaptive capacities, providing organisms with the potential of successfully responding to intrinsic and extrinsic challenges. Although a clear reciprocal link between genetic diversity and resistance to parasites and pathogens has been established across taxa, the impact of loss of genetic diversity by inbreeding on the emergence and progression of non-communicable diseases, such as cancer, has been overlooked. Here we provide an overview of such associations and show that low genetic diversity and inbreeding associate with an increased risk of cancer in both humans and animals. Cancer being a multifaceted disease, loss of genetic diversity can directly (via accumulation of oncogenic homozygous mutations) and indirectly (via increased susceptibility to oncogenic pathogens) impact abnormal cell emergence and escape of immune surveillance. The observed link between reduced genetic diversity and cancer in wildlife may further imperil the long-term survival of numerous endangered species, highlighting the need to consider the impact of cancer in conservation biology. Finally, the somewhat incongruent data originating from human studies suggest that the association between genetic diversity and cancer development is multifactorial and may be tumour specific. Further studies are therefore crucial in order to elucidate the underpinnings of the interactions between genetic diversity, inbreeding and cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beata Ujvari
- Centre for Integrative Ecology, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, Waurn Ponds, Victoria 3216, Australia.,School of Biological Sciences, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 55, Hobart, Tasmania 7001, Australia
| | - Marcel Klaassen
- Centre for Integrative Ecology, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, Waurn Ponds, Victoria 3216, Australia
| | - Nynke Raven
- Centre for Integrative Ecology, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, Waurn Ponds, Victoria 3216, Australia
| | - Tracey Russell
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales 2006, Australia
| | - Marion Vittecoq
- Institut de Recherche de la Tour du Valat, le Sambuc, 13200 Arles, France
| | - Rodrigo Hamede
- Centre for Integrative Ecology, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, Waurn Ponds, Victoria 3216, Australia.,School of Biological Sciences, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 55, Hobart, Tasmania 7001, Australia
| | - Frédéric Thomas
- CREEC/MIVEGEC, UMR IRD/CNRS/UM 5290, 911 Avenue Agropolis, BP 64501, 34394 Montpellier Cedex 5, France
| | - Thomas Madsen
- Centre for Integrative Ecology, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, Waurn Ponds, Victoria 3216, Australia .,School of Biological Sciences, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, New South Wales 2522, Australia
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5
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Townsend AK, Taff CC, Jones ML, Getman KH, Wheeler SS, Hinton MG, Logsdon RM. Apparent inbreeding preference despite inbreeding depression in the American crow. Mol Ecol 2019; 28:1116-1126. [PMID: 30222228 DOI: 10.1111/mec.14866] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2018] [Revised: 08/18/2018] [Accepted: 09/04/2018] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Although matings between relatives can have negative effects on offspring fitness, apparent inbreeding preference has been reported in a growing number of systems, including those with documented inbreeding depression. Here, we examined evidence for inbreeding depression and inbreeding preference in two populations (Clinton, New York, and Davis, California, USA) of the cooperatively breeding American crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos). We then compared observed inbreeding strategies with theoretical expectations for optimal, adaptive levels of inbreeding, given the inclusive fitness benefits and population-specific magnitude of inbreeding depression. We found that low heterozygosity at a panel of 33 microsatellite markers was associated with low survival probability (fledging success) and low white blood cell counts among offspring in both populations. Despite these costs, our data were more consistent with inbreeding preference than avoidance: The observed heterozygosity among 396 sampled crow offspring was significantly lower than expected if local adults were mating by random chance. This pattern was consistent across a range of spatial scales in both populations. Adaptive levels of inbreeding, given the magnitude of inbreeding depression, were predicted to be very low in the California population, whereas complete disassortative mating was predicted in the New York population. Sexual conflict might have contributed to the apparent absence of inbreeding avoidance in crows. These data add to an increasing number of examples of an "inbreeding paradox," where inbreeding appears to be preferred despite inbreeding depression.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Conor C Taff
- Cornell University Laboratory of Ornithology, Ithaca, New York
| | - Melissa L Jones
- Avian Sciences Graduate Group, University of California, Davis, California
| | | | - Sarah S Wheeler
- Sacramento-Yolo Mosquito and Vector Control District, Elk Grove, California
| | - Mitch G Hinton
- Animal Behavior Graduate Group, University of California, Davis, California
| | - Ryane M Logsdon
- Animal Behavior Graduate Group, University of California, Davis, California
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6
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Townsend AK, Taff CC, Wheeler SS, Weis AM, Hinton MG, Jones ML, Logsdon RM, Reisen WK, Freund D, Sehgal RNM, Saberi M, Suh YH, Hurd J, Boyce WM. Low heterozygosity is associated with vector‐borne disease in crows. Ecosphere 2018. [DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.2407] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
| | - Conor C. Taff
- Cornell University Laboratory of Ornithology Ithaca New York 14850 USA
| | - Sarah S. Wheeler
- Sacramento‐Yolo Mosquito and Vector Control District Elk Grove California 95624 USA
| | - Allison M. Weis
- Department of Population Health and Reproduction School of Veterinary Medicine 100K Pathogen Genome Project University of California Davis California 95616 USA
| | - Mitch G. Hinton
- Animal Behavior Graduate Group University of California Davis California 95616 USA
| | - Melissa L. Jones
- Avian Sciences Graduate Group University of California Davis California 95616 USA
| | - Ryane M. Logsdon
- Animal Behavior Graduate Group University of California Davis California 95616 USA
| | - William K. Reisen
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology, and Immunology School of Veterinary Medicine University of California Davis California 95616 USA
| | - David Freund
- Department of Biology San Francisco State University San Francisco California 94132 USA
| | - Ravinder N. M. Sehgal
- Department of Biology San Francisco State University San Francisco California 94132 USA
| | - Mojan Saberi
- Department of Wildlife, Fish, and Conservation Biology University of California Davis California 95616 USA
| | - Young Ha Suh
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Cornell University Ithaca New York 14853 USA
| | - Jacqueline Hurd
- Department of Wildlife, Fish, and Conservation Biology University of California Davis California 95616 USA
| | - Walter M. Boyce
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology, and Immunology School of Veterinary Medicine University of California Davis California 95616 USA
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7
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Townsend AK, Wheeler SS, Freund D, Sehgal RNM, Boyce WM. Links between blood parasites, blood chemistry, and the survival of nestling American crows. Ecol Evol 2018; 8:8779-8790. [PMID: 30271545 PMCID: PMC6157653 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.4287] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2018] [Revised: 04/23/2018] [Accepted: 05/30/2018] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Many studies have used the avian hemosporidians (Leucocytozoon, Plasmodium, and Hemoproteus) to test hypotheses of host-parasite co-evolution, yet documented health and survival consequences of these blood parasites vary among studies and generalizations about their pathogenicity are debatable. In general, the negative effects of the hemosporidians are likely to be greatest during acute infections of young birds, yet most previous studies in wild passerines have examined chronic effects in adults. Here, we evaluated responses of nestling American crows (Corvus brachyrhynchos) to acute infection (prevalence and burden), as well as its short- and long-term survival consequences. We used panel of nine hematological and biochemical parameters that are regularly used to evaluate the health of domestic animals, including leukocyte profiles, hematocrit, and plasma proteins. We assessed the effects of infection on survival in a mark-recapture framework. Overall, 56% of crows (n = 321 samples) were infected by at least one of the three genera. Infections by all genera were associated with elevated plasma proteins and globulins, which could indicate an adaptive immune response. However, only Plasmodium infections were associated with low hematocrit (anemia) and lower fledging success, possibly mediated by the negative effect of low hematocrit values on body condition. Moreover, early Plasmodium infection (<40 days of age) had long-term survival implications: it was associated with lower apparent survival probability within 3 years after fledging. These results suggest that young crows mounted an adaptive immune response to all three genera. Short- and long-term pathological effects, however, were only apparent with Plasmodium infections.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Sarah S. Wheeler
- Sacramento‐Yolo Mosquito and Vector Control DistrictElk GroveCalifornia
| | - David Freund
- Department of BiologySan Francisco State UniversitySan FranciscoCalifornia
| | | | - Walter M. Boyce
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology, and ImmunologySchool of Veterinary MedicineUniversity of CaliforniaDavisCalifornia
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8
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Benton CH, Delahay RJ, Smith FAP, Robertson A, McDonald RA, Young AJ, Burke TA, Hodgson D. Inbreeding intensifies sex- and age-dependent disease in a wild mammal. J Anim Ecol 2018; 87:1500-1511. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2656.12878] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2018] [Accepted: 05/20/2018] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Clare H. Benton
- National Wildlife Management Centre; Animal and Plant Health Agency; Stonehouse UK
- Centre for Ecology and Conservation; University of Exeter; Penryn UK
| | - Richard J. Delahay
- National Wildlife Management Centre; Animal and Plant Health Agency; Stonehouse UK
| | - Freya A. P. Smith
- National Wildlife Management Centre; Animal and Plant Health Agency; Stonehouse UK
| | - Andrew Robertson
- National Wildlife Management Centre; Animal and Plant Health Agency; Stonehouse UK
- Environment and Sustainability Institute; University of Exeter; Penryn UK
| | - Robbie A. McDonald
- Environment and Sustainability Institute; University of Exeter; Penryn UK
| | - Andrew J. Young
- Centre for Ecology and Conservation; University of Exeter; Penryn UK
| | - Terry A. Burke
- Molecular Ecology Laboratory; University of Sheffield; Sheffield UK
| | - Dave Hodgson
- Centre for Ecology and Conservation; University of Exeter; Penryn UK
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9
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Warburton EM, Vonhof MJ. From individual heterogeneity to population-level overdispersion: quantifying the relative roles of host exposure and parasite establishment in driving aggregated helminth distributions. Int J Parasitol 2018; 48:309-318. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2017.10.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2017] [Revised: 10/17/2017] [Accepted: 10/21/2017] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
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10
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Schoenle LA, Kernbach M, Haussmann MF, Bonier F, Moore IT. An experimental test of the physiological consequences of avian malaria infection. J Anim Ecol 2017; 86:1483-1496. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2656.12753] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2017] [Accepted: 08/24/2017] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Meredith Kernbach
- Department of Biological Sciences Virginia Tech Blacksburg VA USA
- Department of Integrative Biology University of South Florida Tampa FL USA
| | | | - Frances Bonier
- Department of Biological Sciences Virginia Tech Blacksburg VA USA
- Biology Department Queen's University Kingston ON Canada
| | - Ignacio T. Moore
- Department of Biological Sciences Virginia Tech Blacksburg VA USA
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11
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Bateson ZW, Hammerly SC, Johnson JA, Morrow ME, Whittingham LA, Dunn PO. Specific alleles at immune genes, rather than genome‐wide heterozygosity, are related to immunity and survival in the critically endangered Attwater's prairie‐chicken. Mol Ecol 2016; 25:4730-44. [DOI: 10.1111/mec.13793] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2016] [Revised: 07/17/2016] [Accepted: 07/19/2016] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Zachary W. Bateson
- Behavioral and Molecular Ecology Group Department of Biological Sciences University of Wisconsin‐Milwaukee PO Box 413 Milwaukee WI 53201 USA
| | - Susan C. Hammerly
- Department of Biological Sciences Institute of Applied Sciences University of North Texas 1155 Union Circle Denton TX 76203 USA
| | - Jeff A. Johnson
- Department of Biological Sciences Institute of Applied Sciences University of North Texas 1155 Union Circle Denton TX 76203 USA
| | - Michael E. Morrow
- Attwater Prairie Chicken National Wildlife Refuge PO Box 519 Eagle Lake TX 77434 USA
| | - Linda A. Whittingham
- Behavioral and Molecular Ecology Group Department of Biological Sciences University of Wisconsin‐Milwaukee PO Box 413 Milwaukee WI 53201 USA
| | - Peter O. Dunn
- Behavioral and Molecular Ecology Group Department of Biological Sciences University of Wisconsin‐Milwaukee PO Box 413 Milwaukee WI 53201 USA
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12
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Brock PM, Goodman SJ, Hall AJ, Cruz M, Acevedo-Whitehouse K. Context-dependent associations between heterozygosity and immune variation in a wild carnivore. BMC Evol Biol 2015; 15:242. [PMID: 26537228 PMCID: PMC4634738 DOI: 10.1186/s12862-015-0519-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2015] [Accepted: 10/23/2015] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Background A multitude of correlations between heterozygosity and fitness proxies associated with disease have been reported from wild populations, but the genetic basis of these associations is unresolved. We used a longitudinal dataset on wild Galapagos sea lions (Zalophus wollebaeki) to develop a relatively new perspective on this problem, by testing for associations between heterozygosity and immune variation across age classes and between ecological contexts. Results Homozygosity by locus was negatively correlated with serum immunoglobulin G production in pups (0–3 months of age), suggesting that reduced genetic diversity has a detrimental influence on the early development of immune defence in the Galapagos sea lion. In addition, homozygosity by locus was positively correlated with total circulating leukocyte concentration in juveniles (6–24 months of age), but only in a colony subject to the anthropogenic environmental impacts of development, pollution and introduced species, which suggests that reduced genetic diversity influences mature immune system activity in circumstances of high antigen exposure. Conclusions These findings demonstrate the environmental context-dependency of the phenotypic expression of immune variation, which is implicit in the theory of ecoimmunology, but which has been rarely demonstrated in the wild. They also indicate that heterozygosity may be linked to the maintenance of heterogeneity in mammalian immune system development and response to infection, adding to the body of evidence on the nature of the mechanistic link between heterozygosity and fitness. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12862-015-0519-6) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick M Brock
- Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative Medicine, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, G61 1QH, UK. .,Zoological Society of London, Regent's Park, London, NW1 4RY, UK. .,School of Biology, University of Leeds, Leeds, LS2 9JT, UK.
| | | | - Ailsa J Hall
- Sea Mammal Research Unit, Scottish Ocean Institute, University of St. Andrews, Fife, KY16 8LB, UK.
| | - Marilyn Cruz
- Galapagos Genetics, Epidemiology and Pathology Laboratory, Galapagos National Park & University of Guayaquil, Puerto Ayora, Galapagos Islands, Ecuador.
| | - Karina Acevedo-Whitehouse
- Zoological Society of London, Regent's Park, London, NW1 4RY, UK. .,Unit for Basic and Applied Microbiology, School of Natural Sciences, Autonomous University of Queretaro, Queretaro, 76230, Mexico.
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13
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Georgiev AV, Muehlenbein MP, Prall SP, Emery Thompson M, Maestripieri D. Male quality, dominance rank, and mating success in free-ranging rhesus macaques. Behav Ecol 2015. [DOI: 10.1093/beheco/arv008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
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14
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Wheeler SS, Woods LW, Boyce WM, Eckstrand CD, Langevin SA, Reisen WK, Townsend AK. West Nile virus and non-West Nile virus mortality and coinfection of American crows (Corvus brachyrhynchos) in California. Avian Dis 2014; 58:255-61. [PMID: 25055630 DOI: 10.1637/10691-101413-reg.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
American crows are acutely sensitive to West Nile virus (WNV) infection, and crow mortality has been used in WNV surveillance to monitor enzootic transmission. However, non-WNV sources of mortality could reduce the reliability of crow death as a surveillance tool. Here, using a combination of histopathologic, toxicologic, virologic, and molecular techniques we describe causes of mortality in 67 American crows (Corvus brachyrhynchos) that were collected from a population in the Sacramento Valley of California in 2012 and 2013. Evidence of infectious disease was detected in 70% (47/67) of carcasses. The majority of deaths were linked to a suite of non-WNV viral, bacterial, and fungal infections (39%; 23/59 cases), WNV (36%; 24/67 cases), and an acute toxic event (25%; 15/59 cases). Coinfections were detected in 20% (12/59) of birds and frequently were associated with WNV and poxviral dermatitis. Inferences about WNV activity based on crow mortality should be supported by laboratory confirmation because crow mortality frequently can be caused by other infectious diseases or toxic events.
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15
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Pernet F, Lagarde F, Jeannée N, Daigle G, Barret J, Le Gall P, Quere C, D’orbcastel ER. Spatial and temporal dynamics of mass mortalities in oysters is influenced by energetic reserves and food quality. PLoS One 2014; 9:e88469. [PMID: 24551106 PMCID: PMC3925110 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0088469] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2013] [Accepted: 01/08/2014] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Although spatial studies of diseases on land have a long history, far fewer have been made on aquatic diseases. Here, we present the first large-scale, high-resolution spatial and temporal representation of a mass mortality phenomenon cause by the Ostreid herpesvirus (OsHV-1) that has affected oysters (Crassostrea gigas) every year since 2008, in relation to their energetic reserves and the quality of their food. Disease mortality was investigated in healthy oysters deployed at 106 locations in the Thau Mediterranean lagoon before the start of the epizootic in spring 2011. We found that disease mortality of oysters showed strong spatial dependence clearly reflecting the epizootic process of local transmission. Disease initiated inside oyster farms spread rapidly beyond these areas. Local differences in energetic condition of oysters, partly driven by variation in food quality, played a significant role in the spatial and temporal dynamics of disease mortality. In particular, the relative contribution of diatoms to the diet of oysters was positively correlated with their energetic reserves, which in turn decreased the risk of disease mortality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabrice Pernet
- Ifremer, Laboratoire Environnement Ressource du Languedoc Roussillon, Bd Jean Monnet, Sète, France
- UMR LEMAR Ifremer/CNRS/UBO/IRD, Technopole de Brest-Iroise, Plouzané, France
- * E-mail:
| | - Franck Lagarde
- Ifremer, Laboratoire Environnement Ressource du Languedoc Roussillon, Bd Jean Monnet, Sète, France
| | | | - Gaetan Daigle
- Université Laval, Département de mathématiques et de statistique, Pavillon Alexandre-Vachon, Québec, Québec, Canada
| | - Jean Barret
- Ifremer, Laboratoire Environnement Ressource du Languedoc Roussillon, Bd Jean Monnet, Sète, France
| | - Patrik Le Gall
- Ifremer, Laboratoire Environnement Ressource du Languedoc Roussillon, Bd Jean Monnet, Sète, France
| | - Claudie Quere
- UMR LEMAR Ifremer/CNRS/UBO/IRD, Technopole de Brest-Iroise, Plouzané, France
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16
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Thompson C, Sakaluk S, Masters B, Johnson B, Vogel L, Forsman A, Johnson L. Condition-dependent sex difference in nestling House Wren (Troglodytes aedon) response to phytohaemagglutinin injection. CAN J ZOOL 2014. [DOI: 10.1139/cjz-2013-0140] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Adult male and female birds typically respond differently to immunological challenges, but whether this difference is present in altricial nestlings is not well-documented. Furthermore, the timing of the development of different axes of the immune system might vary in nestlings and also be affected by differences in condition and health state. We tested for sex-related differences in the immune response of nestling House Wrens (Troglodytes aedon Vieillot, 1809) to the injection of phytohaemagglutinin (PHA) and in the bacteria-killing capacity of their plasma. Based on prior work, we predicted that if there were sex-related differences in immune responsiveness, they would most likely occur when the sexes differed in some measure of condition or health state. Female nestlings had a stronger response to the injection of PHA than males in the one of three breeding seasons in which the condition of nestling females exceeded that of males, suggesting that the response to PHA injection is condition-dependent rather than sex-dependent. The sexes, however, did not differ in bactericidal activity, suggesting that different axes of the immune system may not be affected to the same degree by differences in sex or in condition.
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Affiliation(s)
- C.F. Thompson
- School of Biological Sciences, Behavior, Ecology, Evolution, and Systematics Section, Illinois State University, Normal, IL 61790-4120, USA
| | - S.K. Sakaluk
- School of Biological Sciences, Behavior, Ecology, Evolution, and Systematics Section, Illinois State University, Normal, IL 61790-4120, USA
| | - B.S. Masters
- Department of Biology, Towson University, Towson, MD 21252, USA
| | - B.G.P. Johnson
- Department of Biology, Towson University, Towson, MD 21252, USA
| | - L.A. Vogel
- School of Biological Sciences, Behavior, Ecology, Evolution, and Systematics Section, Illinois State University, Normal, IL 61790-4120, USA
| | - A.M. Forsman
- School of Biological Sciences, Behavior, Ecology, Evolution, and Systematics Section, Illinois State University, Normal, IL 61790-4120, USA
| | - L.S. Johnson
- Department of Biology, Towson University, Towson, MD 21252, USA
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17
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Janicke T, Vellnow N, Lamy T, Chapuis E, David P. Inbreeding depression of mating behavior and its reproductive consequences in a freshwater snail. Behav Ecol 2013. [DOI: 10.1093/beheco/art122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
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18
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Brooks KC, Mateo JM. Chronically raised glucocorticoids reduce innate immune function in Belding's ground squirrels (Urocitellus beldingi) after an immune challenge. Gen Comp Endocrinol 2013; 193:149-57. [PMID: 23948370 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2013.07.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2013] [Revised: 07/04/2013] [Accepted: 07/31/2013] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
The hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis releases glucocorticoids (GCs), or stress hormones, during the vertebrate stress response. GCs can both enhance and suppress the immune system depending on whether the experienced stressor is acute or chronic and what aspect of immune function is measured. More research is needed to fully understand how the immune system reacts to stressors. In this study, we examined the effects of chronically raised GCs on innate immune function in Belding's ground squirrels (Urocitellus beldingi). We measured immune function with a bacteria killing ability (BKA) assay, an integrative and functional assessment of an animal's ability to clear a bacterial infection. All studies to date have examined how acute stressors or repeated social stressors impact BKA. This study is the first to our knowledge to investigate how chronically raised GCs impact BKA both before and after an immune challenge. We noninvasively raised GCs in treatment squirrels for six days and then gave them, and a group of untreated (control) squirrels, an injection of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) to stimulate their innate immune system. Treatment squirrels exhibited lower BKA after, but not before, being challenged with LPS. These results suggest that experiencing chronic stress may not be detrimental to immune functioning until an individual is challenged with an infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherine C Brooks
- Committee on Evolutionary Biology, The University of Chicago, 1025 E. 57th Street, Culver 402, Chicago, IL 60637, USA.
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19
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Eberhardt AT, Costa SA, Marini MR, Racca A, Baldi CJ, Robles MR, Moreno PG, Beldomenico PM. Parasitism and physiological trade-offs in stressed capybaras. PLoS One 2013; 8:e70382. [PMID: 23894644 PMCID: PMC3722164 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0070382] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2013] [Accepted: 06/19/2013] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Parasites play a key role in regulating wildlife population dynamics, but their impact on the host appears to be context-dependent. Evidence indicates that a synergistic interaction between stress, host condition and parasites is implicated in this phenomenon, but more studies are needed to better understand this context-dependency. With the goal to assess the net effect of two types of chronic stress on various host-parasite interactions, we conducted an experiment in capybaras to evaluate the impact of food restriction and physical restraint on the infection intensity of specific gastrointestinal nematodes and coccidia, and how these stressors affected the growth, body condition, and some immuno-physiological parameters. Our hypothesis was that both forms of stress would result in an alteration in the host-parasite interactions, with deteriorated condition and reduced immunological investment leading to high parasite burdens and vice versa. Stressed capybaras had significantly higher coccidia infection intensities; but among individuals that were smaller, those stressed consistently showed lower helminth burdens than controls. Both stress treatments had a marked negative impact on growth and body condition, but concomitantly they had a significant positive effect on some components of the immune system. Our results suggest, on the one hand, that during prolonged periods of stress capybaras preventatively invest in some components of their immunity, such as innate humoural defenses and cells that combat helminths, which could be considered a stress-dependent prophylaxis. On the other hand, stress was found to cause greater infection intensities of protozoans but lower burdens of nematodes, indicating that the relationship between stress, physiological trade-offs and infection depends on the type of parasite in question. Moreover, both findings might be related in a causal way, as one of the immunological parameters enhanced in stressed capybaras is associated with the immune response to control helminths.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ayelen T Eberhardt
- Laboratorio de Ecología de Enfermedades, Instituto de Ciencias Veterinarias del Litoral, Universidad Nacional del Litoral - Consejo de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (UNL - CONICET). Esperanza, Santa Fe, Argentina.
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20
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Brock PM, Hall AJ, Goodman SJ, Cruz M, Acevedo-Whitehouse K. Immune activity, body condition and human-associated environmental impacts in a wild marine mammal. PLoS One 2013; 8:e67132. [PMID: 23840603 PMCID: PMC3695956 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0067132] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2012] [Accepted: 05/19/2013] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Within individuals, immunity may compete with other life history traits for resources, such as energy and protein, and the damage caused by immunopathology can sometimes outweigh the protective benefits that immune responses confer. However, our understanding of the costs of immunity in the wild and how they relate to the myriad energetic demands on free-ranging organisms is limited. The endangered Galapagos sea lion (Zalophus wollebaeki) is threatened simultaneously by disease from domestic animals and rapid changes in food availability driven by unpredictable environmental variation. We made use of this unique ecology to investigate the relationship between changes in immune activity and changes in body condition. We found that during the first three months of life, changes in antibody concentration were negatively correlated with changes in mass per unit length, skinfold thickness and serum albumin concentration, but only in a sea lion colony exposed to anthropogenic environmental impacts. It has previously been shown that changes in antibody concentration during early Galapagos sea lion development were higher in a colony exposed to anthropogenic environmental impacts than in a control colony. This study allows for the possibility that these relatively large changes in antibody concentration are associated with negative impacts on fitness through an effect on body condition. Our findings suggest that energy availability and the degree of plasticity in immune investment may influence disease risk in natural populations synergistically, through a trade-off between investment in immunity and resistance to starvation. The relative benefits of such investments may change quickly and unpredictably, which allows for the possibility that individuals fine-tune their investment strategies in response to changes in environmental conditions. In addition, our results suggest that anthropogenic environmental impacts may impose subtle energetic costs on individuals, which could contribute to population declines, especially in times of energy shortage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick M. Brock
- Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London, Regents Park, London, United Kingdom
- Institute of Integrative and Comparative Biology, University of Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom
- * E-mail: (PMB); (KAW)
| | - Ailsa J. Hall
- Sea Mammal Research Unit, University of St. Andrews, Fife, United Kingdom
| | - Simon J. Goodman
- Institute of Integrative and Comparative Biology, University of Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom
| | - Marilyn Cruz
- Galapagos Genetics, Epidemiology and Pathology Laboratory, Galapagos National Park, Puerto Ayora, Ecuador
| | - Karina Acevedo-Whitehouse
- Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London, Regents Park, London, United Kingdom
- Unit for Basic and Applied Microbiology, Autonomous University of Queretaro, Queretaro, Mexico
- * E-mail: (PMB); (KAW)
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21
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Mendonça L, Litherland N, Lucy M, Keisler D, Ballou M, Hansen L, Chebel R. Comparison of innate immune responses and somatotropic axis components of Holstein and Montbéliarde-sired crossbred dairy cows during the transition period. J Dairy Sci 2013; 96:3588-98. [DOI: 10.3168/jds.2012-5804] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2012] [Accepted: 02/04/2013] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
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22
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He T. Structural equation modelling analysis of evolutionary and ecological patterns in Australian Banksia. POPUL ECOL 2013. [DOI: 10.1007/s10144-013-0376-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
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23
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Monceau K, Wattier R, Dechaume-Moncharmont FX, Dubreuil C, Cézilly F. Heterozygosity-fitness correlations in adult and juvenile Zenaida Dove, Zenaida aurita. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2012; 104:47-56. [PMID: 23091225 DOI: 10.1093/jhered/ess073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022]
Abstract
Understanding how fitness is related to genetic variation is of crucial importance in both evolutionary ecology and conservation biology. We report a study of heterozygosity-fitness correlations in a wild, noninbred population of Zenaida Doves, Zenaida aurita, based on a sample comprising 489 individuals (382 adults and 107 juveniles) typed at 13 microsatellite loci, resulting in a data set comprising 5793 genotypes. In both adults and juveniles, and irrespective of sex, no evidence was found for an effect of either multilocus or single-locus heterozygosity on traits potentially related to fitness such as foraging tactic, competitive ability, and fluctuating asymmetry. In contrast, a significant negative correlation between body condition and multilocus heterozygosity, indicative of outbreeding depression, was found in juveniles, whereas no such trend was observed in adults. However, the frequency distribution of heterozygosity did not differ between the two age classes, suggesting compensatory growth by heterozygous juveniles. We discuss our results in relation to some practical limitations associated with studies of heterozygosity-fitness correlations, and suggest that tropical bird species with allopatric divergence between island populations may provide a good biological model for the detection of outbreeding depression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karine Monceau
- Université de Bourgogne, UMR CNRS 6282 Biogéosciences, 6 boulevard Gabriel, 21000 Dijon, France.
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24
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Klaassen M, Hoye BJ, Nolet BA, Buttemer WA. Ecophysiology of avian migration in the face of current global hazards. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2012; 367:1719-32. [PMID: 22566678 PMCID: PMC3350656 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2012.0008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Long-distance migratory birds are often considered extreme athletes, possessing a range of traits that approach the physiological limits of vertebrate design. In addition, their movements must be carefully timed to ensure that they obtain resources of sufficient quantity and quality to satisfy their high-energy needs. Migratory birds may therefore be particularly vulnerable to global change processes that are projected to alter the quality and quantity of resource availability. Because long-distance flight requires high and sustained aerobic capacity, even minor decreases in vitality can have large negative consequences for migrants. In the light of this, we assess how current global change processes may affect the ability of birds to meet the physiological demands of migration, and suggest areas where avian physiologists may help to identify potential hazards. Predicting the consequences of global change scenarios on migrant species requires (i) reconciliation of empirical and theoretical studies of avian flight physiology; (ii) an understanding of the effects of food quality, toxicants and disease on migrant performance; and (iii) mechanistic models that integrate abiotic and biotic factors to predict migratory behaviour. Critically, a multi-dimensional concept of vitality would greatly facilitate evaluation of the impact of various global change processes on the population dynamics of migratory birds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcel Klaassen
- Centre for Integrative Ecology, Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria 3220, Australia.
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25
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Luquet E, Garner TWJ, Léna JP, Bruel C, Joly P, Lengagne T, Grolet O, Plénet S. Genetic erosion in wild populations makes resistance to a pathogen more costly. Evolution 2012; 66:1942-52. [PMID: 22671558 DOI: 10.1111/j.1558-5646.2011.01570.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Populations that have suffered from genetic erosion are expected to exhibit reduced average trait values or decreased variation in adaptive traits when experiencing periodic or emergent stressors such as infectious disease. Genetic erosion may consequentially modify the ability of a potential host population to cope with infectious disease emergence. We experimentally investigate this relationship between genetic variability and host response to exposure to an infectious agent both in terms of susceptibility to infection and indirect parasite-mediated responses that also impact fitness. We hypothesized that the deleterious consequences of exposure to the pathogen (Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis) would be more severe for tadpoles descended from European treefrog (Hyla arborea) populations lacking genetic variability. Although all exposed tadpoles lacked detectable infection, we detected this relationship for some indirect host responses, predominantly in genetically depleted animals, as well as an interaction between genetic variability and pathogen dose on life span during the postmetamorphic period. Lack of infection and a decreased mass and postmetamorphic life span in low genetic diversity tadpoles lead us to conclude that genetic erosion, while not affecting the ability to mount effective resistance strategies, also erodes the capacity to invest in resistance, increased tadpole growth rate, and metamorphosis relatively simultaneously.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emilien Luquet
- CNRS UMR 5023 Ecologie des Hydrosystèmes Naturels et Anthropisés, Université Claude Bernard Lyon1, Université de Lyon, 43 Bd du 11 Novembre 1918, 69622 Villeurbanne cedex, France.
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26
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Venesky MD, Wilcoxen TE, Rensel MA, Rollins-Smith L, Kerby JL, Parris MJ. Dietary protein restriction impairs growth, immunity, and disease resistance in southern leopard frog tadpoles. Oecologia 2011; 169:23-31. [PMID: 22038058 DOI: 10.1007/s00442-011-2171-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 73] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2011] [Accepted: 10/10/2011] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
The immune system is a necessary, but potentially costly, defense against infectious diseases. When nutrition is limited, immune activity may consume a significant amount of an organism's energy budget. Levels of dietary protein affect immune system function; high levels can enhance disease resistance. We exposed southern leopard frog [Lithobates sphenocephalus (=Rana sphenocephala)] tadpoles to high and low protein diets crossed with the presence or absence of the pathogenic amphibian chytrid fungus (Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis; Bd) and quantified: (1) tadpole resistance to Bd; (2) tadpole skin-swelling in response to phytohaemagglutinin (PHA) injection (a measure of the T cell-mediated response of the immune system); (3) bacterial killing ability (BKA) of tadpole blood (a measure of the complement-mediated cytotoxicity of the innate immune system); and (4) tadpole growth and development. Tadpoles raised on a low-protein diet were smaller and less developed than tadpoles on a high-protein diet. When controlled for developmental stage, tadpoles raised on a low-protein diet had reduced PHA and BKA responses relative to tadpoles on a high-protein diet, but these immune responses were independent of Bd exposure. High dietary protein significantly increased resistance to Bd. Our results support the general hypothesis that host condition can strongly affect disease resistance; in particular, fluctuations in dietary protein availability may change how diseases affect populations in the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew D Venesky
- Department of Biological Sciences, The University of Memphis, Memphis, TN 38152, USA.
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