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Tuliozi B, Mantovani R, Schoepf I, Tsuruta S, Mancin E, Sartori C. Genetic correlations of direct and indirect genetic components of social dominance with fitness and morphology traits in cattle. Genet Sel Evol 2023; 55:84. [PMID: 38037008 PMCID: PMC10687847 DOI: 10.1186/s12711-023-00845-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2022] [Accepted: 10/02/2023] [Indexed: 12/02/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Within the same species, individuals show marked variation in their social dominance. Studies on a handful of populations have indicated heritable genetic variation for this trait, which is determined by both the genetic background of the individual (direct genetic effect) and of its opponent (indirect genetic effect). However, the evolutionary consequences of selection for this trait are largely speculative, as it is not a usual target of selection in livestock populations. Moreover, studying social dominance presents the challenge of working with a phenotype with a mean value that cannot change in the population, as for every winner of an agonistic interaction there will necessarily be a loser. Thus, to investigate what could be the evolutionary response to selection for social dominance, it is necessary to focus on traits that might be correlated with it. This study investigated the genetic correlations of social dominance, both direct and indirect, with several morphology and fitness traits. We used a dataset of agonistic contests involving cattle (Bos taurus): during these contests, pairs of cows compete in ritualized interactions to assess social dominance. The outcomes of 37,996 dominance interactions performed by 8789 cows over 20 years were combined with individual data for fertility, mammary health, milk yield and morphology and analysed using bivariate animal models including indirect genetic effects. RESULTS We found that winning agonistic interactions has a positive genetic correlation with more developed frontal muscle mass, lower fertility, and poorer udder health. We also discovered that the trends of changes in the estimated breeding values of social dominance, udder health and more developed muscle mass were consistent with selection for social dominance in the population. CONCLUSIONS We present evidence that social dominance is genetically correlated with fitness traits, as well as empirical evidence of the possible evolutionary trade-offs between these traits. We show that it is feasible to estimate genetic correlations involving dyadic social traits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beniamino Tuliozi
- Department of Biology, Duke University, Durham, NC, 27708, USA.
- Department of Agronomy, Food, Natural Resources, Animals and Environment, University of Padova, Viale Dell'Università 16, 35020, Legnaro, Italy.
| | - Roberto Mantovani
- Department of Agronomy, Food, Natural Resources, Animals and Environment, University of Padova, Viale Dell'Università 16, 35020, Legnaro, Italy
| | - Ivana Schoepf
- Department of Sciences, Augustana Campus, University of Alberta, 4901 46 Ave, Camrose, AB, T4V 2R3, Canada
| | - Shogo Tsuruta
- Department of Animal and Dairy Science, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, 30602, USA
| | - Enrico Mancin
- Department of Agronomy, Food, Natural Resources, Animals and Environment, University of Padova, Viale Dell'Università 16, 35020, Legnaro, Italy
| | - Cristina Sartori
- Department of Agronomy, Food, Natural Resources, Animals and Environment, University of Padova, Viale Dell'Università 16, 35020, Legnaro, Italy
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2
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Arch M, Vidal M, Fuentes E, Abat AS, Cardona PJ. The reproductive status determines tolerance and resistance to Mycobacterium marinum in Drosophila melanogaster. Evol Med Public Health 2023; 11:332-347. [PMID: 37868078 PMCID: PMC10590161 DOI: 10.1093/emph/eoad029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2023] [Revised: 07/27/2023] [Indexed: 10/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Sex and reproductive status of the host have a major impact on the immune response against infection. Our aim was to understand their impact on host tolerance or resistance in the systemic Mycobacterium marinum infection of Drosophila melanogaster. We measured host survival and bacillary load at time of death, as well as expression by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction of immune genes (diptericin and drosomycin). We also assessed the impact of metabolic and hormonal regulation in the protection against infection by measuring expression of upd3, impl2 and ecR. Our data showed increased resistance in actively mating flies and in mated females, while reducing their tolerance to infection. Data suggests that Toll and immune deficiency (Imd) pathways determine tolerance and resistance, respectively, while higher basal levels of ecR favours the stimulation of the Imd pathway. A dual role has been found for upd3 expression, linked to increased/decreased mycobacterial load at the beginning and later in infection, respectively. Finally, impl2 expression has been related to increased resistance in non-actively mating males. These results allow further assessment on the differences between sexes and highlights the role of the reproductive status in D. melanogaster to face infections, demonstrating their importance to determine resistance and tolerance against M. marinum infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta Arch
- Tuberculosis Research Unit, Germans Trias i Pujol Research Institute (IGTP), Badalona, Catalonia, Spain
- Comparative Medicine and Bioimage Centre of Catalonia (CMCiB), Germans Trias i Pujol Research Institute (IGTP), 08916 Badalona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Maria Vidal
- Tuberculosis Research Unit, Germans Trias i Pujol Research Institute (IGTP), Badalona, Catalonia, Spain
- Genetics and Microbiology Department, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Esther Fuentes
- Tuberculosis Research Unit, Germans Trias i Pujol Research Institute (IGTP), Badalona, Catalonia, Spain
- Comparative Medicine and Bioimage Centre of Catalonia (CMCiB), Germans Trias i Pujol Research Institute (IGTP), 08916 Badalona, Catalonia, Spain
- Microbiology Department, Laboratori Clínic Metropolitana Nord, Germans Trias i Pujol University Hospital, 08916 Badalona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Anmaw Shite Abat
- Tuberculosis Research Unit, Germans Trias i Pujol Research Institute (IGTP), Badalona, Catalonia, Spain
- Department of Veterinary Paraclinical Studies, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia
| | - Pere-Joan Cardona
- Tuberculosis Research Unit, Germans Trias i Pujol Research Institute (IGTP), Badalona, Catalonia, Spain
- Comparative Medicine and Bioimage Centre of Catalonia (CMCiB), Germans Trias i Pujol Research Institute (IGTP), 08916 Badalona, Catalonia, Spain
- Microbiology Department, Laboratori Clínic Metropolitana Nord, Germans Trias i Pujol University Hospital, 08916 Badalona, Catalonia, Spain
- Genetics and Microbiology Department, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Catalonia, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red en Enfermedades Respiratorias (CIBERES), Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII), Madrid, Spain
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3
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Perez G. Role of bank vole (Myodes glareolus) personality on tick burden (Ixodes spp.). Folia Parasitol (Praha) 2022; 69. [DOI: 10.14411/fp.2022.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2021] [Accepted: 02/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
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Lee W, Milewski TM, Dwortz MF, Young RL, Gaudet AD, Fonken LK, Champagne FA, Curley JP. Distinct immune and transcriptomic profiles in dominant versus subordinate males in mouse social hierarchies. Brain Behav Immun 2022; 103:130-144. [PMID: 35447300 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2022.04.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2021] [Revised: 03/31/2022] [Accepted: 04/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Social status is a critical factor determining health outcomes in human and nonhuman social species. In social hierarchies with reproductive skew, individuals compete to monopolize resources and increase mating opportunities. This can come at a significant energetic cost leading to trade-offs between different physiological systems. In particular, changes in energetic investment in the immune system can have significant short and long-term effects on fitness and health. We have previously found that dominant alpha male mice living in social hierarchies have increased metabolic demands related to territorial defense. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that high-ranking male mice favor adaptive immunity, while subordinate mice show higher investment in innate immunity. We housed 12 groups of 10 outbred CD-1 male mice in a social housing system. All formed linear social hierarchies and subordinate mice had higher concentrations of plasma corticosterone (CORT) than alpha males. This difference was heightened in highly despotic hierarchies. Using flow cytometry, we found that dominant status was associated with a significant shift in immunophenotypes towards favoring adaptive versus innate immunity. Using Tag-Seq to profile hepatic and splenic transcriptomes of alpha and subordinate males, we identified genes that regulate metabolic and immune defense pathways that are associated with status and/or CORT concentration. In the liver, dominant animals showed a relatively higher expression of specific genes involved in major urinary production and catabolic processes, whereas subordinate animals showed relatively higher expression of genes promoting biosynthetic processes, wound healing, and proinflammatory responses. In spleen, subordinate mice showed relatively higher expression of genes facilitating oxidative phosphorylation and DNA repair and CORT was negatively associated with genes involved in lymphocyte proliferation and activation. Together, our findings suggest that dominant and subordinate animals adaptively shift immune profiles and peripheral gene expression to match their contextual needs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Won Lee
- Department of Psychology, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA; Department of In Vivo Pharmacology Services, The Jackson Laboratory, Sacramento, CA, USA
| | - Tyler M Milewski
- Department of Psychology, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
| | - Madeleine F Dwortz
- Department of Psychology, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA; Institute for Neuroscience, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
| | - Rebecca L Young
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
| | - Andrew D Gaudet
- Department of Psychology, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA; Department of Neurology, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
| | - Laura K Fonken
- Division of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
| | | | - James P Curley
- Department of Psychology, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA.
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5
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Murano C, Iijima H, Azuma N. Unique population dynamics of Japanese field vole: Winter breeding and summer population decline. POPUL ECOL 2022. [DOI: 10.1002/1438-390x.12113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Chie Murano
- Faculty of Agriculture and Life Science Hirosaki University Hirosaki Aomori Japan
| | - Hayato Iijima
- Department of Wildlife Biology, Forest Science Forestry and Forest Products Research Institute (FFPRI) Tsukuba Ibaraki 305‐8687 Japan
| | - Nobuyuki Azuma
- Faculty of Agriculture and Life Science Hirosaki University Hirosaki Aomori Japan
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Ferreira SCM, Veiga MM, Hofer H, East ML, Czirják GÁ. Noninvasively measured immune responses reflect current parasite infections in a wild carnivore and are linked to longevity. Ecol Evol 2021; 11:7685-7699. [PMID: 34188844 PMCID: PMC8216923 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.7602] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2021] [Revised: 04/02/2021] [Accepted: 04/06/2021] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Host immune defenses are important components of host-parasite interactions that affect the outcome of infection and may have fitness consequences for hosts when increased allocation of resources to immune responses undermines other essential life processes. Research on host-parasite interactions in large free-ranging wild mammals is currently hampered by a lack of verified noninvasive assays. We successfully adapted existing assays to measure innate and adaptive immune responses produced by the gastrointestinal mucosa in spotted hyena (Crocuta crocuta) feces, including enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs), to quantify fecal immunoglobulins (total IgA, total IgG) and total fecal O-linked oligosaccharides (mucin). We investigated the effect of infection load by an energetically costly hookworm (Ancylostoma), parasite richness, host age, sex, year of sampling, and clan membership on immune responses and asked whether high investment in immune responses during early life affects longevity in individually known spotted hyenas in the Serengeti National Park, Tanzania. Fecal concentrations of IgA, IgG, and mucin increased with Ancylostoma egg load and were higher in juveniles than in adults. Females had higher mucin concentrations than males. Juvenile females had higher IgG concentrations than juvenile males, whereas adult females had lower IgG concentrations than adult males. High IgA concentrations during the first year of life were linked to reduced longevity after controlling for age at sampling and Ancylostoma egg load. Our study demonstrates that the use of noninvasive methods can increase knowledge on the complex relationship between gastrointestinal parasites and host local immune responses in wild large mammals and reveal fitness-relevant effects of these responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susana C. M. Ferreira
- Department of Ecological DynamicsLeibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife ResearchBerlinGermany
- Present address:
Division of Computational Systems BiologyCentre for Microbiology and Environmental Systems ScienceViennaAustria
| | - Miguel M. Veiga
- Department of Ecological DynamicsLeibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife ResearchBerlinGermany
| | - Heribert Hofer
- Department of Ecological DynamicsLeibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife ResearchBerlinGermany
- Department of Veterinary MedicineFreie Universität BerlinBerlinGermany
- Department of Biology, Chemistry and PharmacyFreie Universität BerlinBerlinGermany
| | - Marion L. East
- Department of Ecological DynamicsLeibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife ResearchBerlinGermany
| | - Gábor Á. Czirják
- Department of Wildlife DiseasesLeibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife ResearchBerlinGermany
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7
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Ros AFH, Nusbaumer D, Triki Z, Grutter AS, Bshary R. The impact of long-term reduced access to cleaner fish on health indicators of resident client fish. J Exp Biol 2020; 223:jeb231613. [PMID: 33188063 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.231613] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2020] [Accepted: 11/09/2020] [Indexed: 08/25/2023]
Abstract
In many mutualisms, benefits in the form of food are exchanged for services such as transport or protection. In the marine cleaning mutualism, a variety of 'client' reef fishes offer 'cleaner' fish Labroides dimidiatus access to food in the form of their ectoparasites, where parasite removal supposedly protects the clients. Yet, the health benefits individual clients obtain in the long term from repeated ectoparasite removal remain relatively unknown. Here, we tested whether long-term reduced access to cleaning services alters indicators of health status such as body condition, immunity and the steroids cortisol and testosterone in four client damselfish species Pomacentrus amboinensis, Amblyglyphidodon curacao, Acanthochromis polyacanthus and Dischistodus perspicillatus To do so, we took advantage of a long-term experimental project in which several small reefs around Lizard Island (Great Barrier Reef, Australia) have been maintained cleaner-free since the year 2000, while control reefs had their cleaner presence continuously monitored. We found that the four damselfish species from reef sites without cleaners for 13 years had lower body condition than fish from reefs with cleaners. However, immunity measurements and cortisol and testosterone levels did not differ between experimental groups. Our findings suggest that clients use the energetic benefits derived from long-term access to cleaning services to selectively increase body condition, rather than altering hormonal or immune system functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Albert F H Ros
- Department of Biology, University of Neuchâtel, Emile-Argand, 11, 2000 Neuchâtel, Switzerland
- Fishery Research Unit, LAZBW, Argenweg 50/1, 88085 Langenargen, Germany
| | - David Nusbaumer
- Department of Biology, University of Neuchâtel, Emile-Argand, 11, 2000 Neuchâtel, Switzerland
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of Lausanne, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Zegni Triki
- Department of Biology, University of Neuchâtel, Emile-Argand, 11, 2000 Neuchâtel, Switzerland
- Department of Zoology, Stockholm University, Svante Arrheniusväg 18 B, SE-106 91 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Alexandra S Grutter
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Redouan Bshary
- Department of Biology, University of Neuchâtel, Emile-Argand, 11, 2000 Neuchâtel, Switzerland
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8
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García-Roa R, Garcia-Gonzalez F, Noble DWA, Carazo P. Temperature as a modulator of sexual selection. Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 2020; 95:1607-1629. [PMID: 32691483 DOI: 10.1111/brv.12632] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2019] [Revised: 06/10/2020] [Accepted: 06/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
A central question in ecology and evolution is to understand why sexual selection varies so much in strength across taxa; it has long been known that ecological factors are crucial to this. Temperature is a particularly salient abiotic ecological factor that modulates a wide range of physiological, morphological and behavioural traits, impacting individuals and populations at a global taxonomic scale. Furthermore, temperature exhibits substantial temporal variation (e.g. daily, seasonally and inter-seasonally), and hence for most species in the wild sexual selection will regularly unfold in a dynamic thermal environment. Unfortunately, studies have so far almost completely neglected the role of temperature as a modulator of sexual selection. Here, we outline the main pathways through which temperature can affect the intensity and form (i.e. mechanisms) of sexual selection, via: (i) direct effects on secondary sexual traits and preferences (i.e. trait variance, opportunity for selection and trait-fitness covariance), and (ii) indirect effects on key mating parameters, sex-specific reproductive costs/benefits, trade-offs, demography and correlated abiotic factors. Building upon this framework, we show that, by focusing exclusively on the first-order effects that environmental temperature has on traits linked with individual fitness and population viability, current global warming studies may be ignoring eco-evolutionary feedbacks mediated by sexual selection. Finally, we tested the general prediction that temperature modulates sexual selection by conducting a meta-analysis of available studies experimentally manipulating temperature and reporting effects on the variance of male/female reproductive success and/or traits under sexual selection. Our results show a clear association between temperature and sexual selection measures in both sexes. In short, we suggest that studying the feedback between temperature and sexual selection processes may be vital to developing a better understanding of variation in the strength of sexual selection in nature, and its consequences for population viability in response to environmental change (e.g. global warming).
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberto García-Roa
- Behaviour and Evolution, Ethology Lab, Cavanilles Institute of Biodiversity and Evolutionary Biology, University of Valencia, C/Catedrático José Beltrán 2, Paterna, Valencia, 46980, Spain
| | - Francisco Garcia-Gonzalez
- Doñana Biological Station, Spanish Research Council CSIC, c/Americo Vespucio, 26, Isla de la Cartuja, Sevilla, 41092, Spain.,Centre for Evolutionary Biology, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley, Western Australia, 6009, Australia
| | - Daniel W A Noble
- Ecology and Evolution Research Centre, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, 2052, Australia.,Division of Ecology and Evolution, Research School of Biology, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, 2061, Australia
| | - Pau Carazo
- Behaviour and Evolution, Ethology Lab, Cavanilles Institute of Biodiversity and Evolutionary Biology, University of Valencia, C/Catedrático José Beltrán 2, Paterna, Valencia, 46980, Spain
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9
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Wormington AM, De María M, Kurita HG, Bisesi JH, Denslow ND, Martyniuk CJ. Antineoplastic Agents: Environmental Prevalence and Adverse Outcomes in Aquatic Organisms. ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY 2020; 39:967-985. [PMID: 32266737 DOI: 10.1002/etc.4687] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2019] [Revised: 11/04/2019] [Accepted: 02/06/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Cancer is the second leading cause of death worldwide, with 9.6 million cancer-related deaths in 2018. Cancer incidence has increased over time, and so has the prescription rate of chemotherapeutic drugs. These pharmaceuticals, known as antineoplastic agents, enter the aquatic environment via human excretion and wastewater. The objectives of the present critical review were to investigate the risk of antineoplastics to aquatic species and to summarize the current state of knowledge regarding their levels in the environment, because many antineoplastics are not adequately removed during wastewater treatment. We conducted 2 separate literature reviews to synthesize data on the global environmental prevalence and toxicity of antineoplastics. The antineoplastics most frequently detected in the environment included cyclophosphamide, ifosfamide, tamoxifen, methotrexate, and 5-fluorouracil; all were detectable in multiple water sources, including effluent and surface waters. These antineoplastics span 3 different mechanistic classes, with cyclophosphamide and ifosfamide classified as alkylating agents, tamoxifen as a hormonal agent, and methotrexate and 5-fluorouracil as antimetabolites. Studies that characterize the risk of antineoplastics released into aquatic environments are scarce. We summarize the biological impacts of the most environmentally prevalent antineoplastics on aquatic organisms and propose an adverse outcome pathway for cyclophosphamide and ifosfamide, 2 widely prescribed drugs with a similar immunotoxic mode of action. Acute and chronic ecotoxicity studies using aquatic models are needed for risk characterization of antineoplastics. Environ Toxicol Chem 2020;39:967-985. © 2020 SETAC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexis M Wormington
- Center for Environmental and Human Toxicology, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
- Department of Environmental and Global Health, College of Public Health and Health Professions, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Maite De María
- Center for Environmental and Human Toxicology, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
- Department of Physiological Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Hajime G Kurita
- Center for Environmental and Human Toxicology, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
- Department of Physiological Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Joseph H Bisesi
- Center for Environmental and Human Toxicology, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
- Department of Environmental and Global Health, College of Public Health and Health Professions, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Nancy D Denslow
- Center for Environmental and Human Toxicology, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
- Department of Physiological Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
- University of Florida Genetics Institute, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Christopher J Martyniuk
- Center for Environmental and Human Toxicology, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
- Department of Physiological Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
- University of Florida Genetics Institute, Gainesville, Florida, USA
- Interdisciplinary Program in Biomedical Sciences Neuroscience, Gainesville, Florida, USA
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10
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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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11
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Arundell KL, Dubuffet A, Wedell N, Bojko J, Rogers MSJ, Dunn AM. Podocotyle atomon (Trematoda: Digenea) impacts reproductive behaviour, survival and physiology in Gammarus zaddachi (Amphipoda). DISEASES OF AQUATIC ORGANISMS 2019; 136:51-62. [PMID: 31575834 DOI: 10.3354/dao03416] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
The Trematoda are a group of phylogenetically diverse metazoan parasites that exhibit complex life cycles that often pass through invertebrate and vertebrate hosts. Some trematodes influence their host's behaviour to benefit transmission. Their parasitic influence may impact host population size by inhibiting an individual's reproductive capacity. We assessed the impact of infection by Podocotyle atomon on the reproductive behaviour and fecundity of its amphipod intermediate host, Gammarus zaddachi, using laboratory and field studies. Parasite prevalence was high in the field, with males more likely to be infected (prevalence in males 64%, in females 39%). Males also suffered a higher parasite burden than females. Infected females were less active, but we found no evidence for a reduction in female reproductive success. Infected females also had comparable pairing success to uninfected females. In males, infection reduced survival and fecundity, with mortality being highest, and sperm numbers lowest, in heavily infected individuals. Trematode parasites are sometimes associated with altered host fecundity, but studies often lack the relevant experimental data to explore the evolution of the trait. We discuss this among information specific to the effect of P. atomon infection in G. zaddachi.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherine L Arundell
- School of Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, UK
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Eckhardt F, Strube C, Mathes KA, Mutschmann F, Thiesler H, Kraus C, Kappeler PM. Parasite burden in a short-lived chameleon, Furcifer labordi. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR PARASITOLOGY-PARASITES AND WILDLIFE 2019; 10:231-240. [PMID: 31667086 PMCID: PMC6812308 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijppaw.2019.09.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2019] [Revised: 09/28/2019] [Accepted: 09/28/2019] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Life history theory predicts that species with shorter lifespan should show higher investments into growth and reproduction at the expense of immune defenses. Labord's chameleon (Furcifer labordi) is the tetrapod with the shortest known life span. To investigate to which extent immunosenescence influences the die-off of these chameleons when they are only about 6 months old, we examined the gastrointestinal-, blood- and ectoparasite burden in F. labordi in Kirindy Forest (western Madagascar) and compared them with sympatric and longer living F. cf. nicosiai. Moreover, we included data from wild F. labordi that were singly housed under ambient conditions with daily food and water supply. Gastrointestinal parasite prevalence of wild F. labordi increased dramatically during the last 3 months of their lives, which include the reproductive period. Furcifer cf. nicosiai was found to have a belated increase in gastrointestinal parasites compared to F. labordi. In F. cf. nicosiai higher prevalence of blood parasites were found, which probably result from the longer exposure to the arthropod intermediate host. Both species showed infestations with ectoparasites, which peaked in the rainy season but disappeared towards the dry season. Male F. labordi showed a significantly higher prevalence of gastrointestinal - and ectoparasites and higher intensities of coccidians and ectoparasites than females. Males of F. cf. nicosiai exhibited higher prevalence of blood- and ectoparasites, as well as higher intensities in ectoparasites. Caged individuals of both sexes showed delayed senescence, reduced parasite burden and lived longer than their wild conspecifics. Overall, the increase in the prevalence in gastrointestinal - and blood parasites towards the disappearance of the wild population of F. labordi indicates that this species invests comparatively less energy in efficient immune system function, supporting the prediction of life history theory. Wild F. labordi show an increase of parasites towards their die-off Male F. labordi exhibit higher parasite burden than longer living females Longer living F. cf. nicosiai show belated increase in parasite burden Captive F. labordi were less infected and longer living than wild specimens
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Affiliation(s)
- Falk Eckhardt
- Dept. Sociobiology/Anthropology, Institute of Zoology and Anthropology, University of Göttingen, Kellnerweg 6, 37077, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Christina Strube
- Institute for Parasitology, Centre for Infection Medicine, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Bünteweg 17, 30559, Hannover, Germany
| | - Karina A Mathes
- Clinic for Small Mammals, Reptiles and Birds, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Bünteweg 9, 30559, Hannover, Germany
| | | | - Hauke Thiesler
- Institute of Clinical Biochemistry, Hannover Medical School Carl-Neuberg-Strasse 1, 30625, Hannover, Germany
| | - Cornelia Kraus
- Dept. Sociobiology/Anthropology, Institute of Zoology and Anthropology, University of Göttingen, Kellnerweg 6, 37077, Göttingen, Germany.,Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology Unit, German Primate Center, Kellnerweg 4, 37077, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Peter M Kappeler
- Dept. Sociobiology/Anthropology, Institute of Zoology and Anthropology, University of Göttingen, Kellnerweg 6, 37077, Göttingen, Germany.,Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology Unit, German Primate Center, Kellnerweg 4, 37077, Göttingen, Germany
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13
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Leivesley JA, Bussière LF, Pemberton JM, Pilkington JG, Wilson K, Hayward AD. Survival costs of reproduction are mediated by parasite infection in wild Soay sheep. Ecol Lett 2019; 22:1203-1213. [PMID: 31111651 DOI: 10.1111/ele.13275] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2019] [Revised: 04/08/2019] [Accepted: 04/10/2019] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
A trade-off between current and future fitness potentially explains variation in life-history strategies. A proposed mechanism behind this is parasite-mediated reproductive costs: individuals that allocate more resources to reproduction have fewer to allocate to defence against parasites, reducing future fitness. We examined how reproduction influenced faecal egg counts (FEC) of strongyle nematodes using data collected between 1989 and 2008 from a wild population of Soay sheep in the St. Kilda archipelago, Scotland (741 individuals). Increased reproduction was associated with increased FEC during the lambing season: females that gave birth, and particularly those that weaned a lamb, had higher FEC than females that failed to reproduce. Structural equation modelling revealed future reproductive costs: a positive effect of reproduction on spring FEC and a negative effect on summer body weight were negatively associated with overwinter survival. Overall, we provide evidence that parasite resistance and body weight are important mediators of survival costs of reproduction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica A Leivesley
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Stirling, Stirling, FK9 4LA, UK
| | - Luc F Bussière
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Stirling, Stirling, FK9 4LA, UK
| | - Josephine M Pemberton
- Institute of Evolutionary Biology, University of Edinburgh, Ashworth Laboratories, Charlotte Auerbach Road, Edinburgh, EH9 3FL, UK
| | - Jill G Pilkington
- Institute of Evolutionary Biology, University of Edinburgh, Ashworth Laboratories, Charlotte Auerbach Road, Edinburgh, EH9 3FL, UK.,School of Biology, University of St Andrews, Sir Harold Mitchell Building, St Andrews, KY16 9TF, UK
| | - Kenneth Wilson
- Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University, Lancaster, LA1 4YQ, UK
| | - Adam D Hayward
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Stirling, Stirling, FK9 4LA, UK
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14
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Assis VR, Titon SCM, Gomes FR. Acute stress, steroid plasma levels, and innate immunity in Brazilian toads. Gen Comp Endocrinol 2019; 273:86-97. [PMID: 29750968 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2018.05.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2018] [Revised: 04/20/2018] [Accepted: 05/07/2018] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
Abstract
Stress from habitat fragmentation has been shown to impact amphibian declines. Studies from a variety of vertebrates indicate that stressed animals exhibit an acute increase in circulating plasma glucocorticoid (GC) levels and consequent immunomodulation. To further explore the relationship between GCs and immunity, we subjected three species of newly captured Brazilian toads, Rhinella ornata, R. icterica and R. schneideri to restraint with or without movement restriction (maintenance in a moistened cloth bag vs. maintenance in a bin) for 24 h. We compared various parameters from baseline (field conditions) with values after restraint, including those associated with stress (corticosterone [CORT] plasma levels), and the neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio [N:L ratio]), potential reproduction (testosterone [T] plasma levels), and innate immunity (bacterial killing ability [BKA]). General responses to the restraint challenge (baseline vs. restraint) included increased CORT levels and N:L ratio, and decreased T levels and BKA. Additionally, CORT levels and N:L ratio tended to increase more from restraint with movement restriction than to restraint without movement restriction, indicating toads showed increased stress response to the more intense stressor. All variables showed interspecific variation at baseline conditions: R. ornata had higher CORT levels when compared to the other two species, while R. icterica had the highest BKA values. After restraint (with or without movement restriction), R. ornata displayed higher values for T and N:L ratio, and showed higher CORT values after restraint without movement restriction; however, the CORT values were similar among species after restraint with movement restriction. In terms of immunity, in response to restraint, BKA was different among species only after restraint with movement restriction, with R. schneideri showing the lowest BKA values. Our results show that restraint increases common markers of the stress response, and could reduce potential reproduction and innate immune responses in toads from all studied species. Our results also showed variation at the interspecific level, with the amplitude of change in the studied variables being consistent and more pronounced following restraint with movement restriction for the three-studied species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vania Regina Assis
- Departamento de Fisiologia, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade de São Paulo, Rua do Matão, trav. 14, 101, 05508-900, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
| | - Stefanny Christie Monteiro Titon
- Departamento de Fisiologia, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade de São Paulo, Rua do Matão, trav. 14, 101, 05508-900, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Fernando Ribeiro Gomes
- Departamento de Fisiologia, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade de São Paulo, Rua do Matão, trav. 14, 101, 05508-900, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
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15
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Trade-Offs Underwater: Physiological Plasticity of Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) Confronted by Multiple Stressors. FISHES 2018. [DOI: 10.3390/fishes3040049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
Organisms have evolved mechanisms to partition the available resources between fitness-relevant physiological functions. Organisms possess phenotypic plasticity to acclimate to changing environmental conditions. However, this comes at a cost that can cause negative correlations or “trade-offs”, whereby increasing investments in one function lead to decreased investments in another function. The aim of the present study was to investigate the prioritization of resource allocation between growth, pathogen defense, and contaminant response in juvenile rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) exposed to changes of resource income or expenditure. We performed a multifactorial experiment with three resource-impacting stressors—limited food availability, a parasitic infection, exposure to a vitellogenesis-inducing contaminant—and combinations thereof. Treatment with the individual stressors evoked the expected responses in the respective physiological target systems—body growth, immune system, and hepatic vitellogenin transcription—but we found little evidence for significant negative relations (trade-offs) between the three systems. This also applied to fish exposed to combinations of the stressors. This high phenotypic flexibility of trout in their resource allocation suggests that linear resource allocations as mechanisms of phenotypic plasticity may be too simplistic, but it also may point to a greater capacity of ectothermic than endothermic vertebrates to maintain key physiological processes under competing resource needs due to lower maintenance costs.
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16
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Smyth KN, Caruso NM, Davies CS, Clutton-Brock TH, Drea CM. Social and endocrine correlates of immune function in meerkats: implications for the immunocompetence handicap hypothesis. ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE 2018; 5:180435. [PMID: 30225031 PMCID: PMC6124081 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.180435] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2018] [Accepted: 06/25/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Social status can mediate effects on the immune system, with profound consequences for individual health; nevertheless, most investigators of status-related disparities in free-ranging animals have used faecal parasite burdens to proxy immune function in the males of male-dominant species. We instead use direct measures of innate immune function (complement and natural antibodies) to examine status-related immunocompetence in both sexes of a female-dominant species. The meerkat is a unique model for such a study because it is a cooperatively breeding species in which status-related differences are extreme, evident in reproductive skew, morphology, behaviour, communication and physiology, including that dominant females naturally express the greatest total androgen (androstenedione plus testosterone) concentrations. We found that, relative to subordinates, dominant animals had reduced serum bacteria-killing abilities; also, relative to subordinate females, dominant females had reduced haemolytic complement activities. Irrespective of an individual's sex or social status, androstenedione concentrations (but not body condition, age or reproductive activity) negatively predicted concurrent immunocompetence. Thus, dominant meerkats of both sexes are immunocompromised. Moreover, in female meerkats, androstenedione perhaps acting directly or via local conversion, may exert a double-edged effect of promoting dominance and reproductive success at the cost of increased parasitism and reduced immune function. Given the prominent signalling of dominance in female meerkats, these findings may relate to the immunocompetence handicap hypothesis (ICHH); however, our data would suggest that the endocrine mechanism underlying the ICHH need not be mediated solely by testosterone and might explain trade-offs in females, as well as in males.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kendra N. Smyth
- University Program in Ecology, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
- Department of Evolutionary Anthropology, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
- Kalahari Research Trust, Kuruman River Reserve, Van Zylsrus, Northern Cape, South Africa
| | - Nicholas M. Caruso
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL, USA
| | - Charli S. Davies
- Department of Evolutionary Anthropology, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
- Kalahari Research Trust, Kuruman River Reserve, Van Zylsrus, Northern Cape, South Africa
| | - Tim H. Clutton-Brock
- Kalahari Research Trust, Kuruman River Reserve, Van Zylsrus, Northern Cape, South Africa
- Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- Mammal Research Institute, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Christine M. Drea
- University Program in Ecology, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
- Department of Evolutionary Anthropology, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
- Department of Biology, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
- Kalahari Research Trust, Kuruman River Reserve, Van Zylsrus, Northern Cape, South Africa
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17
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MIRKOV I, POPOV ALEKSANDROV A, SUBOTA V, KATARANOVSKI D, KATARANOVSKI M. Immune defense of wild-caught Norway rats is characterized by increased levels of basal activity but reduced capability to respond to further immune stimulation. Integr Zool 2018; 13:180-193. [DOI: 10.1111/1749-4877.12296] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Ivana MIRKOV
- Immunotoxicology Group, Department of Ecology; Institute for Biological Research “Sinisa Stankovic,” University of Belgrade; Belgrade Serbia
| | - Aleksandra POPOV ALEKSANDROV
- Immunotoxicology Group, Department of Ecology; Institute for Biological Research “Sinisa Stankovic,” University of Belgrade; Belgrade Serbia
| | - Vesna SUBOTA
- Institute for Medical Biochemistry; Military Medical Academy; Belgrade Serbia
| | - Dragan KATARANOVSKI
- Immunotoxicology Group, Department of Ecology; Institute for Biological Research “Sinisa Stankovic,” University of Belgrade; Belgrade Serbia
- Institute of Zoology, Faculty of Biology; University of Belgrade; Belgrade Serbia
| | - Milena KATARANOVSKI
- Immunotoxicology Group, Department of Ecology; Institute for Biological Research “Sinisa Stankovic,” University of Belgrade; Belgrade Serbia
- Institute of Physiology and Biochemistry, Faculty of Biology; University of Belgrade; Belgrade Serbia
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18
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Lynsdale CL, Mumby HS, Hayward AD, Mar KU, Lummaa V. Parasite-associated mortality in a long-lived mammal: Variation with host age, sex, and reproduction. Ecol Evol 2017; 7:10904-10915. [PMID: 29299268 PMCID: PMC5743535 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.3559] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2017] [Revised: 06/23/2017] [Accepted: 09/28/2017] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Parasites can cause severe host morbidity and threaten survival. As parasites are generally aggregated within certain host demographics, they are likely to affect a small proportion of the entire population, with specific hosts being at particular risk. However, little is known as to whether increased host mortality from parasitic causes is experienced by specific host demographics. Outside of theoretical studies, there is a paucity of literature concerning dynamics of parasite-associated host mortality. Empirical evidence mainly focuses on short-lived hosts or model systems, with data lacking from long-lived wild or semi-wild vertebrate populations. We investigated parasite-associated mortality utilizing a multigenerational database of mortality, health, and reproductive data for over 4,000 semi-captive timber elephants (Elephas maximus), with known causes of death for mortality events. We determined variation in mortality according to a number of host traits that are commonly associated with variation in parasitism within mammals: age, sex, and reproductive investment in females. We found that potentially parasite-associated mortality varied significantly across elephant ages, with individuals at extremes of lifespan (young and old) at highest risk. Mortality probability was significantly higher for males across all ages. Female reproducers experienced a lower probability of potentially parasite-associated mortality than females who did not reproduce at any investigated time frame. Our results demonstrate increased potentially parasite-associated mortality within particular demographic groups. These groups (males, juveniles, elderly adults) have been identified in other studies as susceptible to parasitism, stressing the need for further work investigating links between infection and mortality. Furthermore, we show variation between reproductive and non-reproductive females, with mothers being less at risk of potentially parasite mortality than nonreproducers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carly L. Lynsdale
- Department of Animal and Plant SciencesUniversity of SheffieldSheffieldUK
| | - Hannah S. Mumby
- Department of ZoologyUniversity of CambridgeCambridgeUK
- Department of Environmental SciencesApplied Behavioural Ecology and Ecosystem Research UnitUniversity of South AfricaJohannesburgSouth Africa
| | - Adam D. Hayward
- Department of Biological and Environmental SciencesUniversity of StirlingStirlingUK
| | - Khyne U. Mar
- Department of Animal and Plant SciencesUniversity of SheffieldSheffieldUK
| | - Virpi Lummaa
- Department of BiologyUniversity of TurkuTurkuFinland
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19
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Madelaire CB, Sokolova I, Gomes FR. Seasonal Patterns of Variation in Steroid Plasma Levels and Immune Parameters in Anurans from Brazilian Semiarid Area. Physiol Biochem Zool 2017; 90:415-433. [PMID: 28398155 DOI: 10.1086/691202] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
Elevated androgens and glucocorticoids displayed by males during the reproductive season have been proposed to mediate a possible trade-off between reproduction and immunocompetence. Anurans living in arid and semiarid environments display a strong seasonal reproduction, which could accentuate the variation in physiological, immunological, and behavioral parameters. We studied covariation between steroid plasma levels, morphometric variables associated with body condition and immunity, leukocyte profile, parasite load, and response to an immunological challenge across different phases of the annual life-history cycle of three anuran species from a Brazilian semiarid area. Our results showed a seasonal pattern of covariation among leukocyte parameters, kidney mass, and steroid plasma levels, with higher values measured during the reproductive season, particularly when males were sampled during calling activity. Moreover, these anurans showed a stronger response to an immunological challenge during the reproductive period. The immunosuppression during the dry period was particularly evident for the species that aestivate, indicating that the availability of energetic resources might be an important factor determining seasonal variation in inflammatory response. Intensity of the helminth infection was associated with eosinophil count but showed a more complex pattern with regard to androgens levels. These data emphasize that variations in the intensity of helminth infection might be more closely related to specific aspects of the immune response than to the general seasonal patterns of variation in steroid plasma levels, total circulating leukocytes, and inflammatory response.
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20
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Assis VR, Monteiro Titon SC, Teixeira Queiroz-Hazarbassanov NG, de Oliveira Massoco C, Ribeiro Gomes F. Corticosterone transdermal application in toads (Rhinella icterica): Effects on cellular and humoral immunity and steroid plasma levels. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL ZOOLOGY PART 2017; 327:200-213. [DOI: 10.1002/jez.2093] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2017] [Revised: 08/02/2017] [Accepted: 08/03/2017] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Vania Regina Assis
- Departamento de Fisiologia; Instituto de Biociências; Universidade de São Paulo; Rua do Matão; São Paulo Brazil
| | | | | | - Cristina de Oliveira Massoco
- Departamento de Patologia; Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia; Universidade de São Paulo; São Paulo Brazil
| | - Fernando Ribeiro Gomes
- Departamento de Fisiologia; Instituto de Biociências; Universidade de São Paulo; Rua do Matão; São Paulo Brazil
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21
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Smith GD, Neuman-Lee LA, Webb AC, Angilletta MJ, DeNardo DF, French SS. Metabolic responses to different immune challenges and varying resource availability in the side-blotched lizard (Uta stansburiana). J Comp Physiol B 2017; 187:1173-1182. [DOI: 10.1007/s00360-017-1095-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2016] [Revised: 01/15/2017] [Accepted: 04/06/2017] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
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22
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Cayol C, Koskela E, Mappes T, Siukkola A, Kallio ER. Temporal dynamics of the tick Ixodes ricinus in northern Europe: epidemiological implications. Parasit Vectors 2017; 10:166. [PMID: 28359294 PMCID: PMC5374616 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-017-2112-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2016] [Accepted: 03/24/2017] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Tick-borne pathogens pose an increasing threat to human and veterinary health across the northern hemisphere. While the seasonal activity of ticks is largely determined by climatic conditions, host-population dynamics are also likely to affect tick abundance. Consequently, abundance fluctuations of rodents in northern Europe are expected to be translated into tick dynamics, and can hence potentially affect the circulation of tick-borne pathogens. We quantified and explained the temporal dynamics of the tick Ixodes ricinus in the northernmost part of its European geographical range, by estimating (i) abundance in vegetation and (ii) infestation load in the most common rodent species in the study area, the bank vole Myodes glareolus. Results Ixodes ricinus nymphs and adult females, the life stages responsible for the most of tick bites in humans, peaked in May-June and August-September. Larvae and nymphs were simultaneously active in June and abundance of questing larvae and nymphs in the vegetation showed a positive association with bank vole abundance. Moreover, infesting larvae and nymphs were aggregated on bank voles, and the infestation of bank voles with I. ricinus larvae and nymphs was positively associated with bank vole abundance. Conclusion Our results indicate early summer and early autumn as periods of increased risk for humans to encounter I. ricinus ticks in boreal urban forests and suggest a 2 years life-cycle for I. ricinus with two cohorts of ticks during the same year. Moreover, we identified a simultaneous activity of larvae and nymphs which allows co-feeding on the rodent host, which in turn supports the transmission of several important zoonotic tick-borne pathogens. Finally, we showed that a high density of the rodent host may enhance the risk that ticks and, potentially, tick-borne pathogens pose to human health. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13071-017-2112-x) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claire Cayol
- Department of Biological and Environmental Science, University of Jyväskylä, P.O. Box 35, FI-40014, Jyväskylä, Finland.
| | - Esa Koskela
- Department of Biological and Environmental Science, University of Jyväskylä, P.O. Box 35, FI-40014, Jyväskylä, Finland
| | - Tapio Mappes
- Department of Biological and Environmental Science, University of Jyväskylä, P.O. Box 35, FI-40014, Jyväskylä, Finland
| | - Anja Siukkola
- Department of Biological and Environmental Science, University of Jyväskylä, P.O. Box 35, FI-40014, Jyväskylä, Finland
| | - Eva R Kallio
- Department of Biological and Environmental Science, University of Jyväskylä, P.O. Box 35, FI-40014, Jyväskylä, Finland
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23
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Zhu WL, Zhang H, Cheng JL, Cai JH, Meng LH. Limits to Sustainable Energy Intake during Lactation inEothenomys miletus: Effects of Fur-Shaving and Litter Size. MAMMAL STUDY 2016. [DOI: 10.3106/041.041.0406] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
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24
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Mokkonen M, Koskela E, Mappes T, Mills SC. Evolutionary Conflict Between Maternal and Paternal Interests: Integration with Evolutionary Endocrinology. Integr Comp Biol 2016; 56:146-58. [DOI: 10.1093/icb/icw053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
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25
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Cox RM, McGlothlin JW, Bonier F. Hormones as Mediators of Phenotypic and Genetic Integration: an Evolutionary Genetics Approach. Integr Comp Biol 2016; 56:126-37. [PMID: 27252188 DOI: 10.1093/icb/icw033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Evolutionary endocrinology represents a synthesis between comparative endocrinology and evolutionary genetics. This synthesis can be viewed through the breeder's equation, a cornerstone of quantitative genetics that, in its univariate form, states that a population's evolutionary response is the product of the heritability of a trait and selection on that trait (R = h(2)S). Under this framework, evolutionary endocrinologists have begun to quantify the heritability of, and the strength of selection on, a variety of hormonal phenotypes. With specific reference to our work on testosterone and corticosterone in birds and lizards, we review these studies while emphasizing the challenges of applying this framework to hormonal phenotypes that are inherently plastic and mediate adaptive responses to environmental variation. Next, we consider the untapped potential of evolutionary endocrinology as a framework for exploring multivariate versions of the breeder's equation, with emphasis on the role of hormones in structuring phenotypic and genetic correlations. As an extension of the familiar concepts of phenotypic integration and hormonal pleiotropy, we illustrate how the hormonal milieu of an individual acts as a local environment for the expression of genes and phenotypes, thereby influencing the quantitative genetic architecture of multivariate phenotypes. We emphasize that hormones are more than mechanistic links in the translation of genotype to phenotype: by virtue of their pleiotropic effects on gene expression, hormones structure the underlying genetic variances and covariances that determine a population's evolutionary response to selection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert M Cox
- *Department of Biology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, 22904 USA;
| | | | - Frances Bonier
- Biology Department, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada K7L 3N6
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26
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Relationships between host body condition and immunocompetence, not host sex, best predict parasite burden in a bat-helminth system. Parasitol Res 2016; 115:2155-64. [PMID: 26898834 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-016-4957-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2015] [Accepted: 02/12/2016] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
Sex-biased parasitism highlights potentially divergent approaches to parasite resistance resulting in differing energetic trade-offs for males and females; however, trade-offs between immunity and self-maintenance could also depend on host body condition. We investigated these relationships in the big brown bat, Eptesicus fuscus, to determine if host sex or body condition better predicted parasite resistance, if testosterone levels predicted male parasite burdens, and if immune parameters could predict male testosterone levels. We found that male and female hosts had similar parasite burdens and female bats scored higher than males in only one immunological measure. Top models of helminth burden revealed interactions between body condition index and agglutination score as well as between agglutination score and host sex. Additionally, the strength of the relationships between sex, agglutination, and helminth burden is affected by body condition. Models of male parasite burden provided no support for testosterone predicting helminthiasis. Models that best predicted testosterone levels did not include parasite burden but instead consistently included month of capture and agglutination score. Thus, in our system, body condition was a more important predictor of immunity and worm burden than host sex.
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28
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McDonald JL, Smith GC, McDonald RA, Delahay RJ, Hodgson D. Mortality trajectory analysis reveals the drivers of sex-specific epidemiology in natural wildlife-disease interactions. Proc Biol Sci 2015; 281:rspb.2014.0526. [PMID: 25056621 PMCID: PMC4123697 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2014.0526] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
In animal populations, males are commonly more susceptible to disease-induced mortality than females. However, three competing mechanisms can cause this sex bias: weak males may simultaneously be more prone to exposure to infection and mortality; being ‘male’ may be an imperfect proxy for the underlying driver of disease-induced mortality; or males may experience increased severity of disease-induced effects compared with females. Here, we infer the drivers of sex-specific epidemiology by decomposing fixed mortality rates into mortality trajectories and comparing their parameters. We applied Bayesian survival trajectory analysis to a 22-year longitudinal study of a population of badgers (Meles meles) naturally infected with bovine tuberculosis (bTB). At the point of infection, infected male and female badgers had equal mortality risk, refuting the hypothesis that acquisition of infection occurs in males with coincidentally high mortality. Males and females exhibited similar levels of heterogeneity in mortality risk, refuting the hypothesis that maleness is only a proxy for disease susceptibility. Instead, sex differences were caused by a more rapid increase in male mortality rates following infection. Males are indeed more susceptible to bTB, probably due to immunological differences between the sexes. We recommend this mortality trajectory approach for the study of infection in animal populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer L McDonald
- Centre for Ecology and Conservation, University of Exeter, Penryn, Cornwall TR10 9EZ, UK
| | - Graham C Smith
- National Wildlife Management Centre, Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency, Sand Hutton, York YO41 1LZ, UK
| | - Robbie A McDonald
- Environment and Sustainability Institute, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Exeter, Penryn, Cornwall TR10 9EZ, UK
| | - Richard J Delahay
- National Wildlife Management Centre, Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency, Sand Hutton, York YO41 1LZ, UK
| | - Dave Hodgson
- Centre for Ecology and Conservation, University of Exeter, Penryn, Cornwall TR10 9EZ, UK
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29
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Hämäläinen A, Raharivololona B, Ravoniarimbinina P, Kraus C. Host sex and age influence endoparasite burdens in the gray mouse lemur. Front Zool 2015; 12:25. [PMID: 26435728 PMCID: PMC4591582 DOI: 10.1186/s12983-015-0118-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2015] [Accepted: 09/17/2015] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction Immunosenescence (deteriorating immune function at old age) affects humans and laboratory animals, but little is known about immunosenescence in natural populations despite its potential importance for population and disease dynamics and individual fitness. Although life histories and immune system profiles often differ between the sexes, sex-specific effects of aging on health are rarely studied in the wild. Life history theory predicts that due to their shorter lifespan and higher investment into reproduction at the expense of immune defences, males might experience accelerated immunosenescence. We tested this hypothesis by examining sex-specific age trajectories of endoparasite burden (helminth prevalence and morphotype richness measured via fecal egg counts), an indicator of overall health, in wild gray mouse lemurs (Microcebus murinus). To account for potential interactions between seasonality and host sex or age we examined the predictors of parasite burdens separately for the dry and rainy season. Results Contrary to the prediction of immunosenescence, parasite prevalence and morphotype richness decreased at old age in the dry season, indicating acquired immunity by older animals. This pattern was primarily caused by within-individual decline in parasite loads rather than the earlier mortality of highly parasitized individuals. With the exception of an increasing cestode prevalence in males from yearlings to prime age in the rainy season, no evidence was found of male-biased ageing in parasite resistance. Besides this sex*age interaction, host age was uncorrelated with rainy season parasite loads. Seasonality did not affect the overall parasite loads but seasonal patterns were found in the predictors of parasite prevalence and morphotype richness. Conclusions These results provide rare information about the age-related patterns of health in a wild vertebrate population and suggest improvement rather than senescence in the ability to resist helminth infections at old age. Overall, males appear not to suffer from earlier immunosenescence relative to females. This may partially reflect the earlier mortality of males, which can render senescence difficult to detect. While helminth infections are not strongly associated with survival in wild gray mouse lemurs, parasite load may, however, reflect overall good phenotypic quality of long-lived individuals, and is a potential correlate of fitness. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12983-015-0118-9) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anni Hämäläinen
- Department of Sociobiology/Anthropology, Georg-August University of Göttingen, Kellnerweg 6, 37077 Göttingen, Germany ; Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology Unit, German Primate Center, Kellnerweg 4, 37077 Göttingen, Germany ; Current address: Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2E9 Canada
| | - Brigitte Raharivololona
- Department of Paleontology and Biological Anthropology, University of Antananarivo, Antananarivo, Madagascar
| | | | - Cornelia Kraus
- Department of Sociobiology/Anthropology, Georg-August University of Göttingen, Kellnerweg 6, 37077 Göttingen, Germany ; Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology Unit, German Primate Center, Kellnerweg 4, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
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Du SY, Cao YF, Nie XH, Wu Y, Bian JH. The synergistic effect of density stress during the maternal period and adulthood on immune traits of root vole (Microtus oeconomus) individuals-a field experiment. Oecologia 2015; 181:335-46. [PMID: 26373286 DOI: 10.1007/s00442-015-3445-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2015] [Accepted: 08/31/2015] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
The literature reveals that stress in early life or adulthood can influence immune function. As most studies on this are from the laboratory, there is a need for replicated studies in wild animals. This study aims to examine the effects of density stress during the maternal period and adulthood on immune traits of root vole (Microtus oeconomus) individuals. Four replicated high- and low-density parental populations were established, from which we obtained offspring and assigned each into four enclosures, two for each of the two density treatments used in establishing parental populations. The F1 offspring fecal corticosterone metabolite response to acute immobilization stress, anti-keyhole limpet hemocyanin immunoglobulin G (anti-KLH IgG) level, phytohemagglutinin (PHA)-delayed hypersensitivity and hematology at the end of the first breeding season, and prevalence and intensity of coccidial infection throughout the two breeding seasons, were tested. Density-induced maternally stressed offspring had delayed responses to acute immobilization stress. Density-stressed offspring as adults had reduced anti-KLH IgG levels and PHA responses, and the effects further deteriorated in maternally stressed offspring, leading to higher coccidial infection in the first breeding season than in the second. No correlations were found between immune traits or coccidial infection and survival over winter. These findings indicated that the combined density stresses during the maternal period and adulthood exhibited negative synergistic effects on immune traits. The synergistic effects lead to higher coccidial infection; however, this consequently reduced the risk of subsequent infection. The increased coccidial infection mediated by the synergistic effects may have an adaptive value in the context of the environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shou-Yang Du
- Key Laboratory of Adaptation and Evolution of Plateau Biota, Northwest Institute of Plateau Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xining, 810001, China
- Graduate University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Yi-Fan Cao
- Key Laboratory of Adaptation and Evolution of Plateau Biota, Northwest Institute of Plateau Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xining, 810001, China
| | - Xu-Heng Nie
- Key Laboratory of Adaptation and Evolution of Plateau Biota, Northwest Institute of Plateau Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xining, 810001, China
- Graduate University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Yan Wu
- School of Life and Environment Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, 310012, China.
| | - Jiang-Hui Bian
- Key Laboratory of Adaptation and Evolution of Plateau Biota, Northwest Institute of Plateau Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xining, 810001, China.
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Health screening of free-ranging European brown hares (Lepus europaeus) on the German North-Sea island Pellworm. Acta Vet Scand 2015; 57:43. [PMID: 26238993 PMCID: PMC4524370 DOI: 10.1186/s13028-015-0132-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2015] [Accepted: 07/21/2015] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Background A sudden decline of the European brown hare (Lepus europaeus) population in one of the best hunting districts for small game species in northern Germany, the German North-Sea island Pellworm, in the years 2007/08 following marked habitat changes led to the implementation of a thorough health assessment program of the population. 110 animals were collected during the normal hunting season in the years 2010 and 2011. A post-mortem examination and histopathological investigation was performed on all animals. Additionally, routine bacteriology of the small intestine and parasitology were carried out. Sera of hares were tested for European Brown Hare Syndrome (EBHS) by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay, and for Treponema sp. by indirect immunofluorescent test. Additional testing was performed when deemed necessary. Results The most striking result was a shift in the intestinal bacterial flora towards Gram-negative Enterobacteriaceae with a predominance of either Escherichia coli, or Aeromonas sp., or a high-grade double-infection with these two pathogens with subsequent catarrhal enteritis. Additionally, a marked coccidiosis, and varying infestations with the nematode Trichostrongylus retortaeformis were found. The sero-prevalence for EBHS was 78.1%, and for Treponema 43.9%. Conclusions The shift and decrease in diversity of the intestinal flora was the main and most consistent result found. In the authors’ opinion the change of the habitat combined with other stressors increased the animals’ sensitivity to ubiquitous bacterial species and parasites which usually would not have such fatal effects.
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Habig B, Archie EA. Social status, immune response and parasitism in males: a meta-analysis. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2015; 370:20140109. [PMID: 25870395 PMCID: PMC4410375 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2014.0109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/07/2015] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
In male vertebrates, two conflicting paradigms--the energetic costs of high dominance rank and the chronic stress of low rank--have been proposed to explain patterns of immune function and parasitism. To date, neither paradigm has provided a complete explanation for status-related differences in male health. Here, we applied meta-analyses to test for correlations between male social status, immune responses and parasitism. We used an ecoimmunological framework, which proposes that males should re-allocate investment in different immune components depending on the costs of dominance or subordination. Spanning 297 analyses, from 77 studies on several vertebrate taxa, we found that most immune responses were similar between subordinate and dominant males, and neither dominant nor subordinate males consistently invested in predictable immune components. However, subordinate males displayed significantly lower delayed-type hypersensitivity and higher levels of some inflammatory cytokines than dominant males, while dominant males exhibited relatively lower immunoglobulin responses than subordinate males. Despite few differences in immunity, dominant males exhibited consistently higher parasitism than subordinate males, including protozoan blood parasites, ectoparasites and gastrointestinal helminths. We discuss our results in the context of the costs of dominance and subordination and advocate future work that measures both parasitism and immune responses in wild systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bobby Habig
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Notre Dame, 100 Galvin Life Sciences Center, Notre Dame, IN 46556, USA
| | - Elizabeth A Archie
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Notre Dame, 100 Galvin Life Sciences Center, Notre Dame, IN 46556, USA
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Nava-Sánchez A, González-Tokman D, Munguía-Steyer R, Córdoba-Aguilar A. Does mating activity impair phagocytosis-mediated priming immune response? A test using the house cricket, Acheta domesticus. Acta Ethol 2015. [DOI: 10.1007/s10211-015-0215-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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Voutilainen L, Sironen T, Tonteri E, Bäck AT, Razzauti M, Karlsson M, Wahlström M, Niemimaa J, Henttonen H, Lundkvist Å. Life-long shedding of Puumala hantavirus in wild bank voles (Myodes glareolus). J Gen Virol 2015; 96:1238-1247. [PMID: 25701819 DOI: 10.1099/vir.0.000076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2014] [Accepted: 01/30/2015] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The knowledge of viral shedding patterns and viraemia in the reservoir host species is a key factor in assessing the human risk of zoonotic viruses. The shedding of hantaviruses (family Bunyaviridae) by their host rodents has widely been studied experimentally, but rarely in natural settings. Here we present the dynamics of Puumala hantavirus (PUUV) shedding and viraemia in naturally infected wild bank voles (Myodes glareolus). In a monthly capture-mark-recapture study, we analysed 18 bank voles for the presence and relative quantity of PUUV RNA in the excreta and blood from 2 months before up to 8 months after seroconversion. The proportion of animals shedding PUUV RNA in saliva, urine and faeces peaked during the first month after seroconversion, but continued throughout the study period with only a slight decline. The quantity of shed PUUV in reverse transcription quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) positive excreta was constant over time. In blood, PUUV RNA was present for up to 7 months but both the probability of viraemia and the virus load declined with time. Our findings contradict the current view of a decline in virus shedding after the acute phase and a short viraemic period in hantavirus infection - an assumption widely adopted in current epidemiological models. We suggest the life-long shedding as a means of hantaviruses to survive over host population bottlenecks, and to disperse in fragmented habitats where local host and/or virus populations face temporary extinctions. Our results indicate that the kinetics of pathogens in wild hosts may differ considerably from those observed in laboratory settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liina Voutilainen
- University of Helsinki, Department of Virology, Helsinki, Finland
- Natural Resources Institute Finland, Vantaa, Finland
| | - Tarja Sironen
- University of Helsinki, Department of Virology, Helsinki, Finland
- Natural Resources Institute Finland, Vantaa, Finland
| | - Elina Tonteri
- Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- University of Helsinki, Department of Virology, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Anne Tuiskunen Bäck
- The Public Health Agency of Sweden, Solna, Sweden
- Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Maria Razzauti
- University of Helsinki, Department of Virology, Helsinki, Finland
- Natural Resources Institute Finland, Vantaa, Finland
| | | | | | | | | | - Åke Lundkvist
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Microbiology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
- The Public Health Agency of Sweden, Solna, Sweden
- Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
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35
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Mokkonen M, Crespi BJ. Genomic conflicts and sexual antagonism in human health: insights from oxytocin and testosterone. Evol Appl 2015; 8:307-25. [PMID: 25926877 PMCID: PMC4408143 DOI: 10.1111/eva.12244] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2014] [Revised: 12/17/2014] [Accepted: 12/22/2014] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
We review the hypothesized and observed effects of two of the major forms of genomic conflicts, genomic imprinting and sexual antagonism, on human health. We focus on phenotypes mediated by peptide and steroid hormones (especially oxytocin and testosterone) because such hormones centrally mediate patterns of physical and behavioral resource allocation that underlie both forms of conflict. In early development, a suite of imprinted genes modulates the human oxytocinergic system as predicted from theory, with paternally inherited gene expression associated with higher oxytocin production, and increased solicitation to mothers by infants. This system is predicted to impact health through the incompatibility of paternal-gene and maternal-gene optima and increased vulnerability of imprinted gene systems to genetic and epigenetic changes. Early alterations to oxytocinergic systems have long-term negative impacts on human psychological health, especially through their effects on attachment and social behavior. In contrast to genomic imprinting, which generates maladaptation along an axis of mother–infant attachment, sexual antagonism is predicted from theory to generate maladaptation along an axis of sexual dimorphism, modulated by steroid and peptide hormones. We describe evidence of sexual antagonism from studies of humans and other animals, demonstrating that sexually antagonistic effects on sex-dimorphic phenotypes, including aspects of immunity, life history, psychology, and behavior, are commonly observed and lead to forms of maladaptation that are demonstrated, or expected, to impact human health. Recent epidemiological and psychiatric studies of schizophrenia in particular indicate that it is mediated, in part, by sexually antagonistic alleles. The primary implication of this review is that data collection focused on (i) effects of imprinted genes that modulate the oxytocin system, and (ii) effects of sexually antagonistic alleles on sex-dimorphic, disease-related phenotypes will lead to novel insights into both human health and the evolutionary dynamics of genomic conflicts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mikael Mokkonen
- Department of Biological Sciences, Simon Fraser University Burnaby, BC, Canada ; Department of Biological and Environmental Science, University of Jyväskylä Jyväskylä, Finland
| | - Bernard J Crespi
- Department of Biological Sciences, Simon Fraser University Burnaby, BC, Canada
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36
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Scherman K, Råberg L, Westerdahl H. Positive selection on MHC class II DRB and DQB genes in the bank vole (Myodes glareolus). J Mol Evol 2014; 78:293-305. [PMID: 24748547 DOI: 10.1007/s00239-014-9618-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2013] [Accepted: 03/30/2014] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
The major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class IIB genes show considerable sequence similarity between loci. The MHC class II DQB and DRB genes are known to exhibit a high level of polymorphism, most likely maintained by parasite-mediated selection. Studies of the MHC in wild rodents have focused on DRB, whilst DQB has been given much less attention. Here, we characterised DQB genes in Swedish bank voles Myodes glareolus, using full-length transcripts. We then designed primers that specifically amplify exon 2 from DRB (202 bp) and DQB (205 bp) and investigated molecular signatures of natural selection on DRB and DQB alleles. The presence of two separate gene clusters was confirmed using BLASTN and phylogenetic analysis, where our seven transcripts clustered according to either DQB or DRB homologues. These gene clusters were again confirmed on exon 2 data from 454-amplicon sequencing. Our DRB primers amplify a similar number of alleles per individual as previously published DRB primers, though our reads are longer. Traditional d N/d S analyses of DRB sequences in the bank vole have not found a conclusive signal of positive selection. Using a more advanced substitution model (the Kumar method) we found positive selection in the peptide binding region (PBR) of both DRB and DQB genes. Maximum likelihood models of codon substitutions detected positively selected sites located in the PBR of both DQB and DRB. Interestingly, these analyses detected at least twice as many positively selected sites in DQB than DRB, suggesting that DQB has been under stronger positive selection than DRB over evolutionary time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristin Scherman
- Department of Biology, MEMEG, Lund University, Sölvegatan 37, 223 62, Lund, Sweden,
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37
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Leary CJ, Knapp R. The stress of elaborate male traits: integrating glucocorticoids with androgen-based models of sexual selection. Anim Behav 2014. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2013.12.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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38
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Lemaître JF, Gaillard JM. Male survival patterns do not depend on male allocation to sexual competition in large herbivores. Behav Ecol 2012. [DOI: 10.1093/beheco/ars179] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
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Meylan S, Miles DB, Clobert J. Hormonally mediated maternal effects, individual strategy and global change. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2012; 367:1647-64. [PMID: 22566673 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2012.0020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 85] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
A challenge to ecologists and evolutionary biologists is predicting organismal responses to the anticipated changes to global ecosystems through climate change. Most evidence suggests that short-term global change may involve increasing occurrences of extreme events, therefore the immediate response of individuals will be determined by physiological capacities and life-history adaptations to cope with extreme environmental conditions. Here, we consider the role of hormones and maternal effects in determining the persistence of species in altered environments. Hormones, specifically steroids, are critical for patterning the behaviour and morphology of parents and their offspring. Hence, steroids have a pervasive influence on multiple aspects of the offspring phenotype over its lifespan. Stress hormones, e.g. glucocorticoids, modulate and perturb phenotypes both early in development and later into adulthood. Females exposed to abiotic stressors during reproduction may alter the phenotypes by manipulation of hormones to the embryos. Thus, hormone-mediated maternal effects, which generate phenotypic plasticity, may be one avenue for coping with global change. Variation in exposure to hormones during development influences both the propensity to disperse, which alters metapopulation dynamics, and population dynamics, by affecting either recruitment to the population or subsequent life-history characteristics of the offspring. We suggest that hormones may be an informative index to the potential for populations to adapt to changing environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandrine Meylan
- Laboratoire Ecologie-Evolution, CNRS UMR 7625, Université Pierre et Marie Curie-Paris 6, 7 quai Saint Bernard, 75252 Paris cedex 05, France
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Brock PM, Hall AJ, Goodman SJ, Cruz M, Acevedo-Whitehouse K. Applying the tools of ecological immunology to conservation: a test case in the Galapagos sea lion. Anim Conserv 2012. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1469-1795.2012.00567.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - A. J. Hall
- Sea Mammal Research Unit; Scottish Ocean Institute; University of St. Andrews; Fife; UK
| | - S. J. Goodman
- Institute of Integrative and Comparative Biology; University of Leeds; Leeds; UK
| | - M. Cruz
- Galapagos Genetics; Epidemiology and Pathology Laboratory; Galapagos National Park & University of Guayaquil; Puerto Ayora; Galapagos Islands; Ecuador
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Abstract
Social status can have striking effects on health in humans and other animals, but the causes often are unknown. In male vertebrates, status-related differences in health may be influenced by correlates of male social status that suppress immune responses. Immunosuppressive correlates of low social status may include chronic social stress, poor physical condition, and old age; the immunosuppressive correlates of high status may include high testosterone and energetic costs of reproduction. Here we test whether these correlates could create status-related differences in immune function by measuring the incidence of illness and injury and then examining healing rates in a 27-y data set of natural injuries and illnesses in wild baboon males. We found no evidence that the high testosterone and intense reproductive effort associated with high rank suppress immune responses. Instead, high-ranking males were less likely to become ill, and they recovered more quickly than low-ranking males, even controlling for differences in age. Notably, alpha males, who experience high glucocorticoids, as well as the highest testosterone and reproductive effort, healed significantly faster than other males, even other high-ranking males. We discuss why alpha males seem to escape from the immunosuppressive costs of glucocorticoids but low-ranking males do not, including the idea that glucocorticoids' effects depend on an individual's physiological and social context.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth A. Archie
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN 46556
| | - Jeanne Altmann
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544
- Institute of Primate Research, National Museums of Kenya, Nairobi, Kenya
- Department of Veterinary Anatomy and Physiology, University of Nairobi, Chiromo Campus, Nairobi, Kenya; and
| | - Susan C. Alberts
- Institute of Primate Research, National Museums of Kenya, Nairobi, Kenya
- Department of Biology, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708
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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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43
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LEMAÎTRE JF, RAMM SA, HURST JL, STOCKLEY P. Sperm competition roles and ejaculate investment in a promiscuous mammal. J Evol Biol 2012; 25:1216-25. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1420-9101.2012.02511.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
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44
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Previtali MA, Ostfeld RS, Keesing F, Jolles AE, Hanselmann R, Martin LB. Relationship between pace of life and immune responses in wild rodents. OIKOS 2012. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1600-0706.2012.020215.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 91] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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Helle H, Koskela E, Mappes T. Life in varying environments: experimental evidence for delayed effects of juvenile environment on adult life history. J Anim Ecol 2011; 81:573-82. [PMID: 22191455 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2656.2011.01937.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
1. The effects of environment experienced during early development on phenotype as an adult has started to gain vast amounts of interest in various taxa. Some evidence on long-term effects of juvenile environment is available, but replicated experimental studies in wild animals are still lacking. 2. Here we report the first replicated experiment in wild mammals which examines the long-term effects of juvenile and adult environments on individual fitness (reproduction, survival and health). The early development of bank vole (Myodes glareolus) individuals took place in either food-supplemented or un-supplemented outdoor enclosures. After the summer, adult individuals were reciprocally changed to either a similar or opposite resource environment to overwinter. 3. Adult environment had an overriding effect on reproductive success of females so that females overwintering in food-supplemented enclosures had a higher probability of breeding and advanced the initiation of breeding. However, the characteristics of their litters were determined by juvenile environment: females initially grown in food-supplemented conditions subsequently produced larger litters with bigger pups and a male-biased sex ratio. 4. In males, individuals growing in un-supplemented conditions had the highest survival irrespective of adult environment during winter, whereas in females, neither the juvenile nor adult environments affected their survival significantly. The physiological condition of voles in spring, as determined by haematological parameters, was also differentially affected by juvenile (plasma proteins and male testosterone) and adult (haematocrit) environments. 5. Our results suggest that (i) life-history trajectories of voles are not strictly specialized to a certain environment and (ii) the plastic life-history responses to present conditions can actually be caused by delayed effects of the juvenile environment. More generally, the results are important for understanding the mechanisms of delayed life-history effects as well as recognizing their population dynamic consequences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heikki Helle
- Centre of Excellence in Evolutionary Research, Department of Biological and Environmental Science, University of Jyväskylä, P.O. Box 35, FI-40014 Jyväskylä, Finland.
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Mills SC, Koskela E, Mappes T. Intralocus sexual conflict for fitness: sexually antagonistic alleles for testosterone. Proc Biol Sci 2011; 279:1889-95. [PMID: 22171083 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2011.2340] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Intralocus sexual conflict occurs when a trait encoded by the same genetic locus in the two sexes has different optima in males and females. Such conflict is widespread across taxa, however, the shared phenotypic traits that mediate the conflict are largely unknown. We examined whether the sex hormone, testosterone (T), that controls sexual differentiation, contributes to sexually antagonistic fitness variation in the bank vole, Myodes glareolus. We compared (opposite-sex) sibling reproductive fitness in the bank vole after creating divergent selection lines for T. This study shows that selection for T was differentially associated with son versus daughter reproductive success, causing a negative correlation in fitness between full siblings. Our results demonstrate the presence of intralocus sexual conflict for fitness in this small mammal and that sexually antagonistic selection is acting on T. We also found a negative correlation in fitness between parents and their opposite-sex progeny (e.g. father-daughter), highlighting a dilemma for females, as the indirect genetic benefits of selecting reproductively successful males (high T) are lost with daughters. We discuss mechanisms that may mitigate this disparity between progeny quality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suzanne C Mills
- Department of Biological and Environmental Science, Centre of Excellence in Evolutionary Research, University of Jyväskylä, PO Box 35, 40014, Finland.
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47
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Lee AM, Engen S, Sæther BE. The influence of persistent individual differences and age at maturity on effective population size. Proc Biol Sci 2011; 278:3303-12. [PMID: 21436183 PMCID: PMC3169030 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2011.0283] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2011] [Accepted: 03/04/2011] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Ratios of effective populations size, N(e), to census population size, N, are used as a measure of genetic drift in populations. Several life-history parameters have been shown to affect these ratios, including mating system and age at sexual maturation. Using a stochastic matrix model, we examine how different levels of persistent individual differences in mating success among males may affect N(e)/N, and how this relates to generation time. Individual differences of this type are shown to cause a lower N(e)/N ratio than would be expected when mating is independent among seasons. Examining the way in which age at maturity affects N(e)/N, we find that both the direction and magnitude of the effect depends on the survival rate of juveniles in the population. In particular, when maturation is delayed, lowered juvenile survival causes higher levels of genetic drift. In addition, predicted shifts in N(e)/N with changing age at maturity are shown to be dependent on which of the commonly used definitions of census population size, N, is employed. Our results demonstrate that patterns of mating success, as well as juvenile survival probabilities, have substantial effects on rates of genetic drift.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aline Magdalena Lee
- Department of Biology, Centre for Conservation Biology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, N-7491 Trondheim, Norway.
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Sun Y, Parmentier H, Frankena K, van der Poel J. Natural antibody isotypes as predictors of survival in laying hens. Poult Sci 2011; 90:2263-74. [DOI: 10.3382/ps.2011-01613] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
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HAYWARD AD, WILSON AJ, PILKINGTON JG, CLUTTON-BROCK TH, PEMBERTON JM, KRUUK LEB. Natural selection on a measure of parasite resistance varies across ages and environmental conditions in a wild mammal. J Evol Biol 2011; 24:1664-76. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1420-9101.2011.02300.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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Ferdenzi C, Lemaître JF, Leongómez JD, Roberts SC. Digit ratio (2D:4D) predicts facial, but not voice or body odour, attractiveness in men. Proc Biol Sci 2011; 278:3551-7. [PMID: 21508034 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2011.0544] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
There is growing evidence that human second-to-fourth digit ratio (or 2D:4D) is related to facial features involved in attractiveness, mediated by in utero hormonal effects. The present study extends the investigation to other phenotypic, hormone-related determinants of human attractiveness: voice and body odour. Pictures of faces with a neutral expression, recordings of voices pronouncing vowels and axillary odour samples captured on cotton pads worn for 24 h were provided by 49 adult male donors. These stimuli were rated on attractiveness and masculinity scales by two groups of 49 and 35 females, approximately half of these in each sample using hormonal contraception. Multivariate regression analyses showed that males' lower (more masculine) right 2D:4D and lower right-minus-left 2D:4D (Dr-l) were associated with a more attractive (and in some cases more symmetrical), but not more masculine, face. However, 2D:4D and Dr-l did not predict voice and body odour masculinity or attractiveness. The results were interpreted in terms of differential effects of prenatal and circulating testosterone, male facial shape being supposedly more dependent on foetal levels (reflected by 2D:4D ratio), whereas body odour and vocal characteristics could be more dependent on variation in adult circulating testosterone levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camille Ferdenzi
- Swiss Centre for Affective Sciences, University of Geneva, 7 rue des Battoirs, 1205 Geneva, Switzerland.
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