A tradeoff between immunocompetence and sexual ornamentation in domestic fowl

Verhulst, Simon; Dieleman, S.J.; Parmentier, H.K.

doi:10.1073/pnas.96.8.4478

Cited by 192 publications

(156 citation statements)

References 53 publications

(51 reference statements)

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“…A growing body of evidence indicates that costly sexually selected traits (including testis and ejaculatory traits) can trade-off against other energetically expensive but important characters, such as immune function (Siva-Jothy et al 1998;Verhulst et al 1999;Hosken 2001;Fedorka et al 2004;Simmons & Roberts 2005). Comparative analyses of fruit flies have shown that costly spermatogenesis can trade-off with developmental life histories, such as the onset of reproductive maturity (Pitnick et al 1995;Pitnick 1996;Pitnick & Miller 2000).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mating system and brain size in bats

2005

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The contribution of sexual selection to brain evolution has been little investigated. Through comparative analyses of bats, we show that multiple mating by males, in the absence of multiple mating by females, has no evolutionary impact on relative brain dimension. In contrast, bat species with promiscuous females have relatively smaller brains than do species with females exhibiting mate fidelity. This pattern may be a consequence of the demonstrated negative evolutionary relationship between investment in testes and investment in brains, both metabolically expensive tissues. These results have implications for understanding the correlated evolution of brains, behaviour and extravagant sexually selected traits.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mating system and brain size in bats

2005

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“…In marine isopods, sexual dimorphism in immunity has as yet not been investigated. In many animal species, males have lower immunocompetence than females (Skarstein and Folstad 1996;Kurtz and Sauer 1999;Verhulst et al 1999;Kurtz et al 2000;Ryder and SivaJothy 2000). In invertebrates, one explanation for the sexual dimorphism in immunity may result from diVerent life-history strategies of males and females.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A summer heat wave decreases the immunocompetence of the mesograzer, Idotea baltica

2010

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Extreme events associated with global change will impose increasing stress on coastal organisms. How strong biological interactions such as the host-parasite arms-race are modulated by environmental change is largely unknown. The immune system of invertebrates, in particular phagocytosis and phenoloxidase activity response are key defence mechanisms against parasites, yet they may be sensitive to environmental perturbations. We here simulated an extreme event that mimicked the European heat wave in 2003 to investigate the eVect of environmental change on the immunocompetence of the mesograzer Idotea baltica. Unlike earlier studies, our experiment aimed at simulation of the natural situation as closely as possible by using long acclimation, a slow increase in temperature and a natural community setting including the animals' providence with natural food sources (Zostera marina and Fucus vesiculosus). Our results demonstrate that a simulated heat wave results in decreased immunocompetence of the mesograzer Idotea baltica, in particular a drop of phagocytosis by 50%. This suggests that global change has the potential to signiWcantly aVect host-parasite interactions.

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“…In contrast, males were 230 often found with single pairs of worms (whereas single infections were not identified in females in 231 this study) and that level of infection already began to affect body condition. The differences between 232 sexes could be explained by differences in resource allocation, and it has been demonstrated that 233 immunocompetence is often sacrificed in favour of the expression of sexual ornaments, particularly 234 in males (Hamilton & Zuk, 1982;Verhulst et al, 1999). Whether females are able to successfully 235 mount an immune response in the presence of one or two pairs of worms requires further 236 investigation.…”

Section: Birds 218mentioning

confidence: 99%

Body condition is negatively associated with infection with Syngamus trachea in the ring-necked pheasant (Phasianus colchicus)

Gethings

Sage

Morgan

et al. 2016

Veterinary Parasitology

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Body condition is negatively associated with infection withNorth Somerset, BS40 5DU. 7 Summary 8The role that parasites play in regulating animal populations is debated, however recent research hints 9 at their pervasiveness among free-living animal populations. Parasites exert both direct and indirect 10 effects on host populations, and can act to regulate populations. The Ring-necked pheasant is an 11 important game-bird species in the UK, and large numbers of birds are released annually. The impact 12 of the ubiquitous tracheal nematode, Syngamus trachea on pheasant populations through effects on 13 host condition was assessed on two pheasant estates in the south west of England. Pheasants infected 14 with S. trachea demonstrated a significant reduction in host condition compared with uninfected 15 controls, with as few as one pair of worms per bird. Although there was no difference in worm 16 burden between sexes, analysis of regression slopes revealed there was a significant difference 17 between sexes in the magnitude of the effect of increasing worm burden on host condition, with 18 detectable effects observed in hosts with one and three pairs of worms for males and females 19 respectively. The observed reductions in host condition in birds with even sub-clinical infections 20 could be the cause of poor reproductive success and survival of pheasants post-release. 21

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A tradeoff between immunocompetence and sexual ornamentation in domestic fowl

Abstract: Females often select their mates on the basis of the size or intensity of sexual ornaments, and it is thought that such traits are reliable indicators of male quality because the costliness of these traits prevents cheating.

Cited by 192 publications

References 53 publications

Mating system and brain size in bats

Mating system and brain size in bats

A summer heat wave decreases the immunocompetence of the mesograzer, Idotea baltica

Body condition is negatively associated with infection with Syngamus trachea in the ring-necked pheasant (Phasianus colchicus)

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