Eurasian Sparrowhawk (A<scp>ccipiter nisus</scp>) as Predator of Eurasian Blackbird (T<scp>urdus merula</scp>) Nests

Ibáñez‐Álamo, Juan Diego; Soler, Manuel

doi:10.3356/jrr-11-63.1

Cited by 2 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 9 publications

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“…We selected calls of nest predators, such as Eurasian sparrowhawks Accipiter nisus (Newton 1986, Ibáñez-Álamo andSoler 2012) or black-billed magpie Pica pica (Collar 2005) for the experimental group, whereas we used non-predator species, like European serin Serinus serinus, European goldfinch Carduelis carduelis or Sardinian warbler Sylvia melanocephala, for the playbacks of the control group. We avoided using alarm call vocalizations for non-predator species as they may indirectly indicate the presence of a predator Magrath 2012, 2013).…”

Section: Experimental Designmentioning

confidence: 99%

Immunological changes in nestlings growing under predation risk

Roncalli

Soler

Tieleman

et al. 2020

Journal of Avian Biology

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Predation is one of the most relevant selective forces in nature. However, the physiological mechanisms behind anti‐predator strategies have been overlooked, despite their importance to understand predator–prey interactions. In this context, the immune system could be especially revealing due to its relationship with other critical functions and its ability to enhance prey's probabilities of survival to a predator's attack. Developing organisms (e.g. nestlings) are excellent models to study this topic because they suffer a high predation pressure while undergoing the majority of their development, which maximizes potential trade‐offs between immunity and other biological functions. Using common blackbirds Turdus merula as model species, we experimentally investigated whether an elevated nest predation risk during the nestling period affects nestlings’ immunity and its possible interactions with developmental conditions (i.e. body condition and growth). Experimental nestlings modified some components of their immunity, but only when considering body condition and growth rate, indicating a multifaceted immunological response to predation risk and an important mediator role of nestlings’ developmental conditions. Predation risk induced a suppression of IgY but an increase in lymphocytes in nestlings with poor body condition. In addition, experimental but not control nestlings showed a negative correlation between growth and heterophils, demonstrating that nest predation risk can affect the interaction between growth and immunity. This study highlights the importance of immunity in anti‐predator response in nestlings and shows the relevance of including physiological components to the study of predation risk.

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Section: Experimental Designmentioning

confidence: 99%

Immunological changes in nestlings growing under predation risk

Roncalli

Soler

Tieleman

et al. 2020

Journal of Avian Biology

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Nest predation risk modifies nestlings’ immune function depending on the level of threat

Roncalli

Colombo

Soler

et al. 2018

Journal of Experimental Biology

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Predation risk is thought to modify the physiology of prey mainly through the stress response. However, little is known about its potential effects on the immunity of animals, particularly in young individuals, despite the importance of overcoming wounding and pathogen aggression following a predator attack. We investigated the effect of four progressive levels of nest predation risk on several components of the immune system in common blackbird () nestlings by presenting them with four different calls during 1 h: non-predator calls, predator calls, parental alarm calls and conspecific distress calls to induce a null, moderate, high and extreme level of risk, respectively. Nest predation risk induced an increase in ovotransferrin, immunoglobulin and the number of lymphocytes and eosinophils. Thus, the perception of a potential predator per se could stimulate the mobilization of a nestling's immune function and enable the organism to rapidly respond to the immune stimuli imposed by a predator attack. Interestingly, only high and extreme levels of risk caused immunological changes, suggesting that different immunological parameters are modulated according to the perceived level of threat. We also found a mediator role of parasites (i.e. ) and the current health status of the individual, as only nestlings not parasitized or in good body condition were able to modify their immune system. This study highlights a previously unknown link between predation risk and immunity, emphasizing the complex relationship among different selective pressures (predation, parasitism) in developing organisms and accentuating the importance of studying predation from a physiological point of view.

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Eurasian Sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus) as Predator of Eurasian Blackbird (Turdus merula) Nests

Cited by 2 publications

References 9 publications

Immunological changes in nestlings growing under predation risk

Immunological changes in nestlings growing under predation risk

Nest predation risk modifies nestlings’ immune function depending on the level of threat

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