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- Title
Immune response of nestling warblers varies with extra-pair paternity and temperature.
- Authors
Garvin, Julia C.; Abroe, Betsy; Pedersen, MARC C.; Dunn, Peter O.; Whittingham, Linda A.
- Abstract
Extra-pair mating is widespread in birds, but its adaptive function remains unclear. It is often suggested that females obtain superior genes for their offspring as a consequence of extra-pair mating, but the evidence is limited. In this study, we examined the hypothesis that extra-pair mating provides females with offspring that have superior immune responses. We found that the T-cell-mediated immune response of extra-pair young was stronger than that of within-pair young in common yellowthroats ( Geothlypis trichas). This paternity effect occurred when we compared all nestlings in the population, as well as in comparisons of both paternal and maternal half-siblings. Paternal half-siblings had a stronger immune response when they were produced with extra-pair females than with the male's social mate, which suggests that the greater immune response of extra-pair young was caused by nonadditive (compatible) genetic effects. However, these patterns were only significant in the colder of 2 years. Immune response was related positively to air temperature and nestlings had a stronger immune response in the warmer year. We suggest that such environmental variation could obscure the genetic benefits of extra-pair mating.
- Subjects
IMMUNE system; T cells; IMMUNOMODULATORS; IMMUNE response; PATERNITY; TEMPERATURE; BABY birds
- Publication
Molecular Ecology, 2006, Vol 15, Issue 12, p3833
- ISSN
0962-1083
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1111/j.1365-294X.2006.03042.x