Humoral immunocompetence correlates with date of egg-laying and reflects work load in female tree swallows
Author
Summary, in English
Because quality differences between individuals affect fitness, much research has attempted, with limited success, to relate physiological condition (e.g., body reserves), to differences in life history between individuals. Recently, it has been suggested that immunocompetence may reflect condition, and it thus may mediate variation in individual quality and reproductive performance and, ultimately, fitness. We measured humoral immunocompetence (HIC) by immunizing female tree swallows with a harmless antigen and measured the specific antibody responses in a novel enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay developed for passerine birds. HIC was strongly correlated with egg-laying date, an important determinant of reproductive success in female tree swallows. We also investigated the effect of increased workload on HIC by manipulating female flight costs by clipping flight feathers. Clipped females had lower HIC than nonclipped females. These data suggest that HIC is a measure that may reflect phenotypic quality and also appears to be sensitive to increased workload in female tree swallows.
Department/s
Publishing year
2001
Language
English
Pages
93-97
Publication/Series
Behavioral Ecology
Volume
12
Issue
1
Links
Document type
Journal article
Publisher
Oxford University Press
Topic
- Biological Sciences
Status
Published
Research group
- Molecular Ecology and Evolution Lab
ISBN/ISSN/Other
- ISSN: 1045-2249