A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal
Ectoparasites help to maintain variation in cell-mediated immunity in the blue tit-hen flea system
Authors: Pitala N, Siitari H, Gustafsson L, Brommer JE
Publisher: EVOLUTIONARY ECOLOGY LTD
Publication year: 2009
Journal:Evolutionary Ecology Research
Journal name in sourceEVOLUTIONARY ECOLOGY RESEARCH
Journal acronym: EVOL ECOL RES
Volume: 11
Issue: 1
First page : 79
Last page: 94
Number of pages: 16
ISSN: 1522-0613
Abstract
Results: Hen flea infestation lowered growth, cell-mediated immunocompetence, and haematocrit. Genotype-environment interactions were observed in cell-mediated immunocompetence, body mass, and haematocrit, with significant crossing reaction norms for cell-mediated immunocompetence and haematocrit. Immunoglobulin concentrations were unaffected by fleas. Thus, host-parasite interactions constrain the expression and evolvability of some traits, but also create genotype-environment interactions with the potential to maintain genetic variation in immune defence.
Results: Hen flea infestation lowered growth, cell-mediated immunocompetence, and haematocrit. Genotype-environment interactions were observed in cell-mediated immunocompetence, body mass, and haematocrit, with significant crossing reaction norms for cell-mediated immunocompetence and haematocrit. Immunoglobulin concentrations were unaffected by fleas. Thus, host-parasite interactions constrain the expression and evolvability of some traits, but also create genotype-environment interactions with the potential to maintain genetic variation in immune defence.
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