Migratory common blackbirds have lower innate immune function during autumn migration than resident conspecifics
(2016) In Biology letters 12.- Abstract
- Animals need awell-functioning immune systemto protect themselves against
pathogens. The immune system, however, is costlyand resource trade-offs with
other demands exist. For migratory animals several (not mutually exclusive)
hypotheses exist. First, migrants reduce immune function to be able to allocate
resources to migration. Second, migrants boost immune function to cope with
more and/or novel pathogens encountered during migration. Third, migrants
reallocate resources within the immune system.We tested these hypotheses by
comparing baseline immune function in resident and migratory common
blackbirds (Turdus merula), both caught during the autumn migration season
on the island of Helgoland, Germany.... (More) - Animals need awell-functioning immune systemto protect themselves against
pathogens. The immune system, however, is costlyand resource trade-offs with
other demands exist. For migratory animals several (not mutually exclusive)
hypotheses exist. First, migrants reduce immune function to be able to allocate
resources to migration. Second, migrants boost immune function to cope with
more and/or novel pathogens encountered during migration. Third, migrants
reallocate resources within the immune system.We tested these hypotheses by
comparing baseline immune function in resident and migratory common
blackbirds (Turdus merula), both caught during the autumn migration season
on the island of Helgoland, Germany. Indices of baseline innate immune function
(microbial killing capacity and haptoglobin-like activity) were lower in
migrants than in residents. There was no difference between the groups in
total immunoglobulins, a measure of baseline acquired immune function.
Our study on a short-distance avian migrant supports the hypothesis that
innate immune function is compromised during migration. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
https://lup.lub.lu.se/record/68aef60d-3739-41dd-9c01-abc080d7785f
- author
- Eikenaar, Cas and Hegemann, Arne LU
- organization
- publishing date
- 2016
- type
- Contribution to journal
- publication status
- published
- subject
- keywords
- immunity, migrant, resident, trade-off, eco-immunology
- in
- Biology letters
- volume
- 12
- article number
- 12: 20160078
- pages
- 4 pages
- publisher
- Royal Society Publishing
- external identifiers
-
- pmid:27029839
- wos:000373934700018
- scopus:84991693608
- ISSN
- 1744-9561
- DOI
- 10.1098/rsbl.2016.0078
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- id
- 68aef60d-3739-41dd-9c01-abc080d7785f
- date added to LUP
- 2016-09-23 11:29:25
- date last changed
- 2025-04-04 13:58:39
@article{68aef60d-3739-41dd-9c01-abc080d7785f,
abstract = {{Animals need awell-functioning immune systemto protect themselves against<br/>pathogens. The immune system, however, is costlyand resource trade-offs with<br/>other demands exist. For migratory animals several (not mutually exclusive)<br/>hypotheses exist. First, migrants reduce immune function to be able to allocate<br/>resources to migration. Second, migrants boost immune function to cope with<br/>more and/or novel pathogens encountered during migration. Third, migrants<br/>reallocate resources within the immune system.We tested these hypotheses by<br/>comparing baseline immune function in resident and migratory common<br/>blackbirds (Turdus merula), both caught during the autumn migration season<br/>on the island of Helgoland, Germany. Indices of baseline innate immune function<br/>(microbial killing capacity and haptoglobin-like activity) were lower in<br/>migrants than in residents. There was no difference between the groups in<br/>total immunoglobulins, a measure of baseline acquired immune function.<br/>Our study on a short-distance avian migrant supports the hypothesis that<br/>innate immune function is compromised during migration.}},
author = {{Eikenaar, Cas and Hegemann, Arne}},
issn = {{1744-9561}},
keywords = {{immunity; migrant; resident; trade-off; eco-immunology}},
language = {{eng}},
publisher = {{Royal Society Publishing}},
series = {{Biology letters}},
title = {{Migratory common blackbirds have lower innate immune function during autumn migration than resident conspecifics}},
url = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1098/rsbl.2016.0078}},
doi = {{10.1098/rsbl.2016.0078}},
volume = {{12}},
year = {{2016}},
}