No selection on immunological markers in response to a highly virulent pathogen in an Arctic breeding bird

Evolutionary Applications

Pierre Legagneux²  Lisha L. Berzins⁵  Mark Forbes³  Naomi Jane Harms⁶  Holly L. Hennin⁴  Sophie Bourgeon¹  H. G. Gilchrist⁸  Joël Bêty²  Catherine Soos⁶  Oliver P. Love⁴  Jeffrey T. Foster⁷  Sébastien Descamps¹ 

[1] Norwegian Polar Institute, Fram Centre, Tromsø, Norway;Département de biologie & Centre d’études nordiques, Université du Québec à Rimouski, Rimouski, QC, Canada;Department of Biology, Carleton University, Ottawa, ON, Canada;Department of Biological Sciences, University of Windsor, Windsor, ON, Canada;Environmental and Life Sciences Graduate Program, Trent University, Peterborough, ON, Canada;Department of Veterinary Pathology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, Canada;Center for Microbial Genetics & Genomics, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ, USA;National Wildlife Research Centre, Environment Canada, Ottawa, ON, Canada

关键词: avian cholera;    clutch size;    common eider (Somateria mollissima);    immune traits;    natural selection;    Pasteurella multocida;   

DOI  :  10.1111/eva.12180

来源: Wiley

【 摘 要 】

Abstract

In natural populations, epidemics provide opportunities to look for intense natural selection on genes coding for life history and immune or other physiological traits. If the populations being considered are of management or conservation concern, then identifying the traits under selection (or ‘markers’) might provide insights into possible intervention strategies during epidemics. We assessed potential for selection on multiple immune and life history traits of Arctic breeding common eiders (Somateria mollissima) during annual avian cholera outbreaks (summers of 2006, 2007 & 2008). We measured prelaying body condition, immune traits, and subsequent reproductive investment (i.e., clutch size) and survival of female common eiders and whether they were infected with Pasteurella multocida, the causative agent of avian cholera. We found no clear and consistent evidence of directional selection on immune traits; however, infected birds had higher levels of haptoglobin than uninfected birds. Also, females that laid larger clutches had slightly lower immune responses during the prelaying period reflecting possible downregulation of the immune system to support higher costs of reproduction. This supports a recent study indicating that birds investing in larger clutches were more likely to die from avian cholera and points to a possible management option to maximize female survival during outbreaks.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© 2014 The Authors. Evolutionary Applications published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.