2 research outputs found
Daily energy expenditure and cell-mediated immunity in pied flycatchers while feeding nestlings: interaction with moult
Ecological immunology posits a trade-off between
parental effort and immunocompetence underlying
the cost of reproduction. The moult-breeding overlap observed
in several bird species represents a conflict in resource
allocation between two energy-demanding processes.
Moult processes have been associated with enlargements
of immune system organs. In the present
study. we measured simultaneously daily energy expenditure
(DEE) and the T-cell-dependent immune response
of pied flycatchers, Ficedula hypoleuca, caring for
grown nestlings. We used the doubly labelled water technique
and the phytohaemagglutinin (PHA) injection assay
on both males and females, while recording provisioning
rates and moult scores. DEE and the PHA response
were negatively correlated for females, but not
for males. A significantly higher proportion of males
than females initiated moult. Provisioning rates were
strongly correlated with DEE for females but only for
non-moulting males. The DEE of moulting males was
marginally correlated with moult score. For moulting
males, there was a marginally significant positive correlation
between moult score and immune response. The
trade-off between DEE and immunity for females could
underlie the cost of reproduction. However, the moultbreeding
overlap found in males may offset this tradeoff,
thereby reducing the implications of immunosuppression
for parental survival.Peer reviewe