Evol Ecol Res 13: 283-293 (2011) Full PDF if your library subscribes.
Predator presence suppresses immune function in a larval amphibian
Sarah A. Seiter
School of Natural Resources and Environment, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
Correspondence: S.A. Seiter, Department of Biology, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 337 Wilson Hall, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA.
Background: The presence of predators frequently reduces developmental rate in larval amphibians. If physiological and evolutionary trade-offs exist between immunity and predator responses, optimal immune response may not be selected for but the immunological consequences of predator exposure are unknown.
Hypotheses: Amphibian larvae exposed to predators during development will develop more slowly and have weaker immune responses than those reared in a predator-free environment.
Organism: The anuran, Rana sylvatica, reproduces in vernal ponds throughout North America with varying levels of predation. Rana sylvatica tadpoles respond to predators through behavioural and morphological defences resulting in reduced development time.
Site of experiments: The Edwin S. George Biological Reserve, Livingston County, Michigan, March 2007 to July 2007.
Methods: Rana sylvatica tadpoles were randomly assigned to replicate experimental mesocosms. Those with caged insect predators provided the chemical cues of predation. Controls had empty cages. After 6 weeks, tadpoles in each treatment group were given an immune challenge (an injection of the immune elicitor phytohaemagglutinin, a common field test of T-cell mediated immunity). I measured body mass, developmental stage, and immune response (at 24 and 48 h) between experimental and control groups using linear mixed models. I used structural equation modelling (path analysis) to distinguish the direct effects of predator exposure from indirect effects mediated by developmental stage.
Results: Tadpoles reared with predators developed more slowly and had weaker immune responses at both 24 and 48 h compared with controls. Mean immune responses increased with time in both experimental animals and controls. The direct effect of predator exposure contributed more to reduced immune response than did indirect effects mediated by developmental stage.
Keywords: immune responses, indirect effects of predators, inducible defences, larval amphibians, natural enemies, plasticity, Rana sylvatica.
DOWNLOAD A FREE, FULL PDF COPY
IF you are connected using the IP of a subscribing institution (library, laboratory, etc.)
or through its VPN.
© 2011 Sarah A. Seiter. All EER articles are copyrighted by their authors. All authors endorse, permit and license Evolutionary Ecology Ltd. to grant its subscribing institutions/libraries the copying privileges specified below without additional consideration or payment to them or to Evolutionary Ecology, Ltd. These endorsements, in writing, are on file in the office of Evolutionary Ecology, Ltd. Consult authors for permission to use any portion of their work in derivative works, compilations or to distribute their work in any commercial manner.
Subscribing institutions/libraries may grant individuals the privilege of making a single copy of an EER article for non-commercial educational or non-commercial research purposes. Subscribing institutions/libraries may also use articles for non-commercial educational purposes by making any number of copies for course packs or course reserve collections. Subscribing institutions/libraries may also loan single copies of articles to non-commercial libraries for educational purposes.
All copies of abstracts and articles must preserve their copyright notice without modification.