Effects of time spent in pregnancy or brooding on immunocompetence.

ABSTRACT: Sexes of a species may show different characteristics beyond the differences in their sexual organs and such sexual dimorphism often occurs in the level of immune response when exposed to pathogens (immunocompetence). In general, females have increased longevity relative to males, which is associated with higher immunocompetence. However, males have higher immunocompetence in some species, such as pipefishes and seahorses. Experimental evidence suggests that this could be because males, rather than females, carry fertilized eggs to birth in these species. This observation suggests that an increase in immunocompetence may be related to the level of parental investment and not to a particular sex. We use state-dependent life-history theory to study optimal investment in offspring production

SUBMITTER: Revathi Venkateswaran V 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10767163 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature