Migratory common blackbirds have lower innate immune function during autumn migration than resident conspecifics.

ABSTRACT: Animals need a well-functioning immune system to protect themselves against pathogens. The immune system, however, is costly and 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 haptoglo

SUBMITTER: Eikenaar C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4843231 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature