Early-life immune activation increases song complexity and alters phenotypic associations between sexual ornaments.

ABSTRACT: Early-life adversity can have long-lasting effects on physiological, behavioural, cognitive, and somatic processes. Consequently, these effects may alter an organism's life-history strategy and reproductive tactics.In response to early-life immune activation, we quantified levels of the acute phase protein haptoglobin (Hp) during development in male zebra finches (Taeniopygia guttata). Then, we examined the long-term impacts of early-life immune activation on an important static sexual signal, song complexity, as well as effects of early-life immune activation on the relationship between song complexity and a dynamic sexual signal, beak colouration. Finally, we performed mate-choice trials to determine if male early-life experience impacted female preference.Challenge with keyhole l

SUBMITTER: Merrill L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5792086 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature