Parental morph combination does not influence innate immune function in nestlings of a colour-polymorphic African raptor.

ABSTRACT: Conditions experienced during early life can have long-term individual consequences by influencing dispersal, survival, recruitment and productivity. Resource allocation during development can have strong carry-over effects onto these key parameters and is directly determined by the quality of parental care. In the black sparrowhawk (Accipiter melanoleucus), a colour-polymorphic raptor, parental morphs influence nestling somatic growth and survival, with pairs consisting of different colour morphs ('mixed-morph pairs') producing offspring with lower body mass indices, but higher local apparent survival rates. Resource allocation theory could explain this relationship, with nestlings of mixed-morph pairs trading off a more effective innate immune system against somatic growth. We quantified

SUBMITTER: Nebel C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8155141 | biostudies-literature | 2021 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature