6533b7d1fe1ef96bd125d8a7
RESEARCH PRODUCT
Age, sex, mating status, but not social isolation interact to shape basal immunity in a group-living insect
Fanny VogelweithSusanne FoitzikJoël Meuniersubject
0106 biological sciences0301 basic medicineMaleAgingInsectaPhysiologysocial isolation[SDV]Life Sciences [q-bio]PhysiologyForficula auricularia010603 evolutionary biology01 natural sciences03 medical and health sciencesBasal (phylogenetics)Forficula auriculariaSexual Behavior AnimalImmune systemSex FactorsImmunitymedicineAnimalssexSocial isolationMatinginsect immunitybiologyEcology[SDV.BA]Life Sciences [q-bio]/Animal biologyAge FactorsSocial environmentbiochemical phenomena metabolism and nutritionbiology.organism_classificationmating[SDV.BA.ZI]Life Sciences [q-bio]/Animal biology/Invertebrate Zoology030104 developmental biologyInsect ScienceEarwigbacteriaFemalemedicine.symptomdescription
International audience; Immunity is a crucial but costly trait. Individuals should therefore adjust their investment into immunity to their condition and infection risks, which are often determined by their age, sex, mating status and social environment. However, whether and how these four key factors can interact to shape basal immunity remains poorly understood. Here, we tested the simultaneous effects of these factors on hemocyte concentration and phenoloxidase activity in adults of the European earwig. We found that hemocyte concentration increased with age, and that this increase was stronger in males. We also found an age-dependent increase in phenoloxidase activity in males and virgin females, but not in mated females. However, the two immune parameters were independent of social isolation. Overall, our results reveal that a complex interplay between age, sex and mating status determines basal immunity and stress the importance of interactions in our understanding of immune investment.
| year | journal | country | edition | language |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017-11-01 |