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The immunocompetence handicap hypothesis: testing the genetic predictions

Kurtz1, Sauer

  • 1Institut fur Evolutionsbiologie und Okologie, Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universitat Bonn, Germany. kurtz@mpil-ploen.mpg.de

Proceedings. Biological Sciences
|February 29, 2000
PubMed
Summary

The immunocompetence handicap hypothesis suggests ornaments reflect immune function. In scorpionflies, male ornaments showed little genetic benefit for offspring immunity, indicating a small genetic advantage for females choosing ornamented males.

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Area of Science:

  • Evolutionary biology
  • Animal behavior
  • Immunology

Background:

  • The immunocompetence handicap hypothesis proposes a link between immune function and sexually selected traits.
  • Ornament expression may signal underlying genetic immunocompetence.
  • Resource competition between immunity and ornamentation is central to this hypothesis.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To test the genetic prediction of the immunocompetence handicap hypothesis in scorpionflies.
  • To investigate if male ornament expression (saliva secretion) correlates with offspring immunocompetence.
  • To assess the genetic benefits of female choice based on male ornamentation.

Main Methods:

  • Mating scorpionfly females with males exhibiting varying levels of a condition-dependent ornament (saliva secretion).

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  • Comparing immunocompetence between sexes and across offspring groups.
  • Analyzing correlations between immune traits and genetic variation.

    • Main Results:

    • Females exhibited superior immunocompetence compared to males.
    • Positive correlations were observed among different immune traits.
    • No significant difference in offspring immunocompetence was found based on paternal ornament expression, though a slight tendency for improved immunity in sons of ornamented males was noted.

    Conclusions:

    • The genetic benefit of female choice regarding offspring immunocompetence in scorpionflies appears to be small.
    • While direct genetic benefits for offspring immunity are limited, the immunocompetence handicap principle may still operate in this species.
    • Further research may be needed to fully elucidate the role of immunocompetence in sexual selection.