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Do pheromones reveal male immunocompetence?
Markus J Rantala1, Ilmari Jokinen, Raine Kortet
1Department of Biological and Environmental Science, University of Jyväskylä, PO Box 35, Finland. marrant@dodo.jyu.fi
Proceedings. Biological Sciences
|September 3, 2002
Summary
Female mealworm beetles prefer pheromones from males with higher immunocompetence and parasite resistance. This suggests pheromones reliably signal male health and can be a sexual ornament for female choice.
Area of Science:
- Animal behavior
- Chemical ecology
- Immunology
Background:
- Pheromones act as mate attractors and convey information.
- Vertebrates use olfactory cues to assess major histocompatibility complex (MHC) types.
- Information transfer about immunocompetence via pheromones remains largely unknown.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if pheromones can transmit information about male immunocompetence in mealworm beetles.
- To determine if female mealworm beetles prefer males with better immune function.
Main Methods:
- Assessed male immunocompetence through encapsulation rate against a novel antigen.
- Measured phenoloxidase levels in male haemolymph as an indicator of immune status.
- Observed female preference for male pheromones based on these immune indicators.
Main Results:
- Female mealworm beetles (Tenebrio molitor) showed a preference for pheromones originating from males with superior immunocompetence.
- Higher immunocompetence was correlated with a faster encapsulation rate and elevated haemolymph phenoloxidase levels.
- These findings indicate pheromones can signal parasite resistance ability.
Conclusions:
- Pheromones serve as a reliable signal of male immunocompetence and parasite resistance in mealworm beetles.
- Male pheromones can function as a sexual ornament, influencing female choice based on immune quality.