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A direct physiological trade-off between personal and social immunity
Sheena C Cotter1, Joanne E Littlefair, Peter J Grantham
1Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge, CB2 3EJ, UK; School of Biological Sciences, Queen's University Belfast, MBC, 97 Lisburn Rd, Belfast, BT9 7BL, UK.
The Journal of Animal Ecology
|February 1, 2013
Summary
Organisms balance personal immunity and social immunity using limited resources. Female burying beetles temporarily reduced social immunity for wound repair, ultimately defending their reproductive success.
Area of Science:
- Behavioral Ecology
- Evolutionary Biology
- Immunology
Background:
- Organisms employ personal immunity for self-defense and social immunity for kin protection.
- Resource allocation between personal and social immunity remains poorly understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate how individuals allocate limited resources between personal and social immunity.
- To examine the trade-offs between investing in self-defense and protecting others.
Main Methods:
- Experiments were conducted on female burying beetles.
- The personal immune system was challenged, and investment in social immunity (antibacterial activity of anal exudates) was measured.
- The impact of wound repair on social immunity was assessed.
Main Results:
- Increased investment in personal immunity (wound repair) led to a temporary decrease in social immune response.
- Balancing investment between personal and social immunity during breeding defended lifetime reproductive success.
Conclusions:
- A physiological trade-off exists between personal and social immunity, influenced by resource allocation.
- This trade-off may vary within species based on age and partner contributions to social immunity.
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