Integrating time progression in ecoimmunology studies: beyond immune response intensity

• 来源期刊: 动物学报（英文版）
• 年，卷（期）: 2019,（2）
• 页码范围: 205-212
• 页数: 8页
• 语种: 英文
• DOI: 10.1093/cz/zoy045

摘要

Habitat alterations in agroecosystems may damage amphibian immune capacity.As agroecosystem extension is increasing worldwide,broader-context knowledge on the effects of agroecosystem stressful conditions on amphibian immune capacity is crucial for understanding and management of amphibian global declines.However,most studies on ecoimmunology assume synchronal amonggroup immune-response peaks,and focus on immune response after standardized time lapses,neglecting its progression.Herein,I compared inflamatory response short-term progression of agroecosystem and natural-habitat female and male natterjack toads Epidalea calamita,by measuring swelling response,once per hour,6 h following an artificial immune challenge with innocuous antigen phytohemagglutinin.I also compared maximum magnitude of swelling response,irrespective of the moment when it was reached.Habitat differences arose only 3 h after challenge,when naturalhabitat toads showed greater swelling response.Maximum magnitude of swelling response was similar in toads from both habitats.However,agroecosystem toads showed a delayed swelling response as compared with natural-habitat conspecifics,probably as a consequence of agroecosystemn stressful conditions.Such a delay suggests a weaker immune capacity,and consequently impaired anti-pathogen performance.Regarding sex,swelling response magnitude did not differ between males and females.Female swelling response peaked earlier,but that of males was more sustained in time,which contradicts general across-taxa findings that males show impaired immune response.Interestingly,results suggest that measuring swelling response only after some standardized period following stimulation may be a simplistic approach and produce unrealistic results.Consequently,studies on ecoimmunology should implement swelling response progression in order to produce unbiased science.