MHC Variation Is Related to a Sexually Selected Ornament, Survival, and Parasite Resistance in Common Yellowthroats

Dunn, Peter O.; Bollmer, Jennifer L.; Freeman‐Gallant, Corey R.; Whittingham, Linda A.

doi:10.1111/j.1558-5646.2012.01799.x

Cited by 81 publications

(119 citation statements)

References 71 publications

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“…Mask size might be an indicator of good-genes benefits, as males with larger masks weigh more and have higher IgG antibody levels [37,38], and under some environmental conditions, EPY exhibit stronger T-cell-mediated immune responses than within-pair nest-mates [39]. Recently, we found that male mask size and apparent survival are both positively associated with the total number of MHC class II alleles, and susceptibility to malaria infection is associated with the presence of a particular class II allele [40].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Social and extra-pair mating in relation to major histocompatibility complex variation in common yellowthroats

et al. 2012

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Females are thought to gain better-quality genes for their offspring by mating with particular males. Genes of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) play a critical role in adaptive immunity, and several studies have examined female mate choice in relation to MHC variation. In common yellowthroats, females prefer males that have larger black facial masks, an ornament associated with MHC variation, immune function and condition. Here we also tested whether mating patterns are directly correlated with MHC diversity or similarity. Using pyrosequencing, we found that the presence of extra-pair young in the brood was not related to male MHC diversity or similarity between the female and her within-pair mate. Furthermore, extra-pair sires did not differ in overall diversity from males they cuckolded, or in their similarity to the female. MHC diversity is extremely high in this species, and it may limit the ability of females to assess MHC variation in males. Thus, mating may be based on ornaments, such as mask size, which are better indicators of overall male health and genetic quality.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Social and extra-pair mating in relation to major histocompatibility complex variation in common yellowthroats

et al. 2012

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“…For example, a global study on humans found that populations with increased pathogen diversity also exhibited elevated MHC diversity [11]. Additionally, associations between specific MHC alleles and pathogen resistance have been demonstrated in humans [12], non-human primates [13], ungulates [14], rodents [15,16], bats [17], birds [18,19], amphibians [20] and fish [21].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Parasite-mediated selection drives an immunogenetic trade-off in plains zebras (Equus quagga)

et al. 2014

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Pathogen evasion of the host immune system is a key force driving extreme polymorphism in genes of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC). Although this gene family is well characterized in structure and function, there is still much debate surrounding the mechanisms by which MHC diversity is selectively maintained. Many studies have investigated relationships between MHC variation and specific pathogens, and have found mixed support for and against the hypotheses of heterozygote advantage, frequency-dependent or fluctuating selection. Few, however, have focused on the selective effects of multiple parasite types on host immunogenetic patterns. Here, we examined relationships between variation in the equine MHC gene, ELA-DRA, and both gastrointestinal (GI) and ectoparasitism in plains zebras (Equus quagga). Specific alleles present at opposing population frequencies had antagonistic effects, with rare alleles associated with increased GI parasitism and common alleles with increased tick burdens. These results support a frequency-dependent mechanism, but are also consistent with fluctuating selection. Maladaptive GI parasite 'susceptibility alleles' were reduced in frequency, suggesting that these parasites may play a greater selective role at this locus. Heterozygote advantage, in terms of allele mutational divergence, also predicted decreased GI parasite burden in genotypes with a common allele. We conclude that an immunogenetic trade-off affects resistance/susceptibility to parasites in this system. Because GI and ectoparasites do not directly interact within hosts, our results uniquely show that antagonistic parasite interactions can be indirectly modulated through the host immune system. This study highlights the importance of investigating the role of multiple parasites in shaping patterns of host immunogenetic variation.

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“…These conflict-of-interest diagrams help to illustrate how conflict changes under different social scenarios. A fundamental debate, for example, is whether or not EPP benefits females (Mulder et al 1994;Westneat and Stewart 2003;Arnqvist and Kirkpatrick 2005;Griffith 2007;Dunn et al 2013). The sex that promotes the occurrence of an extrapair mating also critically influences the pattern of sexual conflict over such matings: Male-and female-driven EPP result in opposite patterns of conflict over whether extrapair matings should occur (Petrie and Kempenears 1998) and hence opposite patterns of selection on traits (Fig.…”

Section: Sexual Conflict From Extrapair Matings In Birdsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sexual Conflict Arising from Extrapair Matings in Birds

Chaine

Montgomerie

Lyon

2015

Cold Spring Harb Perspect Biol

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The discovery that extrapair copulation (EPC) and extrapair paternity (EPP) are common in birds led to a paradigm shift in our understanding of the evolution of mating systems. The prevalence of extrapair matings in pair-bonded species sets the stage for sexual conflict, and a recent focus has been to consider how this conflict can shape variation in extrapair mating rates. Here, we invert the causal arrow and consider the consequences of extrapair matings for sexual conflict. Extrapair matings shift sexual conflict from a simple two-player (male vs. female) game to a game with three or more players, the nature of which we illustrate with simple diagrams that highlight the net costs and benefits of extrapair matings to each player. This approach helps identify the sorts of traits that might be under selection because of sexual conflict. Whether EPP is driven primarily by the extrapair male or the within-pair female profoundly influences which players are in conflict, but the overall pattern of conflict varies little among different mating systems. Different aspects of conflict are manifest at different stages of the breeding cycle and can be profitably considered as distinct episodes of selection caused by conflict. This perspective is illuminating both because conflict between specific players can change across episodes and because the traits that evolve to mediate conflict likely differ between episodes. Although EPP clearly leads to sexual conflict, we suggest that the link between sexual conflict and multiple paternity might be usefully understood by examining how deviations from lifetime sexual monogamy influence sexual conflict.T he development of genetic tools for determining parentage fundamentally altered our understanding of animal mating systems (Jeffreys et al. 1985;Avise 1996;Reynolds 1996) and provided invaluable insights into the consequences and causes of females mating with more than one male. Particularly for the study of birds, these methods revealed that social pair bonds often fail to match the actual patterns of copulations that produced offspring (Gowaty and Karlin 1984;Birkhead and Møller 1992;Reynolds 1996;Petrie and Kempenaers 1998), revolutionizing the study of avian mating systems. Extensive research and two recent reviews point out the progress we have made in this field and show how little we still understand extrapair behavior (Griffith et al. 2002;Westneat and Stewart 2003).

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MHC Variation Is Related to a Sexually Selected Ornament, Survival, and Parasite Resistance in Common Yellowthroats

Cited by 81 publications

References 71 publications

Social and extra-pair mating in relation to major histocompatibility complex variation in common yellowthroats

Social and extra-pair mating in relation to major histocompatibility complex variation in common yellowthroats

Parasite-mediated selection drives an immunogenetic trade-off in plains zebras (Equus quagga)

Sexual Conflict Arising from Extrapair Matings in Birds

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