Sexual attractiveness of immune-challenged male mealworm beetles suggests terminal investment in reproduction

Kivleniece, Inese; Krams, Indriķis; Daukšte, Janīna; Krama, Tatajana; Rantala, Markus J.

doi:10.1016/j.anbehav.2010.09.004

Cited by 67 publications

(101 citation statements)

References 69 publications

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“…We observed the response of the beetles under red light (25 W red incandescent bulb), which did not affect activity of T. molitor. Since members of Tenebrionidae family likely cannot see long (red) wavelengths (Briscoe and Chittka 2001), the dim red light should mimic the nocturnal conditions of the beetles (Kivleniece et al 2010;Krams et al 2011a, b). We recorded individual latency times to become immobile, as well as the total time the beetles spent motionless.…”

Section: Mimicking Of Predator Approach In Open Arenamentioning

confidence: 99%

High Repeatability of Anti-Predator Responses and Resting Metabolic Rate in a Beetle

et al. 2013

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Measures of repeatability are essential for understanding behavioral consistency and individual differences in behavior, i.e. animal personalities. We studied antipredator responses of the yellow mealworm beetle (Tenebrio molitor) and performed behavioral tests in plastic containers representing a typical laboratory environment of T. molitor. Behavioral tests were repeated in Eppendorf test tubes where we also measured resting metabolic rate (RMR). Results show that the response latency to a threatening/startling stimulus, and the total time spent in the state of tonic immobility, correlated across the tests. The behavioral responses were repeatable and RMR covaried phenotypically with personality: we found a negative correlation between response latency time and time spent immobile, a positive correlation between response latency and RMR, and a negative correlation between RMR and total time spent immobile. These correlations were also similar across trials performed in the Eppendorf test tubes and the plastic containers.

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Section: Mimicking Of Predator Approach In Open Arenamentioning

confidence: 99%

High Repeatability of Anti-Predator Responses and Resting Metabolic Rate in a Beetle

et al. 2013

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“…Such a result is consistent with the terminal-investment hypothesis, which predicts that individuals should increase reproductive effort as a response to declining residual reproductive value, i.e., a decline in their probability of survival and future reproduction (Williams 1966; Clutton-Brock 1984). Thus, increased reproductive effort and success following an immune challenge is expected if activation of the immune system signals to an individual that its residual reproductive value has been jeopardized (see also Hanssen 2006; Weil et al 2006; Velando et al 2006; 2014; Kivleniece et al 2010). …”

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confidence: 99%

Immune Activation Generates Corticosterone-Mediated Terminal Reproductive Investment in a Wild Bird

Bowers¹,

Bowden²,

Sakaluk³

et al. 2015

The American Naturalist

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Despite classical expectations of a trade-off between immune activity and reproduction, an emergent view suggests that individuals experiencing activation of their immune system actually increase reproductive effort and allocation to offspring as a form of terminal investment in response to reduced survival probability. However, the components and mechanisms of increased parental investment following immunostimulation are currently unknown. We hypothesize that increased glucocorticoid production following immunostimulation modulates the increase in reproductive effort that constitutes terminal investment. We activated the immune system of breeding female house wrens (Troglodytes aedon) with an immunogen and cross-fostered the eggs they subsequently produced to separate pre- and post-natal components of maternal investment. Cross-fostering revealed an increase in both pre- and post-natal allocation from immunostimulated females, which was confirmed by quantification of egg constituents and maternal provisioning behavior. The increase in maternal provisioning was mediated, at least in part, by increased corticosterone in these females. Offspring immune responsiveness was also enhanced through transgenerational immune priming via the egg. Thus, our results indicate that maternal immunostimulation induces transgenerational effects on offspring through both pre- and post-natal parental effects, and support an important role for corticosterone in mediating parental investment.

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“…Many studies report a positive relationship between cuticular darkness and immune function. This includes PO activity (Wilson et al 2001;Reeson et al 1998;Cotter et al 2004;Armitage and Siva-Jothy 2005;Bailey 2011), encapsulation response (Mikkola and Rantala 2010;Bailey 2011;Kivleniece et al 2010, but see Dubovskiy et al 2013a, b), hemocyte density (Cotter et al 2004;Armitage and SivaJothy 2005), immune activation with an artificial parasite (Freitak et al 2005), susceptibility to parasitoids (Wilson et al 2001), fungal disease (Wilson et al 2001;Barnes and Siva-Jothy 2000;Krams et al 2013a) and viral disease . However, there is also evidence for a negative relationship between cuticular melanization and immune traits such as antibacterial (lysozyme-like) activity (Cotter et al 2004), hemocyte density , PO activity ) and susceptibility to a viral disease (Goulson and Cory 1995).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 97%

“…We also tested whether T. molitor females with dark cuticles invest in individual immune priming (Moret 2006;Kivleniece et al 2010;Krams et al 2011a;Mikonranta et al 2014), lifespan and fecundity more than females with brown and tan cuticles. This is important because covariations between cuticle melanization and life history traits can sometimes be detected only under specific conditions, for instance, where one phenotype enjoys the existing ecological benefits while other ones are selected against (Gonzales et al 1999;Piault et al 2009;Roulin 2009;Moore et al 2014).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A dark cuticle allows higher investment in immunity, longevity and fecundity in a beetle upon a simulated parasite attack

Krams

Burghardt²,

Krams

et al. 2016

Oecologia

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Cuticle melanism in insects is linked to a number of life history traits: a positive relationship is hypothesized between melanism, immune function, fecundity and lifespan. However, it is not clear how activation of the immune system affects trade-offs between life history traits in female mealworm beetles (Tenebrio molitor) differing in cuticle melanization. The females with tan, brown and black cuticles examined in the present study did not differ in the intensity of encapsulation response, fecundity and longevity when their immune system was not activated. However, we found that immune activation and cuticle melanization have a significant effect on life history traits. Offspring number and lifespan decreased in females with tan and brown cuticles, while the fecundity and lifespan of black females were not affected. Importantly, we inserted the implants again and found a significant decrease in the strength of encapsulation response in females with tan and brown cuticles. In contrast, black females increased melanotic reactions against the nylon implant, suggesting immunological priming. The results show that cuticle melanization plays an important adaptive role under the risk of being infected, while the lack of these benefits before the insertion of nylon monofilaments suggests that there are costs associated with an activated immunity system.

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Sexual attractiveness of immune-challenged male mealworm beetles suggests terminal investment in reproduction

Cited by 67 publications

References 69 publications

High Repeatability of Anti-Predator Responses and Resting Metabolic Rate in a Beetle

High Repeatability of Anti-Predator Responses and Resting Metabolic Rate in a Beetle

Immune Activation Generates Corticosterone-Mediated Terminal Reproductive Investment in a Wild Bird

A dark cuticle allows higher investment in immunity, longevity and fecundity in a beetle upon a simulated parasite attack

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