Linked Life Data

19691438

Source:http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/id/19691438

Statements in which the resource exists as a subject.
PredicateObject
rdf:type
lifeskim:mentions
pubmed:issue
4
pubmed:dateCreated
2009-9-16
pubmed:abstractText
Although gene by environment interactions may play a key role in the maintenance of genetic polymorphisms, little is known about the ecological factors involved in these interactions. We investigated whether food supply and parasites can mediate covariation between the degree of adult pheomelanin-based coloration, a heritable trait, and offspring body mass in the tawny owl (Strix aluco). We swapped clutches between nests to allocate genotypes randomly among environments. Three weeks after hatching, we challenged the immune system of 80 unrelated nestlings with either a phytohemagglutinin (PHA) or a lipopolysaccharide, surrogates of alternative parasites, and then fed them ad lib. or food-restricted them during the following 6 days in the laboratory. Whatever the immune challenge, nestlings fed ad lib. converted food more efficiently into body mass when their biological mother was dark pheomelanic. In contrast, food-restricted nestlings challenged with PHA lost less body mass when their biological mother was pale pheomelanic. Nestling tawny owls born from differently melanic mothers thus show differing reaction norms relative to food availability and parasitism. This suggests that dark and pale pheomelanic owls reflect alternative adaptations to food availability and parasites, factors known to vary in space and time.
pubmed:language
eng
pubmed:journal
pubmed:citationSubset
IM
pubmed:chemical
pubmed:status
MEDLINE
pubmed:month
Oct
pubmed:issn
1537-5323
pubmed:author
pubmed:issnType
Electronic
pubmed:volume
174
pubmed:owner
NLM
pubmed:authorsComplete
Y
pubmed:pagination
548-56
pubmed:meshHeading
pubmed:year
2009
pubmed:articleTitle
Pheomelanin-based coloration and the ability to cope with variation in food supply and parasitism.
pubmed:affiliation
Department of Ecology and Evolution, Biophore, University of Lausanne, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland. romain.piault@unil.ch
pubmed:publicationType
Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't