Immune response is energetically costly in white cabbage butterfly pupae.
Parasite-driven coevolution has led hosts to develop a complicated and potentially costly defence machinery, consisting mainly of the immune system. Despite the evidence for the trade-offs between immune function and life-history traits, it is still obscure how the costs of using and maintaining the immune function are paid. We tested whether immune challenge is energetically costly for white cabbage butterfly (Pieris brassicae L.) diapausing pupa. Individuals challenged with nylon implant raised their standard metabolic rate nearly 8% compared to the controls. Hence, costs of activation of immune system in insect pupa can be expressed in energetic currency.
Freitak
Dalial
D
Institute of Zoology and Hydrobiology, Tartu University, Vanemuise 46, Tartu, 51014, Estonia.
Ots
Indrek
I
Vanatoa
Alo
A
Hõrak
Peeter
P
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D001824:Body Constitution; D002080:Butterflies / Q000276:immunology*; D004734:Energy Metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D007113:Immunity, Innate / Q000502:physiology*; D009757:Nylons; D011679:Pupa / Q000276:immunology
D009757:Nylons