Inbreeding-related trade-offs in stress resistance in the ant Formica exsecta.
Inbred individuals and populations are predicted to suffer from inbreeding depression, especially in times of stress. Under natural conditions, organisms are exposed to more than one stressor at any one time, highlighting the importance of stress resistance traits. We studied how inbreeding- and immunity-related traits are correlated under different dietary conditions in the ant Formica exsecta. Its natural diet varies in the amount and nature of plant secondary compounds and the level of free radicals, all of which require detoxification to maintain organismal homeostasis. We found that inbreeding decreased general antibacterial activity under dietary stress, suggesting inbreeding-related physiological trade-offs.
Centre of Excellence in Biological Interactions, University of Helsinki, Helsinki 00014, Finland Tvärminne Zoological Station, University of Helsinki, Hanko 10900, Finland Centre of Excellence in Biological Interactions, University of Jyväskylä, Jyväskylä 40014, Finland dalial.freitak@helsinki.fi.
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D
Freitak
Centre of Excellence in Biological Interactions, University of Helsinki, Helsinki 00014, Finland Tvärminne Zoological Station, University of Helsinki, Hanko 10900, Finland.
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Bos
Centre of Excellence in Biological Interactions, University of Helsinki, Helsinki 00014, Finland Tvärminne Zoological Station, University of Helsinki, Hanko 10900, Finland.
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D
Stucki
Centre of Excellence in Biological Interactions, University of Helsinki, Helsinki 00014, Finland Tvärminne Zoological Station, University of Helsinki, Hanko 10900, Finland.
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L
Sundström
D000818:Animals; D001000:Ants / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology; D004032:Diet; D005609:Free Radicals / Q000378:metabolism; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D007113:Immunity, Innate; D007178:Inbreeding; D019476:Insect Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D008136:Longevity; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D013312:Stress, Physiological
D005609:Free Radicals; D019476:Insect Proteins
Formica exsecta; diet; immunity; inbreeding; reactive oxygen species; trade-offs