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Behavioral Ecology Advance Access published online on October 6, 2004
Behavioral Ecology, doi:10.1093/beheco/arh168
© 2004 by International Society for Behavioral Ecology
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Received February 13, 2004
Revised July 12, 2004
Accepted September 10, 2004

Article

Female choice and male humoral immune response in the lekking great snipe (Gallinago media)

Robert Ekblom 1*, Stein Are Sæther 2, Dennis Hasselquist 3, David Hannersjö 4, Peder Fiske 5, John Atle Kålås 5, and Jacob Höglund 1

1 Population Biology/Evolutionary Biology Centre, Uppsala University, Norbyv.18D, SE-752 36 Uppsala, Sweden
2 Population Biology/Evolutionary Biology Centre, Uppsala University, Norbyv.18D, SE-752 36 Uppsala, Sweden; Evolutionary Biology/Evolutionary Biology Centre, Uppsala University, Norbyv.18D, SE-752 36 Uppsala, Sweden
3 Animal Ecology, Ecology Building, Lund University, Sölvegatan 37, SE-223 62 Lund, Sweden
4 Population Biology/Evolutionary Biology Centre, Uppsala University, Norbyv.18D, SE-752 36 Uppsala, Sweden; Department of Aquaculture, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, SE-901 83 Umeå, Sweden
5 Norwegian Institute for Nature Research, Tungasletta 2, N-7485, Trondheim, Norway

* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: robert.ekblom{at}ebc.uu.se.


  Abstract

Parasites and diseases constitute major evolutionary forces in many natural populations, and thus having an efficient immune defense to resist infections is crucial for many organisms. Properties of the immune response may also influence mate choice decisions in many animals. Theory predicts several advantages for females when choosing males with superior immune systems. These benefits can be both direct (e.g. increased paternal care and reduced disease transmission) and indirect (good genes). We have investigated female choice with respect to antibody response to two novel antigens in males of a lekking bird, the great snipe (Gallinago media). Because of the lek mating system, female choice probably mainly incurs indirect (genetic) rather than direct benefits. Males responded to vaccination with diphtheria and tetanus toxoids by producing specific antibodies to both antigens. Triggering the immune system had no negative impact on display activities or survival. Males that were chosen by females as mates had on average higher antibody response to the tetanus antigen than their neighbors. We did not, however, find any covariance between the strength of the antibody response and male mating success.

Keywords: bird; ELISA; humoral immunocompetence; lek; mate choice.
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