Abstract
Environmental variation strongly influences individual life histories, behavior, and immunity. For many animals living in non-tropical regions, environmental variation due to season is very important and can be reliably predicted by photoperiod. By manipulating the pre- and post-natal photoperiod for cavies (Cavia aperea), we simulated different birth seasons that go along with predictable differences in life history. Offspring born into simulated spring conditions mature earlier, indicating a fast pace of life compared to offspring born into simulated fall. We investigated the development of two innate (titers of natural antibodies and complement) and one adaptive (immunoglobulin G) immune effectors across multiple life stages. In addition, we tested if three behaviors, indicating risk-taking and stress-coping, differed between seasons. Finally, we tested if behaviors and immune traits correlate with each other as predicted by the pace-of-life syndrome hypothesis. The season of birth influenced average trait expression of both immunity and behavior. Boldness, indicating risk-taking behavior, correlated positively with the titers of natural antibodies, fitting the predictions of the pace-of-life syndrome (POLS). However, fearlessness, indicating how an individual copes with a stressful situation, correlated positively with immunoglobulin G concentrations, against the predictions of the POLS. Together, our results show that behaviors and immune traits react to differences in expected life histories, but do not show the predicted covariation. We conclude that proximate mechanisms and different functions of traits need to be considered to predict the nature of behavior-immune associations.
Significance statement
Individual life histories, behavior, and immunity are strongly influenced by the environment individual’s experience during early life. Recent theory predicts correlations between behavior and immunity to arise as a consequence of different life histories. By simulating different birth seasons, we induced different life history expectations as well as a season-dependent development of immunity and behavior. However, correlations between behavior and immunity do not fit theoretical predictions, highlighting the need for more detailed theory.
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Acknowledgments
We are grateful to the animal keepers who took care of the cavies and to Katja Pohle for her help during laboratory analysis. We would like to thank two anonymous referees for their valuable comments on the manuscript.
Funding
This research was supported by funds from the DFG (Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (FOR1232, TR105/22-2)) and the Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research Berlin.
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All applicable international, national, and institutional guidelines for the care and use of animals were followed. All procedures involving animals were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institution at which the studies were conducted. Animal facilities were approved (dated 18 April 2002) for keeping and breeding cavies for research purposes by the local government authority responsible for health, veterinary, and food monitoring (Gesundheits-, Veterinär-, und Lebensmittelüberwachungsamt). The experiments were performed under license 84-02.05.20.12.246 LANUV, NRW, Germany.
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Guenther, A., Trillmich, F. & Czirják, G.Á. Seasonal effects on behavior and immunity in a precocial rodent. Behav Ecol Sociobiol 72, 115 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00265-018-2513-7
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00265-018-2513-7