Condition-Dependent Trade-Off Between Weapon Size and Immunity in Males of the European Earwig

Sci Rep. 2017 Aug 11;7(1):7988. doi: 10.1038/s41598-017-08339-6.

Abstract

Investigating the expression of trade-offs between key life-history functions is central to our understanding of how these functions evolved and are maintained. However, detecting trade-offs can be challenging due to variation in resource availability, which masks trade-offs at the population level. Here, we investigated in the European earwig Forficula auricularia whether (1) weapon size trades off with three key immune parameters - hemocyte concentration, phenoloxidase and prophenoloxidase activity - and whether (2) expression and strength of these trade-offs depend on male body condition (body size) and/or change after an immune challenge. Our results partially confirmed condition dependent trade-offs between weapon size and immunity in male earwigs. Specifically, we found that after an immune challenge, weapon size trades off with hemocyte concentrations in low-condition, but not in good-condition males. Contrastingly, weapon size was independent of pre-challenge hemocyte concentration. We also found no trade-off between weapon size and phenoloxidase activity, independent of body condition and immune challenge. Overall, our study reveals that trade-offs with sexual traits may weaken or disappear in good-condition individuals. Given the importance of weapon size for male reproductive success, our results highlight how low-condition individuals may employ alternative life-history investment strategies to cope with resource limitation.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Body Size
  • Hemocytes / cytology
  • Immunity / genetics
  • Insect Proteins / metabolism
  • Insecta / anatomy & histology
  • Insecta / genetics*
  • Insecta / immunology
  • Life History Traits*
  • Male
  • Monophenol Monooxygenase / metabolism
  • Sex Characteristics

Substances

  • Insect Proteins
  • Monophenol Monooxygenase