MHC Reflects Fine-Scale Habitat Structure in White-Tailed Eagles, Haliaeetus albicilla

Abstract

The major histocompatibility complex (MHC) genes code for key immune receptors responsible for recognition of intra- and extracellular pathogens (MHC class I and class II, respectively). It was hypothesized that MHC polymorphism can be maintained via fluctuating selection resulting from between-habitat variation in pathogen regimes. We examined associations between MHC class I and class II genes and habitat structure in an apex avian predator, the white-tailed eagle, Haliaeetus albicilla. We genotyped MHC class I and class II genes in ca. 150 white-tailed eagle chicks from nearly 100 nesting territories distributed across 3 distinct populations in Poland. Habitat structure was quantified at the level of foraging territories and directly at the nest sites. We found strong support for associations of habitat traits with diversity and allelic composition at the MHC class II. Forest area within territory and forest productivity were identified as the major habitat predictors of MHC class II polymorphism, whereas other habitat traits (distance to nearest open water, grassland, and water area within territory or understory presence) showed fewer associations with class II alleles. In contrast, there was little support for associations between MHC class I genes and habitat structure. All significant associations were apparent at the within-population level rather than between populations. Our results suggest that extracellular (rather than intracellular) pathogens may exert much stronger selective pressure on the white-tailed eagle. Associations of habitat structure with MHC class II may reflect fluctuating (balancing) selection, which maintains MHC diversity within populations.

Keywords: birds; fluctuating selection; habitat; major histocompatibility complex; population divergence; white-tailed eagle.