No Effect of Host Species on Phenoloxidase Activity in a Mycophagous Beetle

摘要: Ecological immunology is an interdisciplinary field that helps elucidate interactions between the environment and immune response. The host species individuals experience have profound effects on response in many of insects. However, this conclusion comes from studies herbivorous insects even though mycophagous also inhabit different species. goal study was to determine if fungal as well individual, sex, body size, patch predict one aspect function, phenoloxidase activity (PO). We sampled a metapopulation Bolitotherus cornutus, beetle southwestern Virginia. B. cornutus live three fungus differ nutritional quality, social environment, density. A filter paper assay used quantify activity. Overall, PO significantly repeatable among (0.57) adult cornutus. While there significant variance activity, were surprisingly no differences subpopulations, beetles living species, or sexes; effect size. Our results suggest other factors such age, genotype, disease prevalence, natal may be generating