Parasitism, immune response and reproductive success in the house martin Delichonurbica.

摘要: Parasites often exert strong selection pressures on their hosts that have evolved anti-parasite defences to counter the negative effects of parasites. We studied relationship between intensity parasitism, one aspect host immune response, and reproductive success, using house martin bug Oeciacushirundinis its Delichonurbica as a model system. Experimental manipulation parasite load nests during laying first clutch altered parasitism. reduced success measured in terms body condition survival nestlings. Host concentration gammaglobulins total plasma proteins, was positively associated with reproduction, estimated number juvenile parasites, but only weakly related adult The negatively nestling mass, implying trade-off function condition. Parasite reproduction thus exerts cost by increasing response.