Differential immunity as a factor influencing mussel hybrid zone structure

摘要: Interspecific hybridisation can alter fitness-related traits, including the response to pathogens, yet immunity is rarely investigated as a potential driver of hybrid zone dynamics, particularly in invertebrates. We immune mussels from sympatric population at Croyde Bay, within Mytilus edulis and galloprovincialis Southwest England. The site characterised by size-dependent variation genotype frequencies, with higher frequency M. alleles large mussels, largely attributed selective mortality favour genotype. To determine if differences may contribute this we assessed two pure species their hybrids phagocytic abilities when subject challenge measure immunocompetence measured metabolic cost mounting an antigen-stimulated response. Mussels identified had greater lower compared edulis. intermediate values for both parameters, providing no evidence heterosis but suggesting that increased susceptibility be results indicate phenotypic face pathogenic infection, which contributing factor differential galloprovincialis, frequencies associated contact zone. propose European mussel dynamics.