Maternal Antibody Transmission in Relation to Mother Fluctuating Asymmetry in a Long-Lived Colonial Seabird: The Yellow-Legged Gull Larus michahellis

摘要: Female birds transfer antibodies to their offspring via the egg yolk, thus possibly providing passive immunity against infectious diseases which hatchlings may be exposed, thereby affecting fitness. It is nonetheless unclear whether amount of maternal transmitted into yolks varies with female quality and laying order. In this paper, we investigated type A influenza viruses (anti-AIV antibodies) by a long-lived colonial seabird, yellow-legged gull (Larus michahellis), in relation fluctuating asymmetry females, i.e. random deviation from perfect symmetry bilaterally symmetric morphological anatomical traits. particular, tested females greater fewer eggs, within-clutch variation yolk varied according level asymmetry. We found that asymmetric were worse physical condition, produced antibodies, lower amounts eggs. also that, within given clutch, antibody decreased order, but order effect was more pronounced clutches laid females. Overall, our results support hypothesis interacts determining yolks. They highlight usefulness as sensitive indicator immunocompetence birds.