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Immune components in eggs of New World blackbirds

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By Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center June 21, 2018

Interest in the immune systems of wild birds has increased as public health authorities have recognized that many emerging infectious diseases of wildlife can be transmitted to humans (i.e., zoonoses). Eco-immunology is an emerging field that characterizes how immune adaptations of wild species vary as a result of evolution in different habitats and niches. Present understanding of the influence of specific life-history traits and habitat on wild bird immune investment is rudimentary, and few studies have compared multiple immunological parameters of related wild bird species. In collaboration with Creighton University and the Departamento de Recursos Naturales y Ambientales de Puerto Rico, NPWRC is comparing passive immune components of six songbird species in a single taxonomic family, New World blackbirds (Icteridae), including two obligate brood parasites. Information from this research will be used to evaluate how the observed differences in immune components in eggs of different species may be related to divergence in life-history traits and ecological niches.

Below are publications associated with this project.

Do life history traits influence patterns of maternal immune elements in New World blackbirds (Icteridae)?

Avian immunology developed originally by investigating domesticated poultry species (Galliformes), but in recent decades eco-immunological studies of wild bird species have revealed that avian immune systems are more diverse than initially assumed. This study compares six immunological elements in eggs of six species within the same family, the New World blackbirds (Icteridae),whose members differ
Authors
Carol Fassbinder-Orth, Lawrence D. Igl, D. Caldwell Hahn, Kelsey M. Watts, Travis Wilcoxon, Katsí Ramos-Álvarez
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Eastern Ecological Science Center, Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center

Inter-species variation in yolk steroid levels and a cowbird-host comparison

We examined variability in yolk hormone levels among songbird species and the role of yolk steroids as a mechanism for enhanced exploitation of hosts by the parasitic Brown-headed Cowbird Molothrus ater. Within-clutch variation in yolk steroids has been found in several avian species in single species studies, but few comparisons have been made among species. We found a large range of differences
Authors
D. Caldwell Hahn, Jeffrey S. Hatfield, Mahmoud A. Abdelnabi, Julie M. Wu, Lawrence D. Igl, Mary A. Ottinger
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Eastern Ecological Science Center, Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center

Interest in the immune systems of wild birds has increased as public health authorities have recognized that many emerging infectious diseases of wildlife can be transmitted to humans (i.e., zoonoses). Eco-immunology is an emerging field that characterizes how immune adaptations of wild species vary as a result of evolution in different habitats and niches. Present understanding of the influence of specific life-history traits and habitat on wild bird immune investment is rudimentary, and few studies have compared multiple immunological parameters of related wild bird species. In collaboration with Creighton University and the Departamento de Recursos Naturales y Ambientales de Puerto Rico, NPWRC is comparing passive immune components of six songbird species in a single taxonomic family, New World blackbirds (Icteridae), including two obligate brood parasites. Information from this research will be used to evaluate how the observed differences in immune components in eggs of different species may be related to divergence in life-history traits and ecological niches.

Below are publications associated with this project.

Do life history traits influence patterns of maternal immune elements in New World blackbirds (Icteridae)?

Avian immunology developed originally by investigating domesticated poultry species (Galliformes), but in recent decades eco-immunological studies of wild bird species have revealed that avian immune systems are more diverse than initially assumed. This study compares six immunological elements in eggs of six species within the same family, the New World blackbirds (Icteridae),whose members differ
Authors
Carol Fassbinder-Orth, Lawrence D. Igl, D. Caldwell Hahn, Kelsey M. Watts, Travis Wilcoxon, Katsí Ramos-Álvarez
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Eastern Ecological Science Center, Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center

Inter-species variation in yolk steroid levels and a cowbird-host comparison

We examined variability in yolk hormone levels among songbird species and the role of yolk steroids as a mechanism for enhanced exploitation of hosts by the parasitic Brown-headed Cowbird Molothrus ater. Within-clutch variation in yolk steroids has been found in several avian species in single species studies, but few comparisons have been made among species. We found a large range of differences
Authors
D. Caldwell Hahn, Jeffrey S. Hatfield, Mahmoud A. Abdelnabi, Julie M. Wu, Lawrence D. Igl, Mary A. Ottinger
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Eastern Ecological Science Center, Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center
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