Thermal sensitivity of immune function: Evidence against a generalist-specialist trade-dff among endothermic and ectothermic vertebrates

Butler, Michael W.; Davies, S.; Davis, J.; Johnson, N.; Guillette, L. J.; DeNardo, D. F.; McCormick, S. D.; Ardia, D. R.; McGraw, K. J.; Stahlschmidt, Z. R.

Thermal sensitivity of immune function: Evidence against a generalist-specialist trade-dff among endothermic and ectothermic vertebrates

Abstract

Animal body temperature (T-body) varies over daily and annual cycles, affecting multiple aspects of biological performance in both endothermic and ectothermic animals. Yet a comprehensive comparison of thermal performance among animals varying in T-body (mean and variance) and heat production is lacking. Thus, we examined the thermal sensitivity of immune function (a crucial fitness determinant) in Vertebrata, a group encompassing species of varying thermal biology. Specifically, we investigated temperature-related variation in two innate immune performance metrics, hemagglutination and hemolysis, for 13 species across all seven major vertebrate clades. Agglutination and lysis were temperature dependent and were more strongly related to the thermal biology of species (e.g., mean T-body) than to the phylogenetic relatedness of species, although these relationships were complex and frequently surprising (e.g., heterotherms did not exhibit broader thermal performance curves than homeotherms). Agglutination and lysis performance were positively correlated within species, except in taxa that produce squalamine, a steroidal antibiotic that does not lyse red blood cells. Interestingly, we found the antithesis of a generalist-specialist trade-off: species with broader temperature ranges of immune performance also had higher peak performance levels. In sum, we have uncovered thermal sensitivity of immune performance in both endotherms and ectotherms, highlighting the role that temperature and life history play in immune function across Vertebrata.

Title	Thermal sensitivity of immune function: Evidence against a generalist-specialist trade-dff among endothermic and ectothermic vertebrates
Creator	Butler, Michael W.
	Davies, S.
	Davis, J.
	Johnson, N.
	Guillette, L. J.
	DeNardo, D. F.
	McCormick, S. D.
	Ardia, D. R.
	McGraw, K. J.
	Stahlschmidt, Z. R.
Publisher	American Naturalist
Academic Department	Biology
Division	Natural Sciences
Organization	Lafayette College
Date Issued	June 2013
Date Available	2014-06-04T17:43:44Z
Type	Article
Language	English
Keyword	thermal performance curves
	Vertebrata
	temperature dependence
	innate immunity
	hemagglutination
	hemolysis
Bibliographic Citation	Butler, M. W., et al. (2013 June) "Thermal sensitivity of immune function: Evidence against a generalist-specialist trade-dff among endothermic and ectothermic vertebrates." American Naturalist 181 (6): 761-774.
Standard Identifier	DOI 10.1086/670191
Standard Identifier	Handle 10385/1457
Permalink	http://hdl.handle.net/10385/1457
Rights Statement	In Copyright
Rights Holders	The University of Chicago