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Ontogenetic changes in innate immune function in captive and wild subspecies of prairie‐chickens ( Tympanuchus cupido spp. )
Author(s) -
Meier Samuel A.,
FassbinderOrth Carol A.,
Karasov William H.
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
the journal of wildlife management
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.94
H-Index - 111
eISSN - 1937-2817
pISSN - 0022-541X
DOI - 10.1002/jwmg.487
Subject(s) - biology , subspecies , grouse , juvenile , zoology , galliformes , endangered species , wildlife , ecology , habitat
The Attwater's prairie‐chicken ( Tympanuchus cupido attwateri ), a federally endangered grouse species, is currently experiencing high chick mortality in wild populations and the causes are unknown. We tested 3 indicators of innate immunity (hemaggluttination, serum lysozyme, and total immunoglobulin [IgY] levels) in the Attwater's prairie‐chicken and a closely related sub‐species, the greater prairie‐chicken ( Tympanuchus cupido pinnatus ). Agglutination titers were approximately 25% higher in the juvenile and adult Attwater's prairie‐chickens compared to equivalently aged greater prairie‐chickens. Additionally, total IgY levels in wild‐collected Attwater's prairie‐chicken egg samples were 34% higher than IgY levels in captive greater prairie‐chickens or Attwater's prairie‐chicken eggs. These results suggest that differences in innate immune function exist between these sub‐species and also among Attwater's prairie‐chicken subpopulations that are exposed to different environmental conditions. © 2012 The Wildlife Society.