English (United Kingdom)

https://curated-unify.zendy.io/wp-json/zendy-region/v1/featured_content/oa?rat=en

https://curated-unify.zendy.io/wp-json/zendy-region/v1/highlighted_journal/

Global: Zendy Plus annual

Presents the access of premium content as premium feature

Premium Content

Presents the keyphrase highlighting as premium feature

Keyphrase Highlighting

Presents the summarisation as premium feature

Summarisation

Insights

Presents the pdf analysis as premium feature

PDF Analysis

Presents the zaia usage as premium feature

ZAIA

Global: Zendy Plus monthly

Global: Zendy Tools annual

Global: Zendy Tools monthly

Global: Zendy Free Plan

Predation risk is thought to modify prey's physiology mainly through the stress response. However, little is known about its potential effects on the immunity of animals, particularly in young individuals, despite the importance to overcome wounding and pathogen aggression following a predator attack. We investigated the effect of four progressive levels of nest predation risk on several components of the immune system in common blackbird (Turdus merula) nestlings by presenting them with four different calls during 1h: non-predator calls, predator calls, parental alarm calls and conspecific distress calls to induce a null, moderate, high and extreme level of risk, respectively. Nest predation risk induced an increase in ovotransferrin, immunoglobulin (IgY) and the number of lymphocytes and eosinophils. Thus, the perception of a potential predator per se could stimulate the mobilization of a nestling's immune function and prepare the organism to rapidly respond to the immune stimuli imposed by a predator attack. Interestingly, only high and extreme levels of risk caused immunological changes, suggesting that different immunological parameters are modulated according to the perceived level of threat. We also found a mediator role of parasites (i.e. Leucocytozoon) and the current health status of the individual as only nestlings not parasitized or in good body condition were able to modify their immune system. This study highlights a previously unknown link between predation risk and immunity, emphasizing the complex relationship among several selective pressures (predation, parasitism) on developing organisms and accentuating the importance of studying predation from a physiological point of view.

Nest predation risk modifies nestlings’ immune function depending on the level of threat