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Rapid evolution of phenoloxidase expression, a component of innate immune function, in a natural population of Daphnia magna
Author(s) -
Pauwels Kevin,
De Meester Luc,
Put Stéphanie,
Decaestecker Ellen,
Decaestecker Ellen,
Stoks Robby
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
limnology and oceanography
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.7
H-Index - 197
eISSN - 1939-5590
pISSN - 0024-3590
DOI - 10.4319/lo.2010.55.3.1408
Subject(s) - daphnia magna , biology , daphnia , innate immune system , population , zoology , microevolution , invertebrate , natural population growth , ecology , branchiopoda , immune system , cladocera , crustacean , immunology , toxicity , chemistry , demography , organic chemistry , sociology
We show rapid microevolution of one component of invertebrate innate immunity, phenoloxidase activity, in a natural population of the water flea Daphnia magna . In Daphnia hatched out of different depths of a sediment core, levels of Daphnia phenoloxidase activity showed genetic variation and increased significantly in less than a decade. We discuss this increase in Daphnia immunity over time in the light of coinciding changes in predator and parasite environment. Together with earlier‐found microevolutionary responses in stress protein expression of this Daphnia population, we find simultaneous changes of different defense systems in response towards multiple enemies.