Urbanization enhances body condition, but not innate immune defences, in a common waterbird
There is a growing body of evidence that urbanization can affect body condition and immune function in wild birds, although these effects may be complex and taxa-specific. Here, we assessed the effects of urbanization on body condition (size-corrected body mass and haemoglobin concentration) and inn...
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| Language: | English |
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The Royal Society
2025-01-01
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| Series: | Royal Society Open Science |
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| Online Access: | https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rsos.241062 |
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| author | Amelia Chyb Kevin D. Matson Radosław Włodarczyk Joanna Drzewińska-Chańko Piotr Minias |
| author_facet | Amelia Chyb Kevin D. Matson Radosław Włodarczyk Joanna Drzewińska-Chańko Piotr Minias |
| author_sort | Amelia Chyb |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | There is a growing body of evidence that urbanization can affect body condition and immune function in wild birds, although these effects may be complex and taxa-specific. Here, we assessed the effects of urbanization on body condition (size-corrected body mass and haemoglobin concentration) and innate immune defences (haemolysis–haemagglutination assay, haptoglobin concentration and bacterial killing assay) in 136 Eurasian coots (Fulica atra) from three urban and three non-urban populations across Poland. We also quantified the heterophil to lymphocyte ratio to control for the potential effect of physiological stress on immune defences. We found that urban coots showed significantly better condition than non-urban ones. At the same time, we found no relationship between any immune defence and urbanization or condition. Thus, our study offers no support for condition-dependent immune function. Our analyses also revealed significant differences between male and female coots in both condition and immune defences; however, we found no evidence for sex-specific responses to urbanization. In conclusion, our study provides correlative evidence that urban habitat enhances condition, but not immune defences in the Eurasian coot. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-1962577ad0a3491f986809ad314f4610 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2054-5703 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | The Royal Society |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Royal Society Open Science |
| spelling | doaj-art-1962577ad0a3491f986809ad314f46102025-01-15T00:06:00ZengThe Royal SocietyRoyal Society Open Science2054-57032025-01-0112110.1098/rsos.241062Urbanization enhances body condition, but not innate immune defences, in a common waterbirdAmelia Chyb0Kevin D. Matson1Radosław Włodarczyk2Joanna Drzewińska-Chańko3Piotr Minias4Department of Biodiversity Studies and Bioeducation, University of Lodz, Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, Banacha 1/3, Lodz 90-237, PolandWildlife Ecology and Conservation Group, Wageningen University & Research, Droevendaalsesteeg 3a, Wageningen 6708PB, The NetherlandsDepartment of Biodiversity Studies and Bioeducation, University of Lodz, Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, Banacha 1/3, Lodz 90-237, PolandDepartment of Biodiversity Studies and Bioeducation, University of Lodz, Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, Banacha 1/3, Lodz 90-237, PolandDepartment of Biodiversity Studies and Bioeducation, University of Lodz, Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, Banacha 1/3, Lodz 90-237, PolandThere is a growing body of evidence that urbanization can affect body condition and immune function in wild birds, although these effects may be complex and taxa-specific. Here, we assessed the effects of urbanization on body condition (size-corrected body mass and haemoglobin concentration) and innate immune defences (haemolysis–haemagglutination assay, haptoglobin concentration and bacterial killing assay) in 136 Eurasian coots (Fulica atra) from three urban and three non-urban populations across Poland. We also quantified the heterophil to lymphocyte ratio to control for the potential effect of physiological stress on immune defences. We found that urban coots showed significantly better condition than non-urban ones. At the same time, we found no relationship between any immune defence and urbanization or condition. Thus, our study offers no support for condition-dependent immune function. Our analyses also revealed significant differences between male and female coots in both condition and immune defences; however, we found no evidence for sex-specific responses to urbanization. In conclusion, our study provides correlative evidence that urban habitat enhances condition, but not immune defences in the Eurasian coot.https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rsos.241062innate immunityEurasian cootbirdsurban-ruralhealth |
| spellingShingle | Amelia Chyb Kevin D. Matson Radosław Włodarczyk Joanna Drzewińska-Chańko Piotr Minias Urbanization enhances body condition, but not innate immune defences, in a common waterbird Royal Society Open Science innate immunity Eurasian coot birds urban-rural health |
| title | Urbanization enhances body condition, but not innate immune defences, in a common waterbird |
| title_full | Urbanization enhances body condition, but not innate immune defences, in a common waterbird |
| title_fullStr | Urbanization enhances body condition, but not innate immune defences, in a common waterbird |
| title_full_unstemmed | Urbanization enhances body condition, but not innate immune defences, in a common waterbird |
| title_short | Urbanization enhances body condition, but not innate immune defences, in a common waterbird |
| title_sort | urbanization enhances body condition but not innate immune defences in a common waterbird |
| topic | innate immunity Eurasian coot birds urban-rural health |
| url | https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rsos.241062 |
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