Genetic covariance between indices of body condition and immunocompetence in a passerine bird |
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Authors: | Deborah?J?Gleeson Mark?W?Blows Email author" target="_blank">Ian?PF?OwensEmail author |
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Institution: | (1) School of Integrative Biology, University of Queensland, St Lucia, 4072 Brisbane, Queensland, Australia;(2) Division of Biology and NERC Centre for Population Biology, Imperial College London, Silwood Park, SL5 7PY Ascot, Berkshire, UK |
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Abstract: | Background Condition-dependence is a ubiquitous feature of animal life histories and has important implications for both natural and
sexual selection. Mate choice, for instance, is typically based on condition-dependent signals. Theory predicts that one reason
why condition-dependent signals may be special is that they allow females to scan for genes that confer high parasite resistance.
Such explanations require a genetic link between immunocompetence and body condition, but existing evidence is limited to
phenotypic associations. It remains unknown, therefore, whether females selecting males with good body condition simply obtain
a healthy mate, or if they acquire genes for their offspring that confer high immunocompetence. |
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Keywords: | |
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