Effects of Ingested Secondary Metabolites on the Immune Response of a Polyphagous Caterpillar <Emphasis Type="Italic">Grammia incorrupta</Emphasis> |
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Authors: | Angela M Smilanich Jessica Vargas Lee A Dyer M Deane Bowers |
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Affiliation: | (1) Department of Biology, University of Nevada, Reno, 1664 N. Virginia St., Reno, NV 89557, USA;(2) Museum and Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, University of Colorado, 334 UCB, Boulder, CO 80309, USA |
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Abstract: | We considered the effects of plant secondary metabolites on the immune response, a key physiological defense of herbivores
against pathogens and parasitoids. We tested the effect of host plant species and ingested iridoid glycosides on the immune
response of the grazing, polyphagous caterpillar, Grammia incorrupta (Arctiidae). Individuals of G. incorrupta were fed either one of three plant diets with varying secondary metabolites, or an artificial diet with high or low concentrations
of iridoid glycosides. An immune challenge was presented, followed by measurement of the encapsulation response. We failed
to detect a significant difference in the immune response of G. incorrupta feeding on diets with varying concentrations of iridoid glycosides, or feeding on different host plants. However, the immune
response was lower in caterpillars consuming the artificial diet compared to those consuming the plant diets. When caterpillar
performance was measured, pupal weights were lower when caterpillars ingested high concentrations of iridoid glycosides due
to a decrease in feeding efficiency. Overall, individuals of G. incorrupta that consumed different plant diets exhibited a high immune response with low variation. We conclude that the immune response
of G. incorrupta is adapted to feeding on a variety of plants, which may contribute to the maintenance of this caterpillar’s polyphagous habit. |
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