in the repository
URN to cite this document: urn:nbn:de:bvb:703-epub-9558-4
Title data
Müller, Leon ; Cherpion, Laura ; Körner, Maximilian:
Offspring Dependency Is Not Reflected in the Social Immunity of Three Burying Beetle Species.
In: Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata.
Vol. 174
(2026)
Issue 7
.
- pp. 625-638.
ISSN 1570-7458
DOI der Verlagsversion: https://doi.org/10.1111/eea.70109
![[thumbnail of Entomologia Exp Applicata - 2026 - Müller - Offspring Dependency Is Not Reflected in the Social Immunity of Three Burying.pdf]](https://epub.uni-bayreuth.de/style/images/fileicons/application_pdf.png) |
|
||||||||
|
Download (1MB)
|
Project information
| Project title: |
Project's official title Project's id Die Rolle von sozialen und nicht-sozialen Umgebungsparametern auf Immunantworten von Nachkommen: Implikationen für die Evolution von Familienleben in Insekten 531480526 Open Access Publizieren No information |
|---|---|
| Project financing: |
Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft |
Abstract
Offspring dependency on parental care varies significantly across species, often driven by parental food provisioning and protection from predation. However, an often-overlooked factor is protection against pathogens through the exhibition of social immunity. However, if and how parental protection from microbial pressure shapes and scales with offspring dependency remains poorly understood. Here, we investigate both personal and social immunity in three species of Nicrophorus burying beetles—a model system known for elaborate parental care and social immunity. These species differ markedly in their offspring's ability to survive without parental care, ranging from independence to complete dependence on post-hatching care. We measured personal and social immunity in adult female and male beetles before, during, and outside of reproductive bouts. Our results show that species with more dependent offspring do not necessarily invest more heavily in social immunity, whereas reproductive state affected immunity differently across species. These findings emphasize the complexity of parent-offspring coadaptation, and the need for further study of the evolutionary trajectory from facultative to obligate family associations.
Further data
| Item Type: | Article in a journal |
|---|---|
| DDC Subjects: | 500 Science > 500 Natural sciences 500 Science > 590 Animals (Zoology) |
| Institutions of the University: | Faculties > Faculty of Biology, Chemistry and Earth Sciences > Department of Biology > Chair Animal Ecology II - Evolutionary Animal Ecology > Chair Animal Ecology II - Evolutionary Animal Ecology - Univ.-Prof. Dr. Sandra Steiger Faculties Faculties > Faculty of Biology, Chemistry and Earth Sciences Faculties > Faculty of Biology, Chemistry and Earth Sciences > Department of Biology Faculties > Faculty of Biology, Chemistry and Earth Sciences > Department of Biology > Chair Animal Ecology II - Evolutionary Animal Ecology |
| Language: | English |
| Originates at UBT: | Yes |
| URN: | urn:nbn:de:bvb:703-epub-9558-4 |
| Date Deposited: | 31 Jul 2026 12:46 |
| Last Modified: | 31 Jul 2026 12:47 |
| URI: | https://epub.uni-bayreuth.de/id/eprint/9558 |
Download Statistics