Abstract
Handicap models link the evolution of secondary sexual ornaments to physiological costs and thus provide a mechanistic explanation for signal honesty in sexual selection. Two commonly invoked models, the immunocompetence handicap hypothesis (ICHH) and the oxidative stress handicap hypothesis (OSHH), propose suppression of immunocompetence or increase of oxidative stress by testosterone, but empirical evidence for both models is controversial and based on morphological and physiological assays. Here, we investigated these two models on the gene transcription level using microarrays to quantify the transcriptomic response of red grouse (Lagopus lagopus scoticus) caecal, spleen and liver tissues to experimental manipulation of testosterone levels. We used a geneontology framework to identify genes related to immune function and response to reactive oxygen species and examined how transcription levels changed under experimentally increased testosterone levels in birds with parasites present or absent. Contrary to our expectations, testosterone had virtually no effect on gene transcription in spleen and liver. A small number of genes were significantly differentially regulated in caecum, and while their functions and transcription changes are consistent with the ICHH, we found little support for the OSHH. More genes responded to testosterone in the presence rather than absence of parasites, suggesting that handicap mechanisms may be context dependent and more pronounced in the presence of adverse environmental conditions. These findings illustrate the utility of transcriptomics to investigating handicap models, suggest that classic models may not underlie the handicap mechanism, and indicate that novel emerging models involving different mediators and physiological systems should be examined.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 221-234 |
| Number of pages | 14 |
| Journal | Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology |
| Volume | 67 |
| Issue number | 2 |
| Early online date | 8 Nov 2012 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Feb 2013 |
Keywords
- sexual selection
- immunocompetence handicap hypothesis
- ICHH
- oxidative stress handicap hypothesis
- OSHH
- transcriptomics
- lagopus-lagopus-scoticus
- male red grouse
- coloration predicts resistance
- condition-dependent traits
- Juncos Junco-hyemalis
- false discovery rate
- host immune function
- male house sparrows
- immunocompetence handicap
- oxidative stress
Cite this
A transcriptomic investigation of handicap models in sexual selection. / Wenzel, Marius Alexander; Webster, Lucy M. I.; Paterson, Steve; Mougeot, Francois; Martinez-Padilla, Jesus; Piertney, Stuart B.
In: Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology, Vol. 67, No. 2, 02.2013, p. 221-234.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - A transcriptomic investigation of handicap models in sexual selection
AU - Wenzel, Marius Alexander
AU - Webster, Lucy M. I.
AU - Paterson, Steve
AU - Mougeot, Francois
AU - Martinez-Padilla, Jesus
AU - Piertney, Stuart B.
N1 - We are grateful to D. Calder and T. Helps for access to study sites, and G. Murray-Dickson and M. Oliver for help with fieldwork and comments on manuscript drafts. This work was funded by NERC grant NE/D000602/1 (SBP), a NERC advanced fellowship (FM) and a BBSRC studentship (MAW)
PY - 2013/2
Y1 - 2013/2
N2 - Handicap models link the evolution of secondary sexual ornaments to physiological costs and thus provide a mechanistic explanation for signal honesty in sexual selection. Two commonly invoked models, the immunocompetence handicap hypothesis (ICHH) and the oxidative stress handicap hypothesis (OSHH), propose suppression of immunocompetence or increase of oxidative stress by testosterone, but empirical evidence for both models is controversial and based on morphological and physiological assays. Here, we investigated these two models on the gene transcription level using microarrays to quantify the transcriptomic response of red grouse (Lagopus lagopus scoticus) caecal, spleen and liver tissues to experimental manipulation of testosterone levels. We used a geneontology framework to identify genes related to immune function and response to reactive oxygen species and examined how transcription levels changed under experimentally increased testosterone levels in birds with parasites present or absent. Contrary to our expectations, testosterone had virtually no effect on gene transcription in spleen and liver. A small number of genes were significantly differentially regulated in caecum, and while their functions and transcription changes are consistent with the ICHH, we found little support for the OSHH. More genes responded to testosterone in the presence rather than absence of parasites, suggesting that handicap mechanisms may be context dependent and more pronounced in the presence of adverse environmental conditions. These findings illustrate the utility of transcriptomics to investigating handicap models, suggest that classic models may not underlie the handicap mechanism, and indicate that novel emerging models involving different mediators and physiological systems should be examined.
AB - Handicap models link the evolution of secondary sexual ornaments to physiological costs and thus provide a mechanistic explanation for signal honesty in sexual selection. Two commonly invoked models, the immunocompetence handicap hypothesis (ICHH) and the oxidative stress handicap hypothesis (OSHH), propose suppression of immunocompetence or increase of oxidative stress by testosterone, but empirical evidence for both models is controversial and based on morphological and physiological assays. Here, we investigated these two models on the gene transcription level using microarrays to quantify the transcriptomic response of red grouse (Lagopus lagopus scoticus) caecal, spleen and liver tissues to experimental manipulation of testosterone levels. We used a geneontology framework to identify genes related to immune function and response to reactive oxygen species and examined how transcription levels changed under experimentally increased testosterone levels in birds with parasites present or absent. Contrary to our expectations, testosterone had virtually no effect on gene transcription in spleen and liver. A small number of genes were significantly differentially regulated in caecum, and while their functions and transcription changes are consistent with the ICHH, we found little support for the OSHH. More genes responded to testosterone in the presence rather than absence of parasites, suggesting that handicap mechanisms may be context dependent and more pronounced in the presence of adverse environmental conditions. These findings illustrate the utility of transcriptomics to investigating handicap models, suggest that classic models may not underlie the handicap mechanism, and indicate that novel emerging models involving different mediators and physiological systems should be examined.
KW - sexual selection
KW - immunocompetence handicap hypothesis
KW - ICHH
KW - oxidative stress handicap hypothesis
KW - OSHH
KW - transcriptomics
KW - lagopus-lagopus-scoticus
KW - male red grouse
KW - coloration predicts resistance
KW - condition-dependent traits
KW - Juncos Junco-hyemalis
KW - false discovery rate
KW - host immune function
KW - male house sparrows
KW - immunocompetence handicap
KW - oxidative stress
U2 - 10.1007/s00265-012-1442-0
DO - 10.1007/s00265-012-1442-0
M3 - Article
VL - 67
SP - 221
EP - 234
JO - Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology
JF - Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology
SN - 0340-5443
IS - 2
ER -