Autotomy Reduces Immune Function And Antioxidant Defence

Main Category: Veterinary
Also Included In: Biology / Biochemistry
Article Date: 15 Oct 2008 - 0:00 PDT

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In their struggle for life, many animals have evolved a fascinating mechanism to avoid being eaten: sacrificing a body part.

When a prey animal is grasped by a predator, the body part is amputated so that the animal itself can escape. Despite the obvious short-term survival benefit, there are long-term costs like reduced lifespan. These costs were traditionally explained by reduced locomotion after limb loss.

We identified a novel type of cost, impaired immunity, which should make prey more vulnerable to parasites. Trying to escape from one enemy can therefore drive prey in the arms of another one.

Royal Society Journal Biology Letters

Biology Letters publishes short, innovative and cutting-edge research articles and opinion pieces accessible to scientists from across the biological sciences. The journal is characterised by stringent peer-review, rapid publication and broad dissemination of succinct high-quality research communications.

www.publishing.royalsociety.org/biologyletters

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