High temperatures are associated with decreased immune system performance in a wild primate.

Lucore, Jordan M; Beehner, Jacinta C; White, Amy F; Sinclair, Lorena F; Martins, Vasco Alexandre; Kovalaskas, Sarah A; Ordoñez, Juan Carlos; Bergman, Thore J; Benítez, Marcela E; Marshall, Andrew J; Sinclair, Lorena F; Ordoñez, Juan Carlos

Abstract

Rising temperatures due to climate change are predicted to threaten the persistence of wild animals, but there is little evidence that climate change has pushed species beyond their thermal tolerance. The immune system is an ideal avenue to assess the effects of climate change because immune performance is sensitive to changes in temperature and immune competency can affect reproductive success. We investigate the effect of rising temperatures on a biomarker of nonspecific immune performance in a wild population of capuchin monkeys and provide compelling evidence that immune performance is associated with ambient temperature. Critically, we found that immune performance in young individuals is more sensitive to high temperatures compared to other age groups. Coupled with evidence of rising temperatures in the region, our results offer insight into how climate change will affect the immune system of wild mammals.

Citation

Lucore, J. M., Beehner, J. C., White, A. F., Sinclair, L. F., Martins, V. A., Kovalaskas, S. A., Ordoñez, J. C., Bergman, T. J., Benítez, M. E., Marshall, A. J., Sinclair, L. F., & Ordoñez, J. C. (2024). High temperatures are associated with decreased immune system performance in a wild primate. Science Advances, 10(48), Article eadq6629. https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.adq6629

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Oct 24, 2024
• Online Publication Date: Nov 29, 2024
• Publication Date: Nov 1, 2024
• Deposit Date: Dec 18, 2024
• Publicly Available Date: Dec 18, 2024
• Journal: Science Advances
• Electronic ISSN: 2375-2548
• Publisher: American Association for the Advancement of Science
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 10
• Issue: 48
• Article Number: eadq6629
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.adq6629
• Keywords: Animals, Immune System - immunology, Male, Climate Change, Female, Hot Temperature, Animals, Wild - immunology, Cebus - immunology, Temperature
• Public URL: https://durham-repository.worktribe.com/output/3217254