Egg Incubation Temperature Affects Development of Innate Immune Function in Nestling American Robins (Turdus migratorius)

• Published in: Physiological and biochemical zoology Vol. 93; no. 1; pp. 1 - 12
• Main Authors: Merrill, Loren, Ospina, Emilie A., Santymire, Rachel M., Benson, Thomas J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States The University of Chicago Press 01.01.2020
• Subjects: innate immunity; corticosterone; bacteria-killing ability; incubation; early life

The innate immune system provides important first-line defenses against invading pathogens and is considered especially important for developing organisms. However, we know little about how early-life conditions influence these defenses in wild animals. For oviparous species such as birds, embryonic...