Seasonal relationship between reproduction, energetics and immunocompetence in frogs from the brazilian semi-arid, Caatinga

Author(s)

Carla Bonetti Madelaire

• Document type: Doctoral Thesis
• Press: São Paulo.
• Institution: Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Instituto de Biociências (IBIOC/SB)
• Defense date: 2018-02-01

Examining board members

Fernando Ribeiro Gomes; Marcelo Hermes Lima; Regina Pekelmann Markus

• Advisor: Fernando Ribeiro Gomes

Abstract

We investigated the correlation between imunological parameters, steroid plasma levels in 3 anuran species during different life history stages (Chapter1). Chapter 2 explore the seasonal adjusments of metabolic regulators for 3 anuran species. In the 3th chapter, we studied the casual relationship between increase of steroid plasma levels and immunomodulation in males of Rhinella jimi. Additionally, w e investigated the metabolic cost of the immune response, standard metabolic rate, and steroid plasma levels of R. jimi (Chapter 4). Our results point to an opposite direction of the immunocompetence handicap hypothesis (Chapter 1 and 4), high steroid plasma levels are associated to higher immune response. The results found in the chapter 3 corroborates the immunomodulatory effects of testosterone and corticosterone. Chapter 2 shows the seasonal variation of metabolic regulators, which guarantee muscle and cellular maintenance during the dry period for all three species. The aestivating species activates pathways that shut down ATP consumption saving energy during the drought (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 12/24206-4 - Sazonal relationship between reproduction, energetics and immunocompetence in toads (Rhinella jimi)from Caatinga
• Grantee: Carla Bonetti Madelaire
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate