|
|
Article: Avian cell-mediated immune response to drought.(Report)
- Article from:
- The Wilson Journal of Ornithology
- Article date:
- December 1, 2008
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2008 Wilson Ornithological Society. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
|
Regional droughts have far-reaching, substantial, and easily recognizable impacts on populations (George et al. 1992) and the environment (Allen and Breshears 1998). One component of these impacts that is not widely recognized is impairment of immune function by drought-related physiological stress. There is ample evidence that stress affects immune system function (Apanius 1998), but a reduction in immunity has not been documented directly with drought conditions. One consequence, global warming, as frequency and severity of drought increases, may be increased vulnerability of populations to disease accompanied by more frequent disease epidemics (Epstein 2001 ; Harvell ...