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Abstract

Understanding how human activities influence immune response to environmental stressors can support biodiversity conservation across increasingly urbanizing landscapes. We studied a bobcat (Lynx rufus) population in urban southern California that experienced a rapid population decline from 2002–2005 due to notoedric mange. Because anticoagulant rodenticide (AR) exposure was an underlying complication in mange deaths, we aimed to understand sublethal contributions of urbanization and ARs on 65 biochemical markers of immune and organ function. Variance in immunological variables was primarily associated with AR exposure and secondarily with urbanization. Use of urban habitat and AR exposure has pervasive, complex and predictable effects on biochemical markers of immune and organ function in free-ranging bobcats that include impacts on neutrophil, lymphocyte and cytokine populations, total bilirubin and phosphorus. We find evidence of both inflammatory response and immune suppression associated with urban land use and rat poison exposure that could influence susceptibility to opportunistic infections. Consequently, AR exposure may influence mortality and has population-level effects, as previous work in the focal population has revealed substantial mortality caused by mange infection. The secondary effects of anticoagulant exposure may be a worldwide, largely unrecognized problem affecting a variety of vertebrate species in human-dominated environments.

Item Type:	Article
Authors/Creators:	Serieys, LE and Lea, AJ and Epeldegui, M and Armenta, TC and Moriarty, J and VandeWoude, S and Carver, S and Foley, J and Wayne, RK and Riley, SPD and Uittenbogaart, CH
Keywords:	bobcat, anticoagulant, urban, anticoagulant rodenticide, inflammation, immune suppression, Lynx rufus, urbanization
Journal or Publication Title:	Royal Society of London. Proceedings B. Biological Sciences
Publisher:	Royal Soc London
ISSN:	0962-8452
DOI / ID Number:	https://doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2017.2533
Copyright Information:	Copyright 2018 The Authors
Related URLs:	Google Scholar: Carver, S UTAS Profile: Carver, S
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