The trade-off between reproduction and innate immunity in the great tit (Parus major): a brood size manipulation experiment
According to optimal resource allocation theory, reproductive investment is determined by the trade-off between present and future reproduction and offspring quality and quantity. The immune system, including innate immune function, protects the body against disease-related mortality. As such, it can be representative of the bird´s survival prospects, and has the potential to influence the outcome
