Ilmonen Petteri Konrad Lorenz Institute for Ethology, Austrian Academy Of Sciences, Vienna, Austria Title Incest, violence and disease: inbreeding experiment in wild house mice Abstract Although inbreeding depression plays a central role in wide range of issues in evolutionary theory and conservation biology, our understanding of its causes and consequences in natural vertebrate populations is still very limited. A plausible but rarely tested mechanism which could contribute to inbreeding depression is if inbreeding increases susceptibility to pathogens and disease. We experimentally tested fitness consequences of inbreeding by comparing pathogen resistance, survival and reproductive success of inbred and outbred wild-derived house mice (Mus musculus domesticus) in a series of infection experiments both in colony and in semi-natural enclosure populations. Our study provides novel experimental evidence for the role of parasites in inbreeding depression and for severe fitness consequences of mating between second-degree relatives in a vertebrate. The results have important implications for the role of parasites in maintenance of genetic diversity and evolution of mating preferences, but also for more applied topics such as conservation biology and human genetic counseling.   CV Date of birth: 18. September 1967 Nationality: Finnish Family status: Married, one daughter Academic qualifications: Ph.D. in Animal Ecology and Systematics: 19.09.2001, Section of Ecology, University of Turku, Finland. Ph.D. thesis: ‘Parasites, Immune Defences and Life-History Trade-Offs in Birds’. M. Sc. in Biology: 03.10.1996, Section of Ecology, University of Turku, Finland. Masters thesis: ‘Blood parasites and breeding performance of Tengmalm’s owls (Aegolius funereus) under cyclic food conditions’. Post doctoral research experience Post doctoral researcher (Konrad Lorenz Institute) 01.02.2004 – to the present Post doctoral researcher (Potts lab, Univ. of Utah) 01.01.2002 – 31.12.2003   Articles in international scientific journals with referee practise Ilmonen P., Penn, D.J., Damjanovich, K., Morrison, L., Ghotbi, L. & Potts, W.K. MHC Heterozygote Disadvantage in Salmonella Infected Crosses of Congenic and Wild Mice. Submitted ms. Ilmonen, P., Damjanovich, K., Clarke, J., Lamborn, D., Morrison, L., Ghotbi, L., Potts, W.K. & Penn, D.J. Moderate Inbreeding Reduces Pathogen Resistance and Fitness. Submitted ms. Penn D. J. & Ilmonen, P. (2005). Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC). Encyclopedia of Life Sciences. John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. www.els.net. Doi: 10.1038/npg.els.0003986. Penn, D. J. & Ilmonen, P. (2005). Major Histocompatibility Complex: Human. Encyclopedia of Life Sciences. John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. www.els.net. Doi: 10.1038/npg.els.0003987. Eeva, T., Hasselquist, D., Langefors, Å., Tegelmann, L., Nikinmaa, M. & Ilmonen, P. (2005). Pollution related effects on immune function and stress in a free-living population of pied flycatcher Ficedula hypoleuca. Journal of Avian Biology 36:405-412. Ilmonen, P., Hasselquist, D., Langefors, Å. & Wiehn, J. (2003). Stress, immunocompetence and leukocyte profiles of pied flycatchers in relation to brood size manipulation. Oecologia 136:148-154. Korpimäki, E., Hakkarainen, H., Ilmonen, P. & Wiehn, J. (2002). Detrimental effects of blood parasites on parental effort and reproductive success of Tengmalm’s owls (Aegolius funereus) and Eurasian kestrels (Falco tinnunculus). Proceedings of Owls 2000 Conference, CSIRO, Canberra, Australia. P. 66-71. Ilmonen, P., Taarna, T. & Hasselquist, D. (2002). Are incubation costs in female pied flycatchers expressed in humoral immune responsiveness or breeding success? Oecologia 130:199-204. Hakkarainen, H., Ilmonen, P., Koivunen, V. & Korpimäki, E. (2001). Experimental increase of predation risk induces breeding dispersal of Tengmalm's Owl. Oecologia 126:355-359. Wiehn, J., Ilmonen, P., Korpimäki, E., Pahkala, M. & Wiebe, K. L. (2000). Hatching asynchrony in the Eurasian kestrel Falco tinnunculus: an experimental test of the brood reduction hypothesis. Journal of Animal Ecology 69:85-95. Råberg, L., Nilsson, J.-Å., Ilmonen, P., Stjernman, M. & Hasselquist, D. (2000). The cost of an immune response: vaccination reduces parental effort. Ecology Letters 3:382-387. Ilmonen, P., Taarna, T. & Hasselquist, D. (2000). Experimentally activated immune defence in female pied flycatchers results in reduced breeding success. Proceedings of the Royal Society of London series B. 267:665-670. Ilmonen, P., Hakkarainen, H., Koivunen, V., Korpimäki, E., Mullie, A. & Shutler, D. (1999). Parental effort and blood parasitism in Tengmalm’s Owl: effects of natural and experimental variation in food abundance. Oikos 86:79-86. Hakkarainen, H., Ilmonen, P., Koivunen, V. & Korpimäki, E. (1998). Blood parasites and nest defence behaviour of Tengmalm's owls. Oecologia 114:574-577.   Institution address: Petteri Ilmonen Konrad Lorenz Institute for Ethology Austrian Academy of Sciences Savoyenstrasse 1a A-1160 Vienna Austria Tel: +43 1 51581-2726 Fax: +43 1 51581-2800 P.Ilmonen@klivv.oeaw.ac.at