Meeting Abstract
Animal migration is a complex phenomenon with many physiological mechanisms and consequences. The act of moving, or locomotion, is only one part of migration. But even on its own, locomotion has the potential to impact the immune systems of animals. Studying non-migrating animals that are locomoting, exercising, or otherwise physically exerting themselves can provide insights into relationships between animal movement and disease resistance and susceptibility, as well as other disease-related processes such as tolerance and inflammation. Yet many questions remain unanswered: What qualifies as physical exertion in animals? How is physical exertion and its immunological effects in animals best measured? To address these questions and others, we review studies exploring the links between exercise and the immune system in free-living and captive animals. Furthermore, we explore the realm of human exercise physiology to see what insights this branch of biomedical science can offer to researchers in fields such as ecology and evolution, which emphasize animal diversity, interactions, and adaptations.
