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Taylor GT, McQueen A, Eastwood JR, Dupoué A, Wong BBM, Verhulst S, Peters A. No effect of testosterone or sexual ornamentation on telomere dynamics: A case study and meta-analyses. Ecol Evol 2024; 14:e11088. [PMID: 38435019 PMCID: PMC10905238 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.11088] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2023] [Revised: 02/11/2024] [Accepted: 02/16/2024] [Indexed: 03/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Life-history theory predicts that reproductive investments are traded-off against self-maintenance. Telomeres, the protective caps on the ends of chromosomes, offer a promising avenue for assessing life-history trade-offs, as they shorten in response to stressors and are predictive of the remaining lifespan. In males, testosterone frequently mediates life-history trade-offs, in part, through its effects on sexual ornamentation, which is an important aspect of reproductive investment. However, studies of within-individual associations between telomere dynamics and sexual ornamentation are limited in number and have produced mixed results. Furthermore, most such studies have been observational, making it difficult to discern the nature of any causal relationship. To address this, we used short-acting testosterone implants in free-living male superb fairy-wrens (Malurus cyaneus) to stimulate the production of a sexual ornament: early moult into a costly blue breeding plumage. We found no evidence that elevated testosterone, and the consequent earlier moult into breeding plumage, accelerated telomere shortening. We therefore followed up with a systematic review and two meta-analyses (28 studies, 54 effect sizes) exploring the associations between telomeres and (1) testosterone and (2) sexual ornamentation. In line with our experimental findings, neither meta-analysis showed an overall correlation of testosterone or sexual ornamentation with telomere length or telomere dynamics. However, meta-regression showed that experimental, compared to observational, studies reported greater evidence of trade-offs. Our meta-analyses highlight the need for further experimental studies to better understand potential responses of telomere length or telomere dynamics to testosterone or sexual ornamentation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gregory T. Taylor
- School of Biological SciencesMonash UniversityClaytonVictoriaAustralia
| | - Alexandra McQueen
- School of Biological SciencesMonash UniversityClaytonVictoriaAustralia
- Present address:
Centre for Integrative EcologyDeakin UniversityBurwoodVictoriaAustralia
| | | | - Andréaz Dupoué
- School of Biological SciencesMonash UniversityClaytonVictoriaAustralia
- Present address:
CNRS Sorbonne Université, UMR 7618, iEES ParisUniversité Pierre et Marie CurieParisFrance
| | - Bob B. M. Wong
- School of Biological SciencesMonash UniversityClaytonVictoriaAustralia
| | - Simon Verhulst
- Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life SciencesUniversity of GroningenGroningenThe Netherlands
| | - Anne Peters
- School of Biological SciencesMonash UniversityClaytonVictoriaAustralia
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Mc Auley MT. An evolutionary perspective of lifespan and epigenetic inheritance. Exp Gerontol 2023; 179:112256. [PMID: 37460026 DOI: 10.1016/j.exger.2023.112256] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2023] [Revised: 07/04/2023] [Accepted: 07/12/2023] [Indexed: 07/21/2023]
Abstract
In the last decade epigenetics has come to the fore as a discipline which is central to biogerontology. Age associated epigenetic changes are routinely linked with pathologies, including cardiovascular disease, cancer, and Alzheimer's disease; moreover, epigenetic clocks are capable of correlating biological age with chronological age in many species including humans. Recent intriguing empirical observations also suggest that inherited epigenetic effects could influence lifespan/longevity in a variety of organisms. If this is the case, an imperative exists to reconcile lifespan/longevity associated inherited epigenetic processes with the evolution of ageing. This review will critically evaluate inherited epigenetic effects from an evolutionary perspective. The overarching aim is to integrate the evidence which suggests epigenetic inheritance modulates lifespan/longevity with the main evolutionary theories of ageing.
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Anderle M, Paniccia C, Brambilla M, Hilpold A, Volani S, Tasser E, Seeber J, Tappeiner U. The contribution of landscape features, climate and topography in shaping taxonomical and functional diversity of avian communities in a heterogeneous Alpine region. Oecologia 2022; 199:499-512. [PMID: 35192064 PMCID: PMC9309150 DOI: 10.1007/s00442-022-05134-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2021] [Accepted: 02/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Understanding the effects of landscape composition and configuration, climate, and topography on bird diversity is necessary to identify distribution drivers, potential impacts of land use changes, and future conservation strategies. We surveyed bird communities in a study area located in the Central Alps (Autonomous Province of South Tyrol, northeast Italy), by means of point counts and investigated taxonomic and functional diversity at two spatial scales along gradients of land use/land cover (LULC) intensity and elevation. We also explored how environmental variables influence bird traits and red-list categories. Models combining drivers of different types were highly supported, pointing towards synergetic effects of different types of environmental variables on bird communities. The model containing only LULC compositional variables was the most supported one among the single-group models: LULC composition plays a crucial role in shaping local biodiversity and hence bird communities, even across broad landscape gradients. Particularly relevant were wetlands, open habitats, agricultural mosaics made up of small habitat patches and settlements, ecotonal and structural elements in agricultural settings, and continuous forests. To conserve bird diversity in the Alps, planning and management practices promoting and maintaining small fields, structural elements, and a mosaic of different LULC types should be supported, while preserving continuous forests at the same time. Additionally, pastures, extensively used meadows, and wetlands are key to conservation. These strategies might mitigate the impacts of global change on bird diversity in the Alps and in other European mountain areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matteo Anderle
- Institute for Alpine Environment, Eurac Research, Drususallee/Viale Druso 1, 39100, Bolzano/Bozen, Italy. .,Department of Ecology, University of Innsbruck, Sternwartestrasse 15/Technikerstrasse 25, 6020, Innsbruck, Austria.
| | - Chiara Paniccia
- Institute for Alpine Environment, Eurac Research, Drususallee/Viale Druso 1, 39100, Bolzano/Bozen, Italy
| | - Mattia Brambilla
- Dipartimento Di Scienze E Politiche Ambientali, Università Degli Studi Di Milano, via Celoria 26, 20133, Milano, Italy
| | - Andreas Hilpold
- Institute for Alpine Environment, Eurac Research, Drususallee/Viale Druso 1, 39100, Bolzano/Bozen, Italy
| | - Stefania Volani
- Institute for Alpine Environment, Eurac Research, Drususallee/Viale Druso 1, 39100, Bolzano/Bozen, Italy
| | - Erich Tasser
- Institute for Alpine Environment, Eurac Research, Drususallee/Viale Druso 1, 39100, Bolzano/Bozen, Italy
| | - Julia Seeber
- Institute for Alpine Environment, Eurac Research, Drususallee/Viale Druso 1, 39100, Bolzano/Bozen, Italy.,Department of Ecology, University of Innsbruck, Sternwartestrasse 15/Technikerstrasse 25, 6020, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Ulrike Tappeiner
- Institute for Alpine Environment, Eurac Research, Drususallee/Viale Druso 1, 39100, Bolzano/Bozen, Italy.,Department of Ecology, University of Innsbruck, Sternwartestrasse 15/Technikerstrasse 25, 6020, Innsbruck, Austria
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Chiara V, Velando A, Kim SY. Relationships between male secondary sexual traits, physiological state and offspring viability in the three-spined stickleback. BMC Ecol Evol 2022; 22:4. [PMID: 34996346 PMCID: PMC8742421 DOI: 10.1186/s12862-021-01958-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2021] [Accepted: 12/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Sexual signals produced by males play a central role in sexual selection, but the relationship between these traits and the quality of the bearer are often ambiguous. Secondary sexual traits may represent genetic quality of the bearer, resulting in positive relationships with physiological state, or may be costly to produce, showing trade-off with physiological state. A number of studies have explored the relationships between secondary sexual traits and other functional traits, but few have studied their fitness consequences. We studied the link between diverse physiological traits and both morphological and behavioural sexual traits and examined how their interplay influences offspring viability in the three-spined stickleback. RESULTS Male sticklebacks showing nest building and courtship behaviour were smaller than those not investing in reproductive activities. There was no evidence that the expression of red nuptial colouration and the quality of courtship behaviour of males are positively related to their metabolic rates, swim ability, oxidative damage and mtDNA copy number. However, individuals showing larger red nuptial colour areas had higher levels of oxidative DNA damage in their sperm. Male courtship behaviour and aggressiveness, but not red colour area, were good predictors of offspring hatching and survival. CONCLUSIONS Our results suggest that, in our study population at the southern edge of the species' distribution, sexual colouration of male sticklebacks was not a good indicator of their body state, but both courtship quality and aggressiveness during the courtship are reliable cues of their gamete quality, influencing the viability of their offspring. Thus, females that choose mates based on their courtship behaviour will have high fitness. In the study population, which represents a fast pace-of-life with high reproductive rate and short lifespan, sexual ornaments of males may not honestly signal their physiological and physical state because they invest at maximum in a single reproductive season despite high costs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Violette Chiara
- Grupo Ecoloxía Animal, Torre CACTI, Centro de Investigación Mariña, Campus de Vigo, Universidade de Vigo, 36310, Vigo, Spain.
| | - Alberto Velando
- Grupo Ecoloxía Animal, Torre CACTI, Centro de Investigación Mariña, Campus de Vigo, Universidade de Vigo, 36310, Vigo, Spain
| | - Sin-Yeon Kim
- Grupo Ecoloxía Animal, Torre CACTI, Centro de Investigación Mariña, Campus de Vigo, Universidade de Vigo, 36310, Vigo, Spain
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