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Rodseth E, Sumasgutner P, Tate G, Nilsson JF, Watson H, Maritz MF, Ingle RA, Amar A. Pleiotropic effects of melanin pigmentation: haemoparasite infection intensity but not telomere length is associated with plumage morph in black sparrowhawks. ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE 2024; 11:230370. [PMID: 38577209 PMCID: PMC10987988 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.230370] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2023] [Revised: 09/21/2023] [Accepted: 02/13/2024] [Indexed: 04/06/2024]
Abstract
There is increasing recognition of the potential pleiotropic effects of melanin pigmentation, particularly on immunity, with reports of variation in haemoparasite infection intensity and immune responses between the morphs of colour-polymorphic bird species. In a population of the black sparrowhawk (Accipiter melanoleucus) in western South Africa, light morphs have a higher haemoparasite infection intensity, but no physiological effects of this are apparent. Here, we investigate the possible effects of haemoparasite infection on telomere length in this species and explore whether relative telomere length is associated with either plumage morph or sex. Using quantitative polymerase chain reaction analysis, we confirmed that dark morphs had a lower haemoparasite infection intensity than light morphs. However, we found no differences in telomere length associated with either the haemoparasite infection status or morph in adults, although males have longer telomeres than females. While differences in haemoparasite intensity between morphs are consistent with pleiotropic effects of melanin pigmentation in the black sparrowhawk, we found no evidence that telomere length was associated with haemoparasite infection. Further work is needed to investigate the implications of possible pleiotropic effects of plumage morph and their potential role in the maintenance of colour polymorphism in this species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edmund Rodseth
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Petra Sumasgutner
- FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- Konrad Lorenz Research Centre, Department of Behavioural and Cognitive Biology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Gareth Tate
- FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- Birds of Prey Programme, Endangered Wildlife Trust, Midrand, South Africa
| | - Johan F. Nilsson
- Evolutionary Ecology, Department of Biology, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Hannah Watson
- Evolutionary Ecology, Department of Biology, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Michelle F. Maritz
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Robert A. Ingle
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Arjun Amar
- FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
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2
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Romero-Haro AA, Figuerola J, Alonso-Alvarez C. Low Antioxidant Glutathione Levels Lead to Longer Telomeres: A Sex-Specific Link to Longevity? Integr Org Biol 2023; 5:obad034. [PMID: 37753451 PMCID: PMC10519275 DOI: 10.1093/iob/obad034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2023] [Revised: 06/22/2023] [Accepted: 08/29/2023] [Indexed: 09/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Telomeres are repetitive DNA sequences at the end of chromosomes that protect them from degradation. They have been the focus of intense research because short telomeres would predict accelerated ageing and reduced longevity in vertebrates. Oxidative stress is considered a physiological driver of the telomere shortening and, consequently, short lifespan. Among molecules fighting against oxidative stress, glutathione is involved in many antioxidant pathways. Literature supports that oxidative stress may trigger a compensatory "hormetic" response increasing glutathione levels and telomere length. Here, we tested the link between total glutathione concentration and telomere length in captive birds (zebra finches; Taeniopygia guttata). Total glutathione levels were experimentally decreased during birds' growth using a specific inhibitor of glutathione synthesis (buthionine sulfoximine; BSO). We monitored the birds' reproductive performance in an outdoor aviary during the first month of life, and their longevity for almost 9 years. Among control individuals, erythrocyte glutathione levels during development positively predicted erythrocyte telomere length in adulthood. However, BSO-treated females, but not males, showed longer telomeres than control females in adulthood. This counterintuitive finding suggests that females mounted a compensatory response. Such compensation agrees with precedent findings in the same population where the BSO treatment increased growth and adult body mass in females but not males. BSO did not influence longevity or reproductive output in any sex. However, early glutathione levels and adult telomere length interactively predicted longevity only among control females. Those females with "naturally" low (non-manipulated) glutathione levels at the nestling age but capable of producing longer telomeres in adulthood seem to live longer. The results suggest that the capability to mount a hormetic response triggered by low early glutathione levels can improve fitness via telomere length. Overall, the results may indicate a sex-specific link between glutathione and telomere values. Telomerase activity and sexual steroids (estrogens) are good candidates to explain the sex-biased mechanism underlying the early-life impact of oxidative stress on adult telomere length.
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Affiliation(s)
- A A Romero-Haro
- Instituto de Investigación en Recursos Cinegéticos (IREC), CSIC-UCLM-JCCM, Ronda de Toledo 12, 13071Ciudad Real, 41092 Sevilla, Spain
| | - J Figuerola
- Estación Biológica de Doñana—CSIC, Sevilla, 28029 Madrid, Spain
- CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
| | - C Alonso-Alvarez
- Evolutionary Ecology Department, National Museum of Natural Sciences (MNCN-CSIC), C/José Gutiérrez Abascal 2, 28006 Madrid, Spain
- Instituto Pirenaico de Ecología (IPE-CSIC) Avda. Nuestra Señora de la Victoria, 16. 22700 Jaca, Huesca, Spain
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3
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Brown TJ, Spurgin LG, Dugdale HL, Komdeur J, Burke T, Richardson DS. Causes and consequences of telomere lengthening in a wild vertebrate population. Mol Ecol 2022; 31:5933-5945. [PMID: 34219315 DOI: 10.1111/mec.16059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2021] [Revised: 05/24/2021] [Accepted: 06/21/2021] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
Telomeres have been advocated to be important markers of biological age in evolutionary and ecological studies. Telomeres usually shorten with age and shortening is frequently associated with environmental stressors and increased subsequent mortality. Telomere lengthening - an apparent increase in telomere length between repeated samples from the same individual - also occurs. However, the exact circumstances, and consequences, of telomere lengthening are poorly understood. Using longitudinal data from the Seychelles warbler (Acrocephalus sechellensis), we tested whether telomere lengthening - which occurs in adults of this species - is associated with specific stressors (reproductive effort, food availability, malarial infection and cooperative breeding) and predicts subsequent survival. In females, telomere shortening was observed under greater stress (i.e., low food availability, malaria infection), while telomere lengthening was observed in females experiencing lower stress (i.e., high food availability, assisted by helpers, without malaria). The telomere dynamics of males were not associated with the key stressors tested. These results indicate that, at least for females, telomere lengthening occurs in circumstances more conducive to self-maintenance. Importantly, both females and males with lengthened telomeres had improved subsequent survival relative to individuals that displayed unchanged, or shortened, telomeres - indicating that telomere lengthening is associated with individual fitness. These results demonstrate that telomere dynamics are bidirectionally responsive to the level of stress that an individual faces, but may poorly reflect the accumulation of stress over an individuals lifetime.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas J Brown
- School of Biological Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK
| | - Lewis G Spurgin
- School of Biological Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK
| | - Hannah L Dugdale
- Behavioural and Physiological Ecology, Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Jan Komdeur
- Behavioural and Physiological Ecology, Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Terry Burke
- Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
| | - David S Richardson
- School of Biological Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK.,Nature Seychelles, Victoria, Mahé, Seychelles
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4
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Tobler M, Gómez-Blanco D, Hegemann A, Lapa M, Neto JM, Tarka M, Xiong Y, Hasselquist D. Telomeres in ecology and evolution: A review and classification of hypotheses. Mol Ecol 2022; 31:5946-5965. [PMID: 34865259 DOI: 10.1111/mec.16308] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2021] [Revised: 11/19/2021] [Accepted: 12/01/2021] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
Research on telomeres in the fields of ecology and evolution has been rapidly expanding over the last two decades. This has resulted in the formulation of a multitude of, often name-given, hypotheses related to the associations between telomeres and life-history traits or fitness-facilitating processes (and the mechanisms underlying them). However, the differences (or similarities) between the various hypotheses, which can originate from different research fields, are often not obvious. Our aim here is therefore to give an overview of the hypotheses that are of interest in ecology and evolution and to provide two frameworks that help discriminate among them. We group the hypotheses (i) based on their association with different research questions, and (ii) using a hierarchical approach that builds on the assumptions they make, such as about causality of telomere length/shortening and/or the proposed functional consequences of telomere shortening on organism performance. Both our frameworks show that there exist parallel lines of thoughts in different research fields. Moreover, they also clearly illustrate that there are in many cases competing hypotheses within clusters, and that some of these even have contradictory assumptions and/or predictions. We also touch upon two topics in telomere research that would benefit from further conceptualization. This review should help researchers, both those familiar with and those new to the subject, to identify future avenues of research.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Arne Hegemann
- Department of Biology, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Mariana Lapa
- Department of Biology, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Júlio M Neto
- Department of Biology, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Maja Tarka
- Department of Biology, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Ye Xiong
- Department of Biology, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
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5
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Ravindran S, Froy H, Underwood SL, Dorrens J, Seeker LA, Watt K, Wilbourn RV, Pilkington JG, Harrington L, Pemberton JM, Nussey DH. The association between female reproductive performance and leukocyte telomere length in wild Soay sheep. Mol Ecol 2022; 31:6184-6196. [PMID: 34514660 DOI: 10.1111/mec.16175] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2021] [Accepted: 08/03/2021] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
Telomere length (TL), typically measured across a sample of blood cells, has emerged as an exciting potential marker of physiological state and of the costs of investment in growth and reproduction within evolutionary ecology. While there is mounting evidence from studies of wild vertebrates that short TL predicts raised subsequent mortality risk, the relationship between reproductive investment and TL is less clear cut, and previous studies report both negative and positive associations. In this study, we examined the relationship between TL and different aspects of maternal reproductive performance in a free-living population of Soay sheep. We find evidence for shorter TL in females that bred, and thus paid any costs of gestation, compared to females that did not breed. However, we found no evidence for any association between TL and litter size. Furthermore, females that invested in gestation and lactation actually had longer TL than females who only invested in gestation because their offspring died shortly after birth. We used multivariate models to decompose these associations into among- and within-individual effects, and discovered that within-individual effects were driving both the negative association between TL and gestation, and the positive association between TL and lactation. This suggests that telomere dynamics may reflect recent physiologically costly investment or variation in physiological condition, depending on the aspect of reproduction being investigated. Our results highlight the physiological complexity of vertebrate reproduction, and the need to better understand how and why different aspects of physiological variation underpinning life histories impact blood cell TL.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sanjana Ravindran
- Institute of Evolutionary Biology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Hannah Froy
- Institute of Evolutionary Biology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.,Centre for Biodiversity Dynamics, Institute for Biology, Norwegian University for Science and Technology (NTNU), Trondheim, Norway
| | - Sarah L Underwood
- Institute of Evolutionary Biology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Jennifer Dorrens
- Institute of Evolutionary Biology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Luise A Seeker
- Institute of Evolutionary Biology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Kathryn Watt
- Institute of Evolutionary Biology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Rachael V Wilbourn
- Institute of Evolutionary Biology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Jill G Pilkington
- Institute of Evolutionary Biology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Lea Harrington
- Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Canada
| | - Josephine M Pemberton
- Institute of Evolutionary Biology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Daniel H Nussey
- Institute of Evolutionary Biology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
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6
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Atema E, van Noordwijk AJ, Verhulst S. Telomere dynamics in relation to experimentally increased locomotion costs and fitness in great tits. Mol Ecol 2022; 31:6208-6215. [PMID: 34478576 PMCID: PMC9786264 DOI: 10.1111/mec.16162] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2021] [Revised: 08/06/2021] [Accepted: 08/20/2021] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
Evidence that telomere length (TL) and dynamics can be interpreted as proxy for 'life stress' experienced by individuals stems largely from correlational studies. We tested for effects of an experimental increase of workload on telomere dynamics by equipping male great tits (Parus major) with a 0.9 g backpack for a full year. In addition, we analysed associations between natural life-history variation, TL and TL dynamics. Carrying 5% extra weight for a year did not significantly accelerate telomere attrition. This agrees with our earlier finding that this experiment did not affect survival or future reproduction. Apparently, great tit males were able to compensate behaviourally or physiologically for the increase in locomotion costs we imposed. We found no cross-sectional association between reproductive success and TL, but individuals with higher reproductive success (number of recruits) lost fewer telomere base pairs in the subsequent year. We used the TRF method to measure TL, which method yields a TL distribution for each sample, and the association between reproductive success and telomere loss was more pronounced in the higher percentiles of the telomere distribution, in agreement with the higher impact of ageing on longer telomeres within individuals. Individuals with longer telomeres and less telomere shortening were more likely to survive to the next breeding season, but these patterns did not reach statistical significance. Whether successful individuals are characterized by losing fewer or more base pairs from their telomeres varies between species, and we discuss aspects of ecology and social organisation that may explain this variation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Els Atema
- GELIFESUniversity of GroningenGroningenthe Netherlands,Netherlands Institute of EcologyWageningenthe Netherlands
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7
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Wolf SE, Sanders TL, Beltran SE, Rosvall KA. The telomere regulatory gene POT1 responds to stress and predicts performance in nature: Implications for telomeres and life history evolution. Mol Ecol 2022; 31:6155-6171. [PMID: 34674335 DOI: 10.1111/mec.16237] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2019] [Revised: 09/25/2021] [Accepted: 10/12/2021] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
Telomeres are emerging as correlates of fitness-related traits and may be important mediators of ecologically relevant variation in life history strategies. Growing evidence suggests that telomere dynamics can be more predictive of performance than length itself, but very little work considers how telomere regulatory mechanisms respond to environmental challenges or influence performance in nature. Here, we combine observational and experimental data sets from free-living tree swallows (Tachycineta bicolor) to assess how performance is predicted by the telomere regulatory gene POT1, which encodes a shelterin protein that sterically blocks telomerase from repairing the telomere. First, we show that lower POT1 gene expression in the blood was associated with higher female quality, that is, earlier breeding and heavier body mass. We next challenged mothers with an immune stressor (lipopolysaccharide injection) that led to "sickness" in mothers and 24 h of food restriction in their offspring. While POT1 did not respond to maternal injection, females with lower constitutive POT1 gene expression were better able to maintain feeding rates following treatment. Maternal injection also generated a 1-day stressor for chicks, which responded with lower POT1 gene expression and elongated telomeres. Other putatively stress-responsive mechanisms (i.e., glucocorticoids, antioxidants) showed marginal responses in stress-exposed chicks. Model comparisons indicated that POT1 mRNA abundance was a largely better predictor of performance than telomere dynamics, indicating that telomere regulators may be powerful modulators of variation in life history strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah E Wolf
- Department of Biology, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana, USA.,Center for the Integrative Study of Animal Behavior, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana, USA
| | - Tiana L Sanders
- Center for the Integrative Study of Animal Behavior, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana, USA
| | - Sol E Beltran
- Center for the Integrative Study of Animal Behavior, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana, USA
| | - Kimberly A Rosvall
- Department of Biology, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana, USA.,Center for the Integrative Study of Animal Behavior, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana, USA
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8
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Salmón P, Burraco P. Telomeres and anthropogenic disturbances in wildlife: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Mol Ecol 2022; 31:6018-6039. [PMID: 35080073 PMCID: PMC9790527 DOI: 10.1111/mec.16370] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2021] [Revised: 12/10/2021] [Accepted: 01/13/2022] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
Human-driven environmental changes are affecting wildlife across the globe. These challenges do not influence species or populations to the same extent and therefore a comprehensive evaluation of organismal health is needed to determine their ultimate impact. Evidence suggests that telomeres (the terminal chromosomal regions) are sensitive to environmental conditions and have been posited as a surrogate for animal health and fitness. Evaluation of their use in an applied ecological context is still scarce. Here, using information from molecular and occupational biomedical studies, we aim to provide ecologists and evolutionary biologists with an accessible synthesis of the links between human disturbances and telomere length. In addition, we perform a systematic review and meta-analysis on studies measuring telomere length in wild/wild-derived animals facing anthropogenic disturbances. Despite the relatively small number of studies to date, our meta-analysis revealed a significant small negative association between disturbances and telomere length (-0.092 [-0.153, -0.031]; n = 28; k = 159). Yet, our systematic review suggests that the use of telomeres as a biomarker to understand the anthropogenic impact on wildlife is limited. We propose some research avenues that will help to broadly evaluate their suitability: (i) further causal studies on the link between human disturbances and telomeres; (ii) investigating the organismal implications, in terms of fitness and performance, of a given telomere length in anthropogenically disturbed scenarios; and (iii) better understanding of the underlying mechanisms of telomere dynamics. Future studies in these facets will help to ultimately determine their role as markers of health and fitness in wildlife facing anthropogenic disturbances.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pablo Salmón
- Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative MedicineUniversity of GlasgowGlasgowUK,Department of Plant Biology and EcologyFaculty of Science and TechnologyUniversity of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU)LeioaSpain
| | - Pablo Burraco
- Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative MedicineUniversity of GlasgowGlasgowUK
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9
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Remot F, Ronget V, Froy H, Rey B, Gaillard JM, Nussey DH, Lemaitre JF. Decline in telomere length with increasing age across nonhuman vertebrates: A meta-analysis. Mol Ecol 2022; 31:5917-5932. [PMID: 34437736 DOI: 10.1111/mec.16145] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2021] [Revised: 08/17/2021] [Accepted: 08/20/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
The prediction that telomere length (TL) shortens with increasing age is a major element in considering the role of telomeres as a key player in evolution. While telomere attrition is found in humans both in vitro and in vivo, the increasing number of studies reporting diverse age-specific patterns of TL challenges the hypothesis of a universal decline of TL with increasing age. Here, we performed a meta-analysis to estimate the relationship between TL and age across 175 estimates encompassing 98 species of vertebrates. We found that, on average, TL does decline with increasing age during adulthood. However, this decline was weak and variable across vertebrate classes, and we also found evidence for a publication bias that might weaken our current evidence of decreasing TL with increasing age. We found no evidence for a faster decline in TL with increasing age when considering the juvenile stage (from birth to age at first reproduction) compared to the adult stage. Heterogeneity in TL ageing rates was explained by the method used to measure telomeres: detectable TL declines with increasing age were found only among studies using TRF with in-gel hybridisation and qFISH methods, but not in studies using qPCR and Southern blot-based TRF methods. While we confirmed that TL declines with increasing age in most adult vertebrates, our results identify an influence of telomere measurement methodology, which highlights the need to examine more thoroughly the effect of the method of measurement on TL estimates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Florentin Remot
- Laboratoire de Biométrie et Biologie Evolutive, UMR5558, CNRS, Université de Lyon, Université Lyon 1, Villeurbanne, France
| | - Victor Ronget
- Unité Eco-anthropologie (EA), Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, CNRS, Université Paris Diderot, Paris, France
| | - Hannah Froy
- Institute of Evolutionary Biology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.,Centre for Biodiversity Dynamics, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Benjamin Rey
- Laboratoire de Biométrie et Biologie Evolutive, UMR5558, CNRS, Université de Lyon, Université Lyon 1, Villeurbanne, France
| | - Jean-Michel Gaillard
- Laboratoire de Biométrie et Biologie Evolutive, UMR5558, CNRS, Université de Lyon, Université Lyon 1, Villeurbanne, France
| | - Daniel H Nussey
- Institute of Evolutionary Biology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Jean-François Lemaitre
- Laboratoire de Biométrie et Biologie Evolutive, UMR5558, CNRS, Université de Lyon, Université Lyon 1, Villeurbanne, France
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10
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Bauch C, Gatt MC, Verhulst S, Granadeiro JP, Catry P. Higher mercury contamination is associated with shorter telomeres in a long-lived seabird - A direct effect or a consequence of among-individual variation in phenotypic quality? THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 839:156359. [PMID: 35654175 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.156359] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2022] [Revised: 05/24/2022] [Accepted: 05/26/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Mercury is a heavy metal, which is pervasive and persistent in the marine environment. It bioaccumulates within organisms and biomagnifies in the marine food chain. Due to its high toxicity, mercury contamination is a major concern for wildlife and human health. Telomere length is a biomarker of aging and health, because it predicts survival, making it a potential tool to investigate sublethal effects of mercury contamination. However, the relationship between telomeres and mercury contamination is unclear. We measured feather mercury concentration in Cory's Shearwaters Calonectris borealis, long-lived seabirds and top predators, between 9 and 35 years of age and related it to telomere length in erythrocytes. Cory's Shearwaters with higher mercury concentrations had shorter telomeres and the effect was sex-dependent, reaching significance in males only. This may be explained by the fact that males have longer telomeres and higher and more variable mercury concentrations than females in this population. The mercury effect on telomere length was stronger on longer telomeres in the genome within individuals. We discuss the hypotheses that the negative correlation could either be a direct effect of mercury on telomere shortening and/or a consequence of variation in phenotypic quality among individuals that results in a covariation between mercury contamination and telomere length.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christina Bauch
- MARE-Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre, ISPA-Instituto Universitário, Rua Jardim do Tabaco 34, 1149-041 Lisbon, Portugal; Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 7, 9747AG Groningen, the Netherlands.
| | - Marie Claire Gatt
- CESAM-Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies, Faculty of Science, University of Lisbon, 1749-016 Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Simon Verhulst
- Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 7, 9747AG Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - José Pedro Granadeiro
- CESAM-Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies, Faculty of Science, University of Lisbon, 1749-016 Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Paulo Catry
- MARE-Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre, ISPA-Instituto Universitário, Rua Jardim do Tabaco 34, 1149-041 Lisbon, Portugal
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11
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Benowitz-Fredericks ZM, Lacey LM, Whelan S, Will AP, Hatch SA, Kitaysky AS. Telomere length correlates with physiological and behavioural responses of a long-lived seabird to an ecologically relevant challenge. Proc Biol Sci 2022; 289:20220139. [PMID: 35858061 PMCID: PMC9277278 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2022.0139] [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] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Determinants of individual variation in reallocation of limited resources towards self-maintenance versus reproduction are not well known. We tested the hypothesis that individual heterogeneity in long-term 'somatic state' (i) explains variation in endocrine and behavioural responses to environmental challenges, and (ii) is associated with variation in strategies for allocating to self-maintenance versus reproduction. We used relative telomere length as an indicator of somatic state and experimentally generated an abrupt short-term reduction of food availability (withdrawal of food supplementation) for free-living seabirds (black-legged kittiwakes, Rissa tridactyla). Incubating male kittiwakes responded to withdrawal by increasing circulating corticosterone and losing more weight compared to continuously supplemented controls. Males with longer telomeres increased time in directed travel regardless of treatment, while experiencing smaller increases in corticosterone. Males with longer telomeres fledged more chicks in the control group and tended to be more likely to return regardless of treatment. This study supports the hypothesis that somatic state can explain variation in short-term physiological and behavioural responses to challenges, and longer-term consequences for fitness. Male kittiwakes with longer telomeres appear to have prioritized investment in self over investment in offspring under challenging conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - L. M. Lacey
- Department of Biology, Bucknell University, Lewisburg, PA, USA
| | - S. Whelan
- Department of Natural Resources Sciences, McGill University, Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue, Quebec, Canada
| | - A. P. Will
- Institute of Arctic Biology, Department of Biology and Wildlife, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, AK, USA,Bioscience Group, National Institute of Polar Research Japan, 10-3, Midori-cho, Tachikawa, Tokyo 190-8518, Japan
| | - S. A. Hatch
- Institute for Seabird Research and Conservation, Anchorage, AK, USA
| | - A. S. Kitaysky
- Institute of Arctic Biology, Department of Biology and Wildlife, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, AK, USA
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12
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Quque M, Ferreira C, Sosa S, Schull Q, Zahn S, Criscuolo F, Bleu J, Viblanc VA. Cascading effects of conspecific aggression on oxidative status and telomere length in zebra finches. Physiol Biochem Zool 2022; 95:416-429. [DOI: 10.1086/721252] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
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13
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Friesen CR, Wilson M, Rollings N, Sudyka J, Giraudeau M, Whittington CM, Olsson M. Exercise training has morph-specific effects on telomere, body condition and growth dynamics in a color-polymorphic lizard. J Exp Biol 2021; 224:jeb.242164. [PMID: 33785504 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.242164] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2020] [Accepted: 03/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Alternative reproductive tactics (ARTs) are correlated suites of sexually selected traits that are likely to impose differential physiological costs on different individuals. While moderate activity might be beneficial, animals living in the wild often work at the margins of their resources and performance limits. Individuals using ARTs may have divergent capacities for activity. When pushed beyond their respective capacities, they may experience condition loss, oxidative stress, and molecular damage that must be repaired with limited resources. We used the Australian painted dragon lizard that exhibits color polymorphism as a model to experimentally test the effect of exercise on body condition, growth, reactive oxygen species (ROS) and telomere dynamics - a potential marker of stress and aging and a correlate of longevity. For most males, ROS levels tended to be lower with greater exercise; however, males with yellow throat patches - or bibs - had higher ROS levels than non-bibbed males. At the highest level of exercise, bibbed males exhibited telomere loss, while non-bibbed males gained telomere length; the opposite pattern was observed in the no-exercise controls. Growth was positively related to food intake but negatively correlated with telomere length at the end of the experiment. Body condition was not related to food intake but was positively correlated with increases in telomere length. These results, along with our previous work, suggest that aggressive - territory holding - bibbed males suffer physiological costs that may reduce longevity compared with non-bibbed males with superior postcopulatory traits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher R Friesen
- School of Earth, Atmospheric and Life Sciences, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia.,Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute (IHMRI), University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia.,Faculty of Science, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
| | - Mark Wilson
- Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute (IHMRI), University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia.,Molecular Horizons and School of Chemistry and Molecular Bioscience, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia
| | - Nicky Rollings
- Faculty of Science, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
| | - Joanna Sudyka
- Institute of Environmental Sciences, Jagiellonian University, 30-060 Krakow, Poland
| | - Mathieu Giraudeau
- CREEC, UMR IRD 224-CNRS 5290-Université de Montpellier, F34394 Montpellier, France.,CREES Centre for Research on the Ecology and Evolution of Disease, 34394 Montpellier, France
| | - Camilla M Whittington
- Faculty of Science, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
| | - Mats Olsson
- School of Earth, Atmospheric and Life Sciences, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia.,Department of Biological & Environmental Sciences, University of Gothenburg, 405 30 Gothenburg, Sweden
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14
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Telomere lengths correlate with fitness but assortative mating by telomeres confers no benefit to fledgling recruitment. Sci Rep 2021; 11:5463. [PMID: 33750872 PMCID: PMC7943796 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-85068-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2020] [Accepted: 02/22/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Assortative mating by telomere lengths has been observed in several bird species, and in some cases may increase fitness of individuals. Here we examined the relationship between telomere lengths of Blue-footed Booby (Sula nebouxii) mates, long-lived colonial seabirds with high annual divorce rates. We tested the hypothesis that interactions between maternal and paternal telomere lengths affect offspring and parental survival. We found that relative telomere lengths (RTL) were strongly positively correlated between members of a breeding pair. In addition, RTL of both parents interacted to predict fledgling recruitment, although fledglings with two very long-RTL parents performed only averagely. Telomere lengths also predicted adult survival: birds with long telomeres were more likely to survive, but birds whose mate had long telomeres were less likely to survive. Thus, having long telomeres benefits survival, while choosing a mate with long telomeres benefits reproductive output while penalizing survival. These patterns demonstrate that while a breeder's RTL predicts offspring quality, assortative mating by RTL does not enhance fitness, and a trade-off between different components of fitness may govern patterns of assortative mating by telomere length. They also illustrate how testing the adaptive value of only one parent’s telomere length on either survival or reproductive success alone may provide equivocal results.
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15
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Criscuolo F, Torres R, Zahn S, Williams TD. Telomere dynamics from hatching to sexual maturity and maternal effects in the 'multivariate egg'. J Exp Biol 2020; 223:jeb232496. [PMID: 33139395 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.232496] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2020] [Accepted: 10/26/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Avian eggs contain a large number of molecules deposited by the mother that provide the embryo with energy but also potentially influence its development via the effects of maternally derived hormones and antibodies: the avian egg is thus 'multivariate'. Multivariate effects on offspring phenotype were evaluated in a study on captive zebra finches, by simultaneously manipulating maternally derived antibodies (MAb) by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) treatment of mothers and injection of testosterone into the egg yolk. LPS treatment had a positive effect on body mass growth at 30 days after hatching and immune response at sexual maturity, while egg testosterone treatment positively influenced immune response at fledging and courtship behaviour in sexually mature male offspring. Maternal effects are known to modulate offspring telomere length (TL). However, the multivariate effects of egg-derived maternal components on offspring telomere dynamics from hatching to sexual maturity are undefined. Here, we tested: (1) the effects of LPS and testosterone treatments on TL from hatching to sexual maturity (day 82); (2) how LPS treatment modulated TL over reproduction in adult females; and (3) the relationship between maternal and offspring TL. We predicted that TL would be shorter in LPS fledglings (as a cost of faster growth) and that TL would be longer in sexually mature adults after yolk testosterone treatment (as a proxy of individual quality). In adult females, there was an overall negative relationship between laying and rearing investments and TL, this relationship was weaker in LPS-treated females. In chicks, there was an overall negative effect of LPS treatment on TL measured at fledging and sexual maturity (day 25-82). In addition, at fledging, there was a Sex×LPS×Testosterone interaction, suggesting the existence of antagonistic effects of our treatments. Our data partially support the hypothesis that telomeres are proxies of individual quality and that individual differences in TL are established very early in life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francois Criscuolo
- University of Strasbourg, CNRS, Institut Pluridisciplinaire Hubert Curien, UMR 7178, 67000 Strasbourg, France
| | - Roxanna Torres
- Instituto de Ecologia, Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico, A.P. 70-275, Mexico D.F. 04510, Mexico
| | - Sandrine Zahn
- University of Strasbourg, CNRS, Institut Pluridisciplinaire Hubert Curien, UMR 7178, 67000 Strasbourg, France
| | - Tony D Williams
- Department of Biological Sciences, Simon Fraser University, 8888 University Drive, Burnaby, Canada V5A 1S6
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16
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Vernasco BJ, Dakin R, Majer AD, Haussmann MF, Brandt Ryder T, Moore IT. Longitudinal dynamics and behavioural correlates of telomeres in male wire‐tailed manakins. Funct Ecol 2020. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2435.13715] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Ben J. Vernasco
- Department of Biological Sciences Virginia Tech Blacksburg VA USA
| | - Roslyn Dakin
- Migratory Bird Center Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute Washington DC USA
| | | | | | - T. Brandt Ryder
- Migratory Bird Center Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute Washington DC USA
| | - Ignacio T. Moore
- Department of Biological Sciences Virginia Tech Blacksburg VA USA
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17
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Remot F, Ronget V, Froy H, Rey B, Gaillard JM, Nussey DH, Lemaître JF. No sex differences in adult telomere length across vertebrates: a meta-analysis. ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE 2020; 7:200548. [PMID: 33391781 PMCID: PMC7735339 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.200548] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2020] [Accepted: 09/29/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
In many mammalian species, females live on average longer than males. In humans, women have consistently longer telomeres than men, and this has led to speculation that sex differences in telomere length (TL) could play a role in sex differences in longevity. To address the generality and drivers of patterns of sex differences in TL across vertebrates, we performed meta-analyses across 51 species. We tested two main evolutionary hypotheses proposed to explain sex differences in TL, namely the heterogametic sex disadvantage and the sexual selection hypotheses. We found no support for consistent sex differences in TL between males and females among mammal, bird, fish and reptile species. This absence of sex differences in TL across different classes of vertebrates does not support the heterogametic sex disadvantage hypothesis. Likewise, the absence of any negative effect of sexual size dimorphism on male TL suggests that sexual selection is not likely to mediate the magnitude of sex differences in TL across vertebrates. Finally, the comparative analyses we conducted did not detect any association between sex differences in TL and sex differences in longevity, which does not support the idea that sex differences in TL could explain the observed sex differences in longevity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Florentin Remot
- Université de Lyon, Université Lyon 1, CNRS, Laboratoire de Biométrie et Biologie Evolutive, UMR5558, F-69622 Villeurbanne, France
| | - Victor Ronget
- Université de Lyon, Université Lyon 1, CNRS, Laboratoire de Biométrie et Biologie Evolutive, UMR5558, F-69622 Villeurbanne, France
| | - Hannah Froy
- Institute of Evolutionary Biology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH9 3FL, UK
- Centre for Biodiversity Dynamics, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Benjamin Rey
- Université de Lyon, Université Lyon 1, CNRS, Laboratoire de Biométrie et Biologie Evolutive, UMR5558, F-69622 Villeurbanne, France
| | - Jean-Michel Gaillard
- Université de Lyon, Université Lyon 1, CNRS, Laboratoire de Biométrie et Biologie Evolutive, UMR5558, F-69622 Villeurbanne, France
| | - Daniel H. Nussey
- Institute of Evolutionary Biology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH9 3FL, UK
| | - Jean-François Lemaître
- Université de Lyon, Université Lyon 1, CNRS, Laboratoire de Biométrie et Biologie Evolutive, UMR5558, F-69622 Villeurbanne, France
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18
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Viblanc VA, Schull Q, Stier A, Durand L, Lefol E, Robin J, Zahn S, Bize P, Criscuolo F. Foster rather than biological parental telomere length predicts offspring survival and telomere length in king penguins. Mol Ecol 2020; 29:3155-3167. [DOI: 10.1111/mec.15485] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2019] [Revised: 05/08/2020] [Accepted: 05/19/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Vincent A. Viblanc
- Institut Pluridisciplinaire Hubert Curien UMR 7178Université de StrasbourgCNRS Strasbourg France
- Centre d’Ecologie Fonctionnelle et Evolutive UMR 5175, IRD, CNRS, EPHE Université de Montpellier, Université Paul Valéry Montpellier 3 Montpellier France
| | - Quentin Schull
- Institut Pluridisciplinaire Hubert Curien UMR 7178Université de StrasbourgCNRS Strasbourg France
- MARBEC IFREMER, IRD CNRSUniversité de Montpellier Sète France
| | - Antoine Stier
- Department of Biology University of Turku Turku Finland
| | - Laureline Durand
- Institut Pluridisciplinaire Hubert Curien UMR 7178Université de StrasbourgCNRS Strasbourg France
- IPEV – Institut Polaire Français Paul Emile Victor Plouzané France
| | - Emilie Lefol
- Institut Pluridisciplinaire Hubert Curien UMR 7178Université de StrasbourgCNRS Strasbourg France
- IPEV – Institut Polaire Français Paul Emile Victor Plouzané France
| | - Jean‐Patrice Robin
- Institut Pluridisciplinaire Hubert Curien UMR 7178Université de StrasbourgCNRS Strasbourg France
| | - Sandrine Zahn
- Institut Pluridisciplinaire Hubert Curien UMR 7178Université de StrasbourgCNRS Strasbourg France
| | - Pierre Bize
- School of Biological Sciences University of Aberdeen Aberdeen UK
| | - François Criscuolo
- Institut Pluridisciplinaire Hubert Curien UMR 7178Université de StrasbourgCNRS Strasbourg France
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19
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Bodey TW, Cleasby IR, Blount JD, McElwaine G, Vigfusdottir F, Bearhop S. Consistent measures of oxidative balance predict survival but not reproduction in a long‐distance migrant. J Anim Ecol 2020; 89:1872-1882. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2656.13237] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2019] [Accepted: 03/27/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Thomas W. Bodey
- Centre for Ecology & Conservation University of Exeter Penryn Campus Penryn UK
- School of Biological Sciences University of Auckland Auckland New Zealand
| | - Ian R. Cleasby
- Centre for Ecology & Conservation University of Exeter Penryn Campus Penryn UK
- Royal Society for the Protection of Birds Centre for Conservation Science Inverness UK
| | - Jonathan D. Blount
- Centre for Ecology & Conservation University of Exeter Penryn Campus Penryn UK
| | | | - Freydis Vigfusdottir
- Faculty of Life and Environmental Sciences and School of Social Sciences University of Iceland Reykjavik Iceland
| | - Stuart Bearhop
- Centre for Ecology & Conservation University of Exeter Penryn Campus Penryn UK
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20
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Bichet C, Bouwhuis S, Bauch C, Verhulst S, Becker PH, Vedder O. Telomere length is repeatable, shortens with age and reproductive success, and predicts remaining lifespan in a long‐lived seabird. Mol Ecol 2020; 29:429-441. [DOI: 10.1111/mec.15331] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2019] [Revised: 11/13/2019] [Accepted: 12/02/2019] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Christina Bauch
- Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences University of Groningen Groningen The Netherlands
| | - Simon Verhulst
- Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences University of Groningen Groningen The Netherlands
| | | | - Oscar Vedder
- Institute of Avian Research Wilhelmshaven Germany
- Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences University of Groningen Groningen The Netherlands
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21
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Criscuolo F, Cornell A, Zahn S, Williams TD. Oxidative status and telomere length are related to somatic and physiological maturation in chicks of European starlings ( Sturnus vulgaris). ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2019; 222:jeb.204719. [PMID: 31548285 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.204719] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2019] [Accepted: 09/16/2019] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Telomere length can be considered as an indicator of an organism's somatic state, long telomeres reflecting higher energy investment in self-maintenance. Early-life is a period of intense investment in somatic growth and in physiological maturation but how this is reflected in telomere length remains unclear. Using European starling chicks we tested: (i) how telomere length measured at asymptotic mass is related to proxies of somatic growth and physiological maturity in 17-day-old nestlings; (ii) how telomere length measured at 17 days then predicts the changes in somatic and physiological maturity occurring in fledglings (between 17 and 21 days); (iii) how growth and telomere length co-vary when chicks are under experimentally good (fed) growth conditions. Depending on environmental conditions, our data suggest links between somatic growth, physiological maturation and body maintenance parameters (positive with oxidative stress and negative with telomere length) in nestlings. Telomere length measured at day 17 predicted a subsequent change in physiological maturation variables observed in fledglings, but only in second-brood chicks: chicks with shorter telomeres had a higher pre-fledging rate of increase in haematocrit and haemoglobin content and a greater decrease in reticulocyte count. Finally, food supplementation of chicks did not change telomere length compared with that in control siblings. Our results suggest that physiological maturation prior to fledging may occur at the expense of telomere length but only when environmental conditions are sub-optimal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francois Criscuolo
- University of Strasbourg, CNRS, Institut Pluridisciplinaire Hubert Curien, UMR 7178, 67000 Strasbourg, France
| | - Allison Cornell
- Department of Biological Sciences, Simon Fraser University, 8888 University Drive, Burnaby, Canada V5A 1S6
| | - Sandrine Zahn
- University of Strasbourg, CNRS, Institut Pluridisciplinaire Hubert Curien, UMR 7178, 67000 Strasbourg, France
| | - Tony D Williams
- Department of Biological Sciences, Simon Fraser University, 8888 University Drive, Burnaby, Canada V5A 1S6
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22
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Impact of continuous predator threat on telomere dynamics in parent and nestling pied flycatchers. Oecologia 2019; 191:757-766. [PMID: 31612326 PMCID: PMC6853860 DOI: 10.1007/s00442-019-04529-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2018] [Accepted: 10/03/2019] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
In addition to direct mortality, predators can have indirect effects on prey populations by affecting prey behaviour or physiology. For example, predator presence can increase stress hormone levels, which can have physiological costs. Stress exposure accelerates the shortening of telomeres (i.e. the protective caps of chromosomes) and shorter telomeres have been linked to increased mortality risk. However, the effect of perceived predation risk on telomeres is not known. We investigated the effects of continuous predator threat (nesting Eurasian pygmy owl Glaucidium passerinum) on telomere dynamics of both adult and partially cross-fostered nestling pied flycatchers (Ficedula hypoleuca) in the wild. Females nesting at owl-inhabited sites showed impaired telomere maintenance between incubation and chick rearing compared to controls, and both males and females ended up with shorter telomeres at owl-inhabited sites in the end of chick rearing. On the contrary, both original and cross-fostered chicks reared in owl sites had consistently longer telomeres during growth than chicks reared at control sites. Thus, predation risk may cause a long-term cost in terms of telomeres for parents but not for their offspring. Predators may therefore affect telomere dynamics of their preys, which could have implications for their ageing rate and consequently for population dynamics.
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23
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Sudyka J. Does Reproduction Shorten Telomeres? Towards Integrating Individual Quality with Life‐History Strategies in Telomere Biology. Bioessays 2019; 41:e1900095. [DOI: 10.1002/bies.201900095] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2019] [Revised: 09/03/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Joanna Sudyka
- Wild Urban Evolution and Ecology LabCentre of New Technologies (CeNT)University of Warsaw 02‐097 Warsaw Poland
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24
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Belmaker A, Hallinger KK, Glynn RA, Winkler DW, Haussmann MF. The environmental and genetic determinants of chick telomere length in Tree Swallows ( Tachycineta bicolor). Ecol Evol 2019; 9:8175-8186. [PMID: 31380080 PMCID: PMC6662556 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.5386] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2019] [Revised: 05/16/2019] [Accepted: 05/23/2019] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Conditions during early life can have dramatic effects on adult characteristics and fitness. However, we still know little about the mechanisms that mediate these relationships. Telomere shortening is one possibility. Telomeres are long sequences of DNA that protect the ends of chromosomes. They shorten naturally throughout an individual's life, and individuals with short telomeres tend to have poorer health and reduced survival. Given this connection between telomere length (TL) and fitness, natural selection should favor individuals that are able to retain longer telomeres for a greater portion of their lives. However, the ability of natural selection to act on TL depends on the extent to which genetic and environmental factors influence TL. In this study, we experimentally enlarged broods of Tree Swallows (Tachycineta bicolor) to test the effects of demanding early-life conditions on TL, while simultaneously cross-fostering chicks to estimate heritable genetic influences on TL. In addition, we estimated the effects of parental age and chick sex on chick TL. We found that TL is highly heritable in Tree Swallow chicks, and that the maternal genetic basis for TL is stronger than is the paternal genetic basis. In contrast, the experimental manipulation of brood size had only a weak effect on chick TL, suggesting that the role of environmental factors in influencing TL early in life is limited. There was no effect of chick sex or parental age on chick TL. While these results are consistent with those reported in some studies, they are in conflict with others. These disparate conclusions might be attributable to the inherent complexity of telomere dynamics playing out differently in different populations or to study-specific variation in the age at which subjects were measured.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amos Belmaker
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary BiologyCornell UniversityIthacaNew York
- Present address:
The Steinhardt Museum of Natural HistoryTel‐Aviv UniversityTel AvivIsrael
| | - Kelly K. Hallinger
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary BiologyCornell UniversityIthacaNew York
- Present address:
Department of Ecology and Evolutionary BiologyUniversity of ArizonaTucsonArizona
| | | | - David W. Winkler
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary BiologyCornell UniversityIthacaNew York
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25
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Eckbo N, Le Bohec C, Planas-Bielsa V, Warner NA, Schull Q, Herzke D, Zahn S, Haarr A, Gabrielsen GW, Borgå K. Individual variability in contaminants and physiological status in a resident Arctic seabird species. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2019; 249:191-199. [PMID: 30889502 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2019.01.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2018] [Revised: 11/08/2018] [Accepted: 01/08/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
While migratory seabirds dominate ecotoxicological studies within the Arctic, there is limited knowledge about exposure and potential effects from circulating legacy and emerging contaminants in species who reside in the high-Arctic all year round. Here, we focus on the case of the Mandt's Black guillemot (Cepphus grylle mandtii) breeding at Kongsfjorden, Svalbard (79.00°N, 11.66°E) and investigate exposure to legacy and emerging contaminants in relation to individual physiological status, i.e. body condition, oxidative stress and relative telomere length. Despite its benthic-inshore foraging strategy, the Black guillemot displayed overall similar contaminant concentrations in blood during incubation (∑PCB11 (15.7 ng/g w.w.) > ∑PFAS5 (9.9 ng/g w.w.) > ∑Pesticides9 (6.7 ng/g w.w.) > ∑PBDE4 (2.7 ng/g w.w.), and Hg (0.3 μg/g d.w.) compared to an Arctic migratory seabird in which several contaminant-related stress responses have been observed. Black guillemots in poorer condition tended to display higher levels of contaminants, higher levels of reactive oxygen metabolites, lower plasmatic antioxidant capacity, and shorter telomere lengths; however the low sample size restrict any strong conclusions. Nevertheless, our data suggests that nonlinear relationships with a threshold may exist between accumulated contaminant concentrations and physiological status of the birds. These findings were used to build a hypothesis to be applied in future modelling for describing how chronic exposure to contaminants may be linked to telomere dynamics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Norith Eckbo
- University of Oslo, Department of Biosciences, Problemveien 7, 0315, Oslo, Norway.
| | - Céline Le Bohec
- Université de Strasbourg, CNRS, IPHC UMR 7178, 23 rue Becquerel, F-67000, Strasbourg, France; Centre Scientifique de Monaco - Département de Biologie Polaire, 8, quai Antoine 1er, MC 98000, Monaco, Monaco; Laboratoire International Associé LIA 647 BioSensib (CSM-CNRS-Unistra), 8, quai Antoine 1er, MC 98000, Monaco, Monaco
| | - Victor Planas-Bielsa
- Centre Scientifique de Monaco - Département de Biologie Polaire, 8, quai Antoine 1er, MC 98000, Monaco, Monaco; Laboratoire International Associé LIA 647 BioSensib (CSM-CNRS-Unistra), 8, quai Antoine 1er, MC 98000, Monaco, Monaco
| | - Nicholas A Warner
- NILU, Norwegian Institute for Air Research, Fram Centre, Hjalmar Johansens Gate 14, 9007, Tromsø, Norway
| | - Quentin Schull
- MARBEC, Ifremer, Université de Montpellier, CNRS, IRD, Avenue Jean Monnet CS 30171, 34203, Sète, France
| | - Dorte Herzke
- NILU, Norwegian Institute for Air Research, Fram Centre, Hjalmar Johansens Gate 14, 9007, Tromsø, Norway
| | - Sandrine Zahn
- Université de Strasbourg, CNRS, IPHC UMR 7178, 23 rue Becquerel, F-67000, Strasbourg, France
| | - Ane Haarr
- University of Oslo, Department of Biosciences, Problemveien 7, 0315, Oslo, Norway
| | - Geir W Gabrielsen
- Norwegian Polar Institute, Fram Centre, Hjalmar Johansens Gate 14, 9007, Tromsø, Norway
| | - Katrine Borgå
- University of Oslo, Department of Biosciences, Problemveien 7, 0315, Oslo, Norway
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26
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Angelier F, Weimerskirch H, Barbraud C, Chastel O. Is telomere length a molecular marker of individual quality? Insights from a long-lived bird. Funct Ecol 2019. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2435.13307] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Frédéric Angelier
- Centre d'Etudes Biologiques de Chizé; CNRS-Université de La Rochelle, UMR-7372; Villiers-en-Bois France
| | - Henri Weimerskirch
- Centre d'Etudes Biologiques de Chizé; CNRS-Université de La Rochelle, UMR-7372; Villiers-en-Bois France
| | - Christophe Barbraud
- Centre d'Etudes Biologiques de Chizé; CNRS-Université de La Rochelle, UMR-7372; Villiers-en-Bois France
| | - Olivier Chastel
- Centre d'Etudes Biologiques de Chizé; CNRS-Université de La Rochelle, UMR-7372; Villiers-en-Bois France
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27
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Giraudeau M, Angelier F, Sepp T. Do Telomeres Influence Pace-of-Life-Strategies in Response to Environmental Conditions Over a Lifetime and Between Generations? Bioessays 2019; 41:e1800162. [DOI: 10.1002/bies.201800162] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2018] [Revised: 12/06/2018] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Mathieu Giraudeau
- CREEC; 911 Avenue Agropolis; BP 6450134394 Montpellier Cedex 5 France
- MIVEGEC; UMR IRD/CNRS/UM 5290; 911 Avenue Agropolis, BP 6450134394 Montpellier Cedex 5 France
| | - Frederic Angelier
- CNRS CEBC-ULR; UMR 7372; Villiers en Bois 79360 Beauvoir sur Niort France
| | - Tuul Sepp
- Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences; University of Tartu; Vanemuise 46 51014 Tartu Estonia
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Schull Q, Viblanc VA, Dobson FS, Robin JP, Zahn S, Cristofari R, Bize P, Criscuolo F. Assortative pairing by telomere length in King Penguins (Aptenodytes patagonicus) and relationships with breeding success. CAN J ZOOL 2018. [DOI: 10.1139/cjz-2017-0094] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Telomeres are noncoding genetic repeats protecting the ends of linear chromosomes. Long telomeres are often associated with high individual survival, and interindividual variation in telomere length has recently been proposed as a proxy for individual quality. Therefore, one might expect individuals of either sex with long telomeres to be of higher intrinsic quality and to be preferred in the context of mate choice. Thus, in sexually monomorphic species where individuals discriminate mates on the basis of signals of intrinsic quality, mate choice should lead to assortative pairing by telomere length, and it should be associated with breeding performance. We tested these two predictions in the King Penguin (Aptenodytes patagonicus J.F. Miller, 1778), a sexually monomorphic seabird. Over 3 years of study and 73 penguin pairs under contrasting environmental conditions, we found strong assortative pairing by telomere length. Interestingly, only female telomere length was positively associated to chick survival up to fledging, and this relationship was only apparent when foraging conditions at sea were average. The positive link between telomere length and breeding success confirmed that telomere length is somehow related to individual biological state at a given time. The proximate mechanisms by which birds assess individual state related to telomere length remain to be discovered.
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Affiliation(s)
- Quentin Schull
- Université de Strasbourg, CNRS, IPHC UMR 7178, 67000 Strasbourg, France
| | | | | | | | - Sandrine Zahn
- Université de Strasbourg, CNRS, IPHC UMR 7178, 67000 Strasbourg, France
| | - Robin Cristofari
- Université de Strasbourg, CNRS, IPHC UMR 7178, 67000 Strasbourg, France
| | - Pierre Bize
- University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, AB24 2TZ, United Kingdom
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29
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Bauer CM, Graham JL, Abolins-Abols M, Heidinger BJ, Ketterson ED, Greives TJ. Chronological and Biological Age Predict Seasonal Reproductive Timing: An Investigation of Clutch Initiation and Telomeres in Birds of Known Age. Am Nat 2018; 191:777-782. [PMID: 29750556 DOI: 10.1086/697224] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
Female vertebrates that breed earlier in the season generally have greater reproductive success. However, evidence suggests that breeding early may be costly, thus leading to the prediction that females with fewer future reproductive events will breed earlier in the season. While chronological age is a good indicator of remaining life span, telomere lengths may also be good biomarkers of longevity as they potentially reflect lifetime wear and tear (i.e., biological age). We examined whether variation in the timing of the first seasonal clutch was related to age and telomere length in female dark-eyed juncos (Junco hyemalis), predicting that older females and those with shorter telomeres would breed earlier. Both predictions held true and were independent of each other, as telomere length did not significantly vary with age. These results suggest that females may adjust their reproductive effort based on both chronological and biological age.
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30
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Young AJ. The role of telomeres in the mechanisms and evolution of life-history trade-offs and ageing. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2018; 373:20160452. [PMID: 29335379 PMCID: PMC5784072 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2016.0452] [Citation(s) in RCA: 128] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/19/2017] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Evolutionary biology and biomedicine have seen a surge of recent interest in the possibility that telomeres play a role in life-history trade-offs and ageing. Here, I evaluate alternative hypotheses for the role of telomeres in the mechanisms and evolution of life-history trade-offs and ageing, and highlight outstanding challenges. First, while recent findings underscore the possibility of a proximate causal role for telomeres in current-future trade-offs and ageing, it is currently unclear (i) whether telomeres ever play a causal role in either and (ii) whether any causal role for telomeres arises via shortening or length-independent mechanisms. Second, I consider why, if telomeres do play a proximate causal role, selection has not decoupled such a telomere-mediated trade-off between current and future performance. Evidence suggests that evolutionary constraints have not rendered such decoupling impossible. Instead, a causal role for telomeres would more plausibly reflect an adaptive strategy, born of telomere maintenance costs and/or a function for telomere attrition (e.g. in countering cancer), the relative importance of which is currently unclear. Finally, I consider the potential for telomere biology to clarify the constraints at play in life-history evolution, and to explain the form of the current-future trade-offs and ageing trajectories that we observe today.This article is part of the theme issue 'Understanding diversity in telomere dynamics'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew J Young
- School of Biosciences, University of Exeter Penryn Campus, Penryn TR10 9FE, UK
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31
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Saino N, Ambrosini R, Rubolini D, Romano M, Caprioli M, Romano A, Parolini M. Carry-over effects of brood size on morphology, reproduction, and lifespan in barn swallows. Behav Ecol Sociobiol 2018. [DOI: 10.1007/s00265-018-2446-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
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32
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Dupoué A, Rutschmann A, Le Galliard JF, Clobert J, Angelier F, Marciau C, Ruault S, Miles D, Meylan S. Shorter telomeres precede population extinction in wild lizards. Sci Rep 2017; 7:16976. [PMID: 29209027 PMCID: PMC5717062 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-17323-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2017] [Accepted: 11/24/2017] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Identifying the early warning signals of catastrophic extinctions has recently become a central focus for ecologists, but species’ functional responses to environmental changes remain an untapped source for the sharpening of such warning signals. Telomere length (TL) analysis represents a promising molecular tool with which to raise the alarm regarding early population decline, since telomere attrition is associated with aging processes and accelerates after a recurrent exposure to environmental stressors. In the southern margin of their range, populations of the common lizard (Zootoca vivipara) recently became extinct at lowest elevations due to changes in climate conditions. However, the proximal signals involved in these demographic declines are still unknown. Here, we sampled 100 yearling lizards from 10 natural populations (n = 10 per population) along an extinction risk gradient. Relative lizard abundance dramatically dropped over 12 years in low-altitude populations characterized by warmer ambient temperatures and higher body growth of lizards early in life. A non-linear relationship was found between TL and population extinction risk, with shorter telomeres in populations facing high risk of extinction when compared to non-threatened ones. Our results identify TL as a promising biomarker and imply that population extinctions might be preceded by a loop of physiological aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andréaz Dupoué
- CNRS UPMC, UMR 7618, iEES Paris, Université Pierre et Marie Curie, 4 place Jussieu, 75005, Paris, France.
| | - Alexis Rutschmann
- Station d'Ecologie Théorique et Expérimentale du CNRS à Moulis, UMR 5321, 09200, Saint Girons, France.,School of Biological Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Jean François Le Galliard
- CNRS UPMC, UMR 7618, iEES Paris, Université Pierre et Marie Curie, 4 place Jussieu, 75005, Paris, France.,Ecole Normale Supérieure, PSL Research University, CNRS, Centre de recherche en écologie expérimentale et prédictive (CEREEP-Ecotron IleDeFrance), UMS 3194, 78 rue du château, 77140, Saint-Pierre-lès-Nemours, France
| | - Jean Clobert
- Station d'Ecologie Théorique et Expérimentale du CNRS à Moulis, UMR 5321, 09200, Saint Girons, France
| | - Frédéric Angelier
- CNRS CEBC-ULR, UMR 7672, Villiers en Bois, 79360, Beauvoir sur Niort, France
| | - Coline Marciau
- CNRS UPMC, UMR 7618, iEES Paris, Université Pierre et Marie Curie, 4 place Jussieu, 75005, Paris, France
| | - Stéphanie Ruault
- CNRS CEBC-ULR, UMR 7672, Villiers en Bois, 79360, Beauvoir sur Niort, France
| | - Donald Miles
- Department of Biological Sciences, Ohio University, Athens, OH, 45701, USA
| | - Sandrine Meylan
- CNRS UPMC, UMR 7618, iEES Paris, Université Pierre et Marie Curie, 4 place Jussieu, 75005, Paris, France.,ESPE de Paris, Université Sorbonne Paris IV, 10 rue Molitor, 75016, Paris, France
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Parolini M, Romano A, Costanzo A, Khoriauli L, Santagostino M, Nergadze SG, Canova L, Rubolini D, Giulotto E, Saino N. Telomere length is reflected by plumage coloration and predicts seasonal reproductive success in the barn swallow. Mol Ecol 2017; 26:6100-6109. [DOI: 10.1111/mec.14340] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2017] [Revised: 08/14/2017] [Accepted: 08/15/2017] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Marco Parolini
- Department of Environmental Science and Policy University of Milan Milan Italy
| | - Andrea Romano
- Department of Environmental Science and Policy University of Milan Milan Italy
| | - Alessandra Costanzo
- Department of Environmental Science and Policy University of Milan Milan Italy
| | - Lela Khoriauli
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology University of Pavia Pavia Italy
| | | | | | - Luca Canova
- Department of Chemistry University of Pavia Pavia Italy
| | - Diego Rubolini
- Department of Environmental Science and Policy University of Milan Milan Italy
| | - Elena Giulotto
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology University of Pavia Pavia Italy
| | - Nicola Saino
- Department of Environmental Science and Policy University of Milan Milan Italy
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Noreikiene K, Öst M, Seltmann M, Boner W, Monaghan P, Jaatinen K. Nest cover and faecal glucocorticoid metabolites are linked to hatching success and telomere length in breeding Common Eiders (Somateria mollissima). CAN J ZOOL 2017. [DOI: 10.1139/cjz-2016-0242] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Habitat-associated crypsis may affect perceived predation vulnerability, selecting for different predator avoidance strategies. Glucocorticoids could mediate the adjustment of escape responses to the extent of crypsis, introducing an overlooked source of variation in glucocorticoid–fitness relationships. However, prolonged exposure to elevated glucocorticoids may be costly, leading to accelerated telomere loss and, consequently, senescence. Here, we examined how nest cover and immunoreactive faecal glucocorticoid metabolite (fGCM) levels are linked to hatching success and telomere length in breeding female Common Eiders (Somateria mollissima (L., 1758)). We hypothesized that the degree of nest crypsis, reflecting differences in perceived predation risk, would moderate the relationship between reproductive success and fGCM levels. We also expected that telomere length would be shorter in birds with higher glucocorticoid concentration. Results showed that individuals with high fGCM levels had higher hatching success in nests with low cover, while low fGCM levels were more successful in well-concealed nests. We found that shorter telomeres were associated with high fGCM in nesting sites offering little cover and with low fGCM in well-concealed ones. This study provides the first evidence of habitat-dependent moderation of the relationships between stress physiology, telomere length and hatching success.
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Affiliation(s)
- K. Noreikiene
- Ecological Genetics Research Unit, Department of Biosciences, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 65, FI-00014 Helsinki, Finland
| | - M. Öst
- Environmental and Marine Biology, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Åbo Akademi University, Artillerigatan 6, FI-20520 Turku, Finland; Novia University of Applied Sciences, Raseborgsvägen 9, FI-10600 Ekenäs, Finland
| | - M.W. Seltmann
- Department of Biology, University of Turku, FI-20014 Turku, Finland
| | - W. Boner
- Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative Medicine, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, Graham Kerr Building, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ, United Kingdom
| | - P. Monaghan
- Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative Medicine, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, Graham Kerr Building, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ, United Kingdom
| | - K. Jaatinen
- Tvärminne Zoological Station, University of Helsinki, J.A. Palménin tie 260, 10900 Hanko, Finland
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Bauch C, Riechert J, Verhulst S, Becker PH. Telomere length reflects reproductive effort indicated by corticosterone levels in a long-lived seabird. Mol Ecol 2016; 25:5785-5794. [PMID: 27696588 DOI: 10.1111/mec.13874] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2015] [Revised: 09/13/2016] [Accepted: 09/16/2016] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Telomere length (TL) is a candidate biomarker of ageing and phenotypic quality, but little is known of the (physiological) causes of TL variation. We previously showed that individual common terns Sterna hirundo with high reproductive success had short telomeres independent of age, and this pattern was particularly strong in the longer telomeres of the within-individual TL distribution. To test whether this relation can be attributed to effects of reproductive effort, we investigated baseline corticosterone in relation to reproductive success (number of fledglings) and TL. In this context, we assume that variation in baseline corticosterone can be interpreted as index of energy expenditure and allostatic load. Males with higher corticosterone levels during incubation, compared between and within individuals, achieved higher reproductive success and had shorter telomeres. The effect on telomeres was more pronounced in corticosterone measured later in incubation and in the longer telomeres of the within-individual TL distribution. Female corticosterone level during incubation was neither related to reproductive success nor to TL. That we observed these effects only in males mirrors different parental roles during reproduction in the common tern, where males do most of the chick provisioning. The negative association between reproductive success and TL suggests individual differences in reproductive effort as reflected in, or mediated by, baseline corticosterone. We see this result as a promising step towards unravelling the physiological causes of variation in TL and the costs of reproduction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christina Bauch
- Behavioural and Physiological Ecology, Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 7, 9747AG, Groningen, The Netherlands.,Institute of Avian Research "Vogelwarte Helgoland", An der Vogelwarte 21, 26386, Wilhelmshaven, Germany
| | - Juliane Riechert
- Institute of Avian Research "Vogelwarte Helgoland", An der Vogelwarte 21, 26386, Wilhelmshaven, Germany
| | - Simon Verhulst
- Behavioural and Physiological Ecology, Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 7, 9747AG, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Peter H Becker
- Institute of Avian Research "Vogelwarte Helgoland", An der Vogelwarte 21, 26386, Wilhelmshaven, Germany
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36
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Costanzo A, Parolini M, Bazzi G, Khoriauli L, Santagostino M, Possenti CD, Romano A, Nergadze SG, Rubolini D, Giulotto E, Saino N. Brood size, telomere length, and parent-offspring color signaling in barn swallows. Behav Ecol 2016. [DOI: 10.1093/beheco/arw147] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
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37
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38
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Le Vaillant M, Ropert-Coudert Y, Le Maho Y, Le Bohec C. Individual parameters shape foraging activity in breeding king penguins. Behav Ecol 2016. [DOI: 10.1093/beheco/arv146] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
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39
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Schull Q, Viblanc VA, Stier A, Saadaoui H, Lefol E, Criscuolo F, Bize P, Robin JP. The oxidative debt of fasting: evidence for short to medium-term costs of advanced fasting in adult king penguins. J Exp Biol 2016; 219:3284-3293. [DOI: 10.1242/jeb.145250] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2016] [Accepted: 08/08/2016] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
In response to prolonged periods of fasting, animals have evolved metabolic adaptations helping to mobilize body reserves and/or reducing metabolic rate, to ensure a longer usage of reserves. Those metabolic changes can however be associated with higher exposure to oxidative stress, raising the question how species that naturally fast during their life cycle avoid an accumulation of oxidative damage over time. King penguins repeatedly cope with fasting periods up to several weeks. Here we investigated how adult male penguins deal with oxidative stress after an experimentally induced moderate fasting period (PII) or an advanced fasting period (PIII). After fasting in captivity, birds were released to forage at sea. We measured plasmatic oxidative stress on the same individuals at the start and end of the fasting period and when they returned from foraging at sea. We found an increase in activity of the antioxidant enzyme superoxide dismutase along with fasting. However, PIII individuals showed higher oxidative damage at the end of the fast compared to PII individuals. When they returned from re-feeding at sea, all birds had recovered their initial body mass and exhibited low levels of oxidative damage. Notably, levels of oxidative damage after the foraging trip were correlated to the rate of mass gain at sea in PIII individuals but not in PII individuals. Altogether, our results suggest that fasting induces a transitory exposure to oxidative stress and that effort to recover in body mass after an advanced fasting period may be a neglected carry-over cost of fasting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Quentin Schull
- IPHC, UNISTRA, CNRS, 23 rue du Loess, 67200 Strasbourg, France
| | | | - Antoine Stier
- IPHC, UNISTRA, CNRS, 23 rue du Loess, 67200 Strasbourg, France
| | - Hédi Saadaoui
- IPHC, UNISTRA, CNRS, 23 rue du Loess, 67200 Strasbourg, France
| | - Emilie Lefol
- IPHC, UNISTRA, CNRS, 23 rue du Loess, 67200 Strasbourg, France
| | | | - Pierre Bize
- Institute of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Scotland, UK
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