1
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McEntee MHF, Foroughirad V, Krzyszczyk E, Mann J. Sex bias in mortality risk changes over the lifespan of bottlenose dolphins. Proc Biol Sci 2023; 290:20230675. [PMID: 37491966 PMCID: PMC10369037 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2023.0675] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2023] [Accepted: 06/26/2023] [Indexed: 07/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Research on sex biases in longevity in mammals often assumes that male investment in competition results in a female survival advantage that is constant throughout life. We use 35 years of longitudinal data on 1003 wild bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops aduncus) to examine age-specific mortality, demonstrating a time-varying effect of sex on mortality hazard over the five-decade lifespan of a social mammal. Males are at higher risk of mortality than females during the juvenile period, but the gap between male and female mortality hazard closes in the mid-teens, coincident with the onset of female reproduction. Female mortality hazard is non-significantly higher than male mortality hazard in adulthood, resulting in a moderate male bias in the oldest age class. Bottlenose dolphins have an intensely male-competitive mating system, and juvenile male mortality has been linked to social competition. Contrary to predictions from sexual selection theory, however, male-male competition does not result in sustained male-biased mortality. As female dolphins experience high costs of sexual coercion in addition to long and energetically expensive periods of gestation and lactation, this suggests that substantial female investment in reproduction can elevate female mortality risk and impact sex biases in lifespan.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Ewa Krzyszczyk
- Department of Biology, Georgetown University, Washington, DC 20057, USA
- School of Natural Sciences, Bangor University, Bangor, Wales LL57 2DG, UK
| | - Janet Mann
- Department of Biology, Georgetown University, Washington, DC 20057, USA
- Department of Psychology, Georgetown University, Washington, DC 20057, USA
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2
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Macartney EL, Bonduriansky R. Does female resistance to mating select for live-fast-die-young strategies in males? A comparative analysis in the genus Drosophila. J Evol Biol 2021; 35:192-200. [PMID: 34547153 DOI: 10.1111/jeb.13937] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2021] [Revised: 09/08/2021] [Accepted: 09/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Female promiscuity is a pervasive selective force on male reproductive traits, and the strength of sexual selection is predicted to influence the trade-off between lifespan and reproduction. In species where sexual selection is intense, males are predicted to invest in sexual strategies that shorten their lifespan, potentially resulting in female-biased sexual dimorphism in longevity. However, comparative analyses have provided contrasting results, potentially due to the use of broad mating system categories or sexual size dimorphism as a proxy for sexual selection. Here, we used female remating rate (i.e. female promiscuity) as a more direct measure of sexual selection strength and conducted a phylogenetic comparative analysis of the relationship between female remating rate and sexual dimorphism in lifespan in 29 species of Drosophila. We did not find strong evidence that female remating rate was correlated with sexual dimorphism in lifespan. However, we found that male and female lifespans are positively correlated among species and that phylogeny and residual variance (i.e. variation in non-phylogenetic factors) are important in determining female remating rate, male and female lifespans separately, and the correlation between male and female lifespan. We suggest that variation in the nature of sexual competition and variation between studies could account for some of the unexplained variation among species in the relation between female remating rate and sexual dimorphism in lifespan.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erin L Macartney
- Evolution and Ecology Research Centre, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Russell Bonduriansky
- Evolution and Ecology Research Centre, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
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3
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Liker A, Bókony V, Pipoly I, Lemaître JF, Gaillard JM, Székely T, Freckleton RP. Evolution of large males is associated with female-skewed adult sex ratios in amniotes. Evolution 2021; 75:1636-1649. [PMID: 34021590 DOI: 10.1111/evo.14273] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2020] [Revised: 04/30/2021] [Accepted: 05/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Body size often differs between the sexes (leading to sexual size dimorphism, SSD), as a consequence of differential responses by males and females to selection pressures. Adult sex ratio (ASR, the proportion of males in the adult population) should influence SSD because ASR relates to both the number of competitors and available mates, which shape the intensity of mating competition and thereby promotes SSD evolution. However, whether ASR correlates with SSD variation among species has not been yet tested across a broad range of taxa. Using phylogenetic comparative analyses of 462 amniotes (i.e., reptiles, birds, and mammals), we fill this knowledge gap by showing that male bias in SSD increases with increasingly female-skewed ASRs in both mammals and birds. This relationship is not explained by the higher mortality of the larger sex because SSD is not associated with sex differences in either juvenile or adult mortality. Phylogenetic path analysis indicates that higher mortality in one sex leads to skewed ASR, which in turn may generate selection for SSD biased toward the rare sex. Taken together, our findings provide evidence that skewed ASRs in amniote populations can result in the rarer sex evolving large size to capitalize on enhanced mating opportunities.
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Affiliation(s)
- András Liker
- MTA-PE Evolutionary Ecology Research Group, University of Pannonia, Veszprém, H-8210, Hungary.,Behavioral Ecology Research Group, Center for Natural Sciences, University of Pannonia, Veszprém, H-8210, Hungary
| | - Veronika Bókony
- Lendület Evolutionary Ecology Research Group, Plant Protection Institute, Centre for Agricultural Research, Eötvös Loránd Research Network, Budapest, H-1022, Hungary
| | - Ivett Pipoly
- MTA-PE Evolutionary Ecology Research Group, University of Pannonia, Veszprém, H-8210, Hungary.,Behavioral Ecology Research Group, Center for Natural Sciences, University of Pannonia, Veszprém, H-8210, Hungary
| | - Jean-Francois Lemaître
- Université Lyon 1, CNRS, Laboratoire de Biométrie et Biologie Évolutive UMR 5558, Villeurbanne, F-69622, France
| | - Jean-Michel Gaillard
- Université Lyon 1, CNRS, Laboratoire de Biométrie et Biologie Évolutive UMR 5558, Villeurbanne, F-69622, France
| | - Tamás Székely
- Milner Centre for Evolution, Department of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Bath, Bath, BA2 7AY, United Kingdom.,Department of Evolutionary Zoology and Human Biology, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, H-4032, Hungary
| | - Robert P Freckleton
- Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, Alfred Denny Building, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, S10 2TN, United Kingdom
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4
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Cooper EB, Bonnet T, Osmond HL, Cockburn A, Kruuk LEB. Aging and Senescence across Reproductive Traits and Survival in Superb Fairy-Wrens ( Malurus cyaneus). Am Nat 2020; 197:111-127. [PMID: 33417527 DOI: 10.1086/711755] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
AbstractWhy do senescence rates of fitness-related traits often vary dramatically? By considering the full aging trajectories of multiple traits, we can better understand how a species' life history shapes the evolution of senescence within a population. Here, we examined age-related changes in sex-specific survival, reproduction, and several components of reproduction using a long-term study of a cooperatively breeding songbird, the superb fairy-wren (Malurus cyaneus). We compared aging patterns between traits by estimating standardized rates of maturation, age of onset of senescence, and rates of senescence while controlling for confounding factors reflecting individual variability in life history. We found striking differences in aging and senescence patterns between survival and reproduction as well as between reproductive traits. In both sexes, survival started to decline from maturity onward. In contrast, all reproductive traits showed improvements into early adulthood, and many showed little or no evidence of senescence. In females, despite senescence in clutch size, number of offspring surviving to independence did not decline in late life, possibly due to improvements in maternal care with age. Superb fairy-wrens have exceptionally high levels of extragroup paternity, and while male within-group reproductive success did not change with age, extragroup reproductive success showed a dramatic increase in early ages, followed by a senescent decline, suggesting that male reproductive aging is driven by sexual selection. We discuss how the superb fairy-wrens' complex life history may contribute to the disparate aging patterns across different traits.
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5
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Regan CE, Medill SA, Poissant J, McLoughlin PD. Causes and consequences of an unusually male-biased adult sex ratio in an unmanaged feral horse population. J Anim Ecol 2020; 89:2909-2921. [PMID: 32996590 DOI: 10.1111/1365-2656.13349] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2020] [Accepted: 08/31/2020] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
The adult sex ratio (ASR) is important within ecology due to its predicted effects on behaviour, demography and evolution, but research examining the causes and consequences of ASR bias have lagged behind the studies of sex ratios at earlier life stages. Although ungulate ASR is relatively well-studied, exceptions to the usual female-biased ASR challenge our understanding of the underlying drivers of biased ASR and provide an opportunity to better understand its consequences. Some feral ungulate populations, including multiple horse populations, exhibit unusually male-biased ASR. For example, research suggests that the feral horse Equus ferus caballus population on Sable Island, Nova Scotia, Canada may exhibit a male-biased ASR. Such exceptions to the rule provide a valuable opportunity to reveal the contributions of environmental context and trait differences to ASR bias. We aimed to test for bias in Sable Island horse ASR, identify the demographic drivers of bias, and explore its demographic and social consequences. To do this, we used life history, movement and group membership information for hundreds of horses followed through a long-term individual-based study between 2007 and 2018. Sable Island horse ASR is male biased and this skew has increased over time, reaching 62% male in 2018. Our life table response experiment suggested that ASR skew was driven predominantly by male-biased adult survival. Further analyses pointed to sex-biased survival being driven by reduced female survival post-reproduction. Male-biased ASR was associated with reduced harem sizes, an increase in the number of social groups on the island, and reduced reproduction in young females. Our results support the idea that male-biased ASR in feral ungulate populations may be caused by a combination of high population density and high reproductive output. We suggest that female-biased mortality may be caused by females continuing to reproduce at high density, and thus being more susceptible to resource shortages. Thus, our results highlight the strong context dependence of ASR. Furthermore, our work indicates the potential for ASR to substantially alter a population's social organisation. Such changes in social structure could have knock-on consequences for demography by altering the formation/stability of social relationships, or competition for matings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charlotte E Regan
- Department of Biology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, Canada
| | - Sarah A Medill
- Department of Biology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, Canada
| | - Jocelyn Poissant
- Department of Ecosystem and Public Health, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
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6
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Lemaître JF, Gaillard JM, Ramm SA. The hidden ageing costs of sperm competition. Ecol Lett 2020; 23:1573-1588. [PMID: 32906225 DOI: 10.1111/ele.13593] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2020] [Revised: 06/30/2020] [Accepted: 07/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Ageing and sexual selection are intimately linked. There is by now compelling evidence from studies performed across diverse organisms that males allocating resources to mating competition incur substantial physiological costs, ultimately increasing ageing. However, although insightful, we argue here that to date these studies cover only part of the relationship linking sexual selection and ageing. Crucially, allocation to traits important in post-copulatory sexual selection, that is sperm competition, has been largely ignored. As we demonstrate, such allocation could potentially explain much diversity in male and female ageing patterns observed both within and among species. We first review how allocation to sperm competition traits such as sperm and seminal fluid production depends on the quality of resources available to males and can be associated with a wide range of deleterious effects affecting both somatic tissues and the germline, and thus modulate ageing in both survival and reproductive terms. We further hypothesise that common biological features such as plasticity, prudent sperm allocation and seasonality of ejaculate traits might have evolved as counter-adaptations to limit the ageing costs of sperm competition. Finally, we discuss the implications of these emerging ageing costs of sperm competition for current research on the evolutionary ecology of ageing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jean-François Lemaître
- Université de Lyon, Université Lyon 1, CNRS, Laboratoire de Biométrie et Biologie Evolutive UMR5558, Villeurbanne, F-69622, France
| | - Jean-Michel Gaillard
- Université de Lyon, Université Lyon 1, CNRS, Laboratoire de Biométrie et Biologie Evolutive UMR5558, Villeurbanne, F-69622, France
| | - Steven A Ramm
- Evolutionary Biology, Bielefeld University, Konsequenz 45, Bielefeld, 33615, Germany
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7
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Sex differences in adult lifespan and aging rates of mortality across wild mammals. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2020; 117:8546-8553. [PMID: 32205429 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1911999117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 115] [Impact Index Per Article: 28.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
In human populations, women consistently outlive men, which suggests profound biological foundations for sex differences in survival. Quantifying whether such sex differences are also pervasive in wild mammals is a crucial challenge in both evolutionary biology and biogerontology. Here, we compile demographic data from 134 mammal populations, encompassing 101 species, to show that the female's median lifespan is on average 18.6% longer than that of conspecific males, whereas in humans the female advantage is on average 7.8%. On the contrary, we do not find any consistent sex differences in aging rates. In addition, sex differences in median adult lifespan and aging rates are both highly variable across species. Our analyses suggest that the magnitude of sex differences in mammalian mortality patterns is likely shaped by local environmental conditions in interaction with the sex-specific costs of sexual selection.
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8
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Thorley J, Duncan C, Sharp SP, Gaynor D, Manser MB, Clutton-Brock T. Sex-independent senescence in a cooperatively breeding mammal. J Anim Ecol 2020; 89:1080-1093. [PMID: 31943191 DOI: 10.1111/1365-2656.13173] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2019] [Accepted: 11/28/2019] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Researchers studying mammals have frequently interpreted earlier or faster rates of ageing in males as resulting from polygyny and the associated higher costs of reproductive competition. Yet, few studies conducted on wild populations have compared sex-specific senescence trajectories outside of polygynous species, making it difficult to make generalized inferences on the role of reproductive competition in driving senescence, particularly when other differences between males and females might also contribute to sex-specific changes in performance across lifespan. Here, we examine age-related variation in body mass, reproductive output and survival in dominant male and female meerkats, Suricata suricatta. Meerkats are socially monogamous cooperative breeders where a single dominant pair virtually monopolizes reproduction in each group and subordinate group members help to rear offspring produced by breeders. In contrast to many polygynous societies, we find that neither the onset nor the rate of senescence in body mass or reproductive output shows clear differences between males and females. Both sexes also display similar patterns of age-related survival across lifespan, but unlike most wild vertebrates, survival senescence (increases in annual mortality with rising age) was absent in dominants of both sexes, and as a result, the fitness costs of senescence were entirely attributable to declines in reproductive output from mid- to late-life. We suggest that the potential for intrasexual competition to increase rates of senescence in females-who are hormonally masculinized and frequently aggressive-is offset by their ability to maintain longer tenures of dominance than males, and that these processes when combined lead to similar patterns of senescence in both sexes. Our results stress the need to consider the form and intensity of sexual competition as well as other sex-specific features of life history when investigating the operation of senescence in wild populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jack Thorley
- Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.,Kalahari Research Centre, Kuruman River Reserve, South Africa
| | - Christopher Duncan
- Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.,Kalahari Research Centre, Kuruman River Reserve, South Africa
| | - Stuart P Sharp
- Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University, Lancashire, UK
| | - David Gaynor
- Kalahari Research Centre, Kuruman River Reserve, South Africa.,Mammal Research Institute, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Marta B Manser
- Kalahari Research Centre, Kuruman River Reserve, South Africa.,Mammal Research Institute, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa.,Animal Behaviour, Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Tim Clutton-Brock
- Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.,Kalahari Research Centre, Kuruman River Reserve, South Africa.,Mammal Research Institute, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
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9
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Affiliation(s)
- Jean‐Michel Gaillard
- Laboratoire de Biométrie et Biologie Evolutive UMR5558 CNRS Université Lyon 1 University of Lyon Villeurbanne France
| | - Jean‐François Lemaître
- Laboratoire de Biométrie et Biologie Evolutive UMR5558 CNRS Université Lyon 1 University of Lyon Villeurbanne France
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10
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Metcalf CJE, Roth O, Graham AL. Why leveraging sex differences in immune trade-offs may illuminate the evolution of senescence. Funct Ecol 2020; 34:129-140. [PMID: 32063662 PMCID: PMC7006808 DOI: 10.1111/1365-2435.13458] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2019] [Accepted: 09/10/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
The immune system affects senescence (declines in probabilities of survival or reproduction with age), by shaping late age vulnerability to chronic inflammatory diseases and infections. It is also a dynamic interactive system that must balance competing demands across the life course. Thus, immune system function remains an important frontier in understanding the evolution of senescence.Here, we review our expanding mechanistic understanding of immune function over the life course, in the context of theoretical predictions from life-history evolution. We are especially interested in stage- and sex-dependent costs and benefits of investment in the immune system, given differential life-history priorities of the life stages and sexes.We introduce the costs likely to govern immune allocation across the life course. We then discuss theoretical expectations for differences between the sexes and their likely consequences in terms of how the immune system is both modulated by and may modulate senescence, building on information from life-history theory, experimental immunology and demography.We argue that sex differences in immune function provide a potentially powerful probe of selection pressures on the immune system across the life course. In particular, differences in 'competing' and 'caring' between the sexes have evolved across the tree of life, providing repeated instances of divergent selection pressures on immune function occurring within the same overall bauplan.We conclude by detailing an agenda for future research, including development of theoretical predictions of the differences between the sexes under an array of existing models for sex differences in immunity, and empirical tests of such predictions across the tree of life. A free http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/1365-2435.13458/suppinfo can be found within the Supporting Information of this article.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Olivia Roth
- GEOMAR, Marine Evolutionary EcologyHelmholtz Centre for Ocean ResearchKielGermany
| | - Andrea L. Graham
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary BiologyPrinceton UniversityPrincetonNJUSA
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11
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Brusa JL, Rotella JJ, Garrott RA, Paterson JT, Link WA. Variation of annual apparent survival and detection rates with age, year and individual identity in male Weddell seals (
Leptonychotes weddellii
) from long‐term mark‐recapture data. POPUL ECOL 2019. [DOI: 10.1002/1438-390x.12036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Jamie L. Brusa
- Department of EcologyMontana State University Bozeman Montana
| | - Jay J. Rotella
- Department of EcologyMontana State University Bozeman Montana
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12
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Lloyd KJ, Oosthuizen WC, Bester MN, de Bruyn PJN. Trade-offs between age-related breeding improvement and survival senescence in highly polygynous elephant seals: Dominant males always do better. J Anim Ecol 2019; 89:897-909. [PMID: 31746466 DOI: 10.1111/1365-2656.13145] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2019] [Accepted: 10/02/2019] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Life history trade-off theory predicts that current reproduction can negatively affect survival and future reproduction. Few studies have assessed breeding costs for males of polygynous species compared to females, despite substantial variation in breeding success among individual males (e.g. subordinate cf. dominant breeders). Specifically, differentiating between the cost of attending breeding seasons, and the additional cost of successfully securing and mating females is lacking. We investigated whether trade-offs are present in the highly polygynous male southern elephant seal (Mirounga leonina) using 34-years of individual-level data. We compare age-specific survival, recruitment and future breeding success probabilities of pre-breeders (males yet to recruit) and breeders (subordinate and dominant social ranks) using multievent models. Pre-breeders and breeders of overlapping ages had similar survival probabilities, suggesting that there was no attendance cost for early recruits. In addition, the probability of recruiting as a dominant breeder never exceeded recruitment probability as a subordinate breeder of the same age. Therefore, older pre-breeders that delayed attendance costs generally did not improve their breeding success (probability of being dominant) at recruitment more than younger recruits. Rather, recruitment age may be a function of individual quality, with lower quality individuals requiring more time to socially mature. When comparing subordinate and dominant breeders, we found clear evidence for survival senescence, with subordinate breeders having a higher baseline mortality. In contrast, age-specific future breeding success (probability of being dominant at t + 1) increased with age, with dominant breeders maintaining higher subsequent breeding success than subordinate breeders. The opposite trends in survival and future breeding success for both subordinate and dominant breeders may indicate a lifetime, population-level trade-off. However, we found no evidence to suggest that being a dominant breeder consecutively (and having a higher accumulated breeding cost) accelerated the rate of senescence when compared to individuals that were previously subordinate. Thus, males experienced actuarial senescence regardless of social rank, with dominant (and possibly high quality) breeders showing a reduced trade-off between survival and future breeding success. We make several novel contributions to understanding polygynous male life histories and southern elephant seal demography.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyle J Lloyd
- Mammal Research Institute, Department of Zoology and Entomology, University of Pretoria, Private Bag X20, Hatfield, Pretoria, 0028, South Africa
| | - W Chris Oosthuizen
- Mammal Research Institute, Department of Zoology and Entomology, University of Pretoria, Private Bag X20, Hatfield, Pretoria, 0028, South Africa
| | - Marthán N Bester
- Mammal Research Institute, Department of Zoology and Entomology, University of Pretoria, Private Bag X20, Hatfield, Pretoria, 0028, South Africa
| | - P J Nico de Bruyn
- Mammal Research Institute, Department of Zoology and Entomology, University of Pretoria, Private Bag X20, Hatfield, Pretoria, 0028, South Africa
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13
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Ma L, Guo K, Su S, Lin LH, Xia Y, Ji X. Age-related reproduction of female Mongolian racerunners (Eremias argus; Lacertidae): Evidence of reproductive senescence. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL ZOOLOGY PART 2019; 331:290-298. [PMID: 30945817 DOI: 10.1002/jez.2264] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2018] [Revised: 03/17/2019] [Accepted: 03/18/2019] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
The reproductive maturation hypothesis, the terminal investment hypothesis, and the senescence hypothesis are the most extensively evaluated hypotheses proposed to explain age-related patterns of reproduction in iteroparous organisms. Here, we evaluated these hypotheses for the Mongolian racerunner (Eremias argus), a short-lived lacertid lizard, by comparing reproductive traits between females that completed reproductive cycles under the same laboratory conditions in two consecutive years (2008 and 2009). Reproductive females gained linear size (snout-vent length) not only as they got 1 year older but also during the breeding season. Larger females generally laid eggs earlier and invested more in reproduction than did smaller ones. Females switched from laying smaller eggs in the first clutch to larger eggs in the subsequent clutches but kept clutch size and postpartum body mass constant between successive clutches in a breeding season and between years. Females that laid more clutches or eggs in 2008 did not lay fewer clutches or eggs in 2009. Of the traits examined, only clutch frequency, annual fecundity, and annual reproductive output were susceptible to ageing. Specifically, the clutch frequency was reduced by 1.1 clutches, annual fecundity by 3.1 eggs and annual reproductive output by 1.0 g in 2009 compared with 2008. Our results suggest that the reproductive maturation hypothesis better explains patterns of reproduction in young or prime-aged females of E. argus, whereas the senescence hypothesis better explains reproductive patterns in old females. The terminal investment hypothesis does not apply to any trait examined because no trait value was maximized in old females.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li Ma
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Biodiversity and Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China.,Hangzhou Key Laboratory for Animal Adaptation and Evolution, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Kun Guo
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Biodiversity and Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Shan Su
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Biodiversity and Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Long-Hui Lin
- Hangzhou Key Laboratory for Animal Adaptation and Evolution, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Yuan Xia
- Hangzhou Key Laboratory for Animal Adaptation and Evolution, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Xiang Ji
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Biodiversity and Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
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14
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Lee CY, Pike DA, Tseng HY, Hsu JY, Huang SL, Shaner PJL, Liao CP, Manica A, Huang WS. When males live longer: Resource-driven territorial behavior drives sex-specific survival in snakes. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2019; 5:eaar5478. [PMID: 31032398 PMCID: PMC6482014 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.aar5478] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2017] [Accepted: 03/12/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Phylogenetic analysis has shown that males' propensity to engage in aggressive encounters is associated with females having greater longevity. Here, we confirm the causal link between aggression and reduced longevity by looking at an egg-eating snake (Oligodon formosanus) in which females defend territories in the presence of sea turtle eggs. We monitored aggressiveness and survival at two sites: a control site with a stable supply of turtle eggs, and a second site where we collected data before and after a storm that eroded the beach on which turtles nested, thus leading to a loss of territoriality. We show that territoriality was the driver behind higher injury rates in females. Territorial females also had lower survival and decreased longevity compared with the nonterritorial males, but these differences disappeared when females were not territorial. Our study demonstrates how resource availability can influence the evolution of sex-specific patterns of survival across vertebrates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chi-Ying Lee
- Department of Biology, National Changhua University of Education, Taiwan
| | - David A. Pike
- Department of Biology, Rhodes College, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Hui-Yun Tseng
- Department of Biology, National Museum of Natural Science, Taiwan
- Department of Entomology, National Taiwan University, Taiwan
| | - Jung-Ya Hsu
- Department of Biology, National Museum of Natural Science, Taiwan
- Department of Life Sciences, National Chung Hsing University, Taiwan
| | - Shiang-Lin Huang
- Swire Institute of Marine Science, School of Biological Science, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Pei-Jen L. Shaner
- Department of Life Science, National Taiwan Normal University, Taiwan
| | - Chen-Pan Liao
- Department of Biology, National Museum of Natural Science, Taiwan
- Department of Life Sciences, Tunghai University, Taiwan
| | - Andrea Manica
- Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, CB2 3EJ, UK
| | - Wen-San Huang
- Department of Biology, National Museum of Natural Science, Taiwan
- Department of Life Sciences, National Chung Hsing University, Taiwan
- Department of Life Sciences, Tunghai University, Taiwan
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15
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Douhard M, Festa‐Bianchet M, Landes J, Pelletier F. Trophy hunting mediates sex‐specific associations between early‐life environmental conditions and adult mortality in bighorn sheep. J Anim Ecol 2019; 88:734-745. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2656.12970] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2018] [Accepted: 01/20/2019] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Mathieu Douhard
- Département de BiologieUniversité de Sherbrooke Sherbrooke Quebec Canada
| | | | - Julie Landes
- Département de BiologieUniversité de Sherbrooke Sherbrooke Quebec Canada
| | - Fanie Pelletier
- Département de BiologieUniversité de Sherbrooke Sherbrooke Quebec Canada
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16
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Grunst ML, Grunst AS, Formica VA, Korody ML, Betuel AM, Barcelo-Serra M, Gonser RA, Tuttle EM. Actuarial senescence in a dimorphic bird: different rates of ageing in morphs with discrete reproductive strategies. Proc Biol Sci 2018; 285:20182053. [PMID: 30518574 PMCID: PMC6283936 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2018.2053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2018] [Accepted: 11/08/2018] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
It is often hypothesized that intra-sexual competition accelerates actuarial senescence, or the increase in mortality rates with age. However, an alternative hypothesis is that parental investment is more important to determining senescence rates. We used a unique model system, the white-throated sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis), to study variation in actuarial senescence. In this species, genetically determined morphs display discrete mating strategies and disassortative pairing, providing an excellent opportunity to test the predictions of the above hypotheses. Compared to tan-striped males, white-striped males are more polygynous and aggressive, and less parental. Tan-striped females receive less parental support, and invest more into parental care than white-striped females, which are also more aggressive. Thus, higher senescence rates in males and white-striped birds would support the intra-sexual competition hypothesis, whereas higher senescence rates in females and tan-striped birds would support the parental investment hypothesis. White-striped males showed the lowest rate of actuarial senescence. Tan-striped females had the highest senescence rate, and tan-striped males and white-striped females showed intermediate, relatively equal rates. Thus, results were inconsistent with sexual selection and competitive strategies increasing senescence rates, and instead indicate that senescence may be accelerated by female-biased parental care, and lessened by sharing of parental duties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melissa L Grunst
- Department of Biology, Indiana State University, Terre Haute, IN 47809, USA
- Department of Biology, Behavioural Ecology and Ecophysiology Group, University of Antwerp, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium
| | - Andrea S Grunst
- Department of Biology, Indiana State University, Terre Haute, IN 47809, USA
- Department of Biology, Behavioural Ecology and Ecophysiology Group, University of Antwerp, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium
| | - Vincent A Formica
- Department of Biology, Indiana State University, Terre Haute, IN 47809, USA
- Department of Biology, Swarthmore College, Swarthmore, PA 19081, USA
| | - Marisa L Korody
- Department of Biology, Indiana State University, Terre Haute, IN 47809, USA
- San Diego Zoo Institute for Conservation Research, San Diego, CA 92101, USA
| | - Adam M Betuel
- Department of Biology, Indiana State University, Terre Haute, IN 47809, USA
- Atlanta Audubon Society, Atlanta, GA 30342, USA
| | | | - Rusty A Gonser
- Department of Biology, Indiana State University, Terre Haute, IN 47809, USA
| | - Elaina M Tuttle
- Department of Biology, Indiana State University, Terre Haute, IN 47809, USA
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17
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Berger V, Lemaître JF, Allainé D, Gaillard JM, Cohas A. Early and Adult Social Environments Shape Sex-Specific Actuarial Senescence Patterns in a Cooperative Breeder. Am Nat 2018; 192:525-536. [PMID: 30205028 DOI: 10.1086/699513] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
Sociality modulates life-history traits through changes in resource allocation to fitness-related traits. However, how social factors at different stages of the life cycle modulate senescence remains poorly understood. To address this question, we assessed the influence of social environment in both early life and adulthood on actuarial senescence in the Alpine marmot, a cooperative breeder. The influence of helpers on actuarial senescence strongly differed depending on when help was provided and on the sex of the dominant. Being helped when adult slowed down senescence in both sexes. However, the effect of the presence of helpers during the year of birth of a dominant was sex specific. Among dominants helped during adulthood, females born in the presence of helpers senesced slower, whereas males senesced faster. Among dominants without helpers during adulthood, females with helpers at birth senesced faster. Social environment modulates senescence but acts differently between sexes and life stages.
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18
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Marais GA, Gaillard JM, Vieira C, Plotton I, Sanlaville D, Gueyffier F, Lemaitre JF. Sex gap in aging and longevity: can sex chromosomes play a role? Biol Sex Differ 2018; 9:33. [PMID: 30016998 PMCID: PMC6050741 DOI: 10.1186/s13293-018-0181-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2017] [Accepted: 05/27/2018] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
It is well known that women live longer than men. This gap is observed in most human populations and can even reach 10-15 years. In addition, most of the known super centenarians (i.e., humans who lived for > 110 years) are women. The differences in life expectancy between men and women are often attributed to cultural differences in common thinking. However, sex hormones seem to influence differences in the prevalence of diseases, in the magnitude of aging, and in the longevity between men and women. Moreover, far from being human specific, the sex gap in longevity is extremely common in non-human animals, especially in mammals. Biological factors clearly contribute to such a sex gap in aging and longevity. Different hypotheses have been proposed to explain why males and females age and die differently. The cost of sexual selection and sexual dimorphism has long been considered the best explanation for the observed sex gap in aging/longevity. However, the way mitochondria are transmitted (i.e., through females in most species) could have an effect, called the mother's curse. Recent data suggest that sex chromosomes may also contribute to the sex gap in aging/longevity through several potential mechanisms, including the unguarded X/Z, the toxic Y/W and the loss of Y/W. We discuss future research directions to test these ideas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriel A.B. Marais
- Laboratoire “Biométrie et Biologie Evolutive”- UMR 5558, CNRS / Université Lyon 1, Villeurbanne, France
| | - Jean-Michel Gaillard
- Laboratoire “Biométrie et Biologie Evolutive”- UMR 5558, CNRS / Université Lyon 1, Villeurbanne, France
| | - Cristina Vieira
- Laboratoire “Biométrie et Biologie Evolutive”- UMR 5558, CNRS / Université Lyon 1, Villeurbanne, France
| | - Ingrid Plotton
- Service d’Endocrinologie Moléculaire et Maladies Rares, Hospices Civils de Lyon, Lyon, France
| | - Damien Sanlaville
- Service de Génétique, Hospices Civils de Lyon, CRNL, GENDEV team, INSERM U1028, CNRS UMR5292, Université Lyon 1, Lyon, France
| | - François Gueyffier
- Laboratoire “Biométrie et Biologie Evolutive”- UMR 5558, CNRS / Université Lyon 1, Villeurbanne, France
| | - Jean-Francois Lemaitre
- Laboratoire “Biométrie et Biologie Evolutive”- UMR 5558, CNRS / Université Lyon 1, Villeurbanne, France
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19
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Grunst AS, Grunst ML, Formica VA, Korody ML, Betuel AM, Barcelo-Serra M, Ford S, Gonser RA, Tuttle EM. Morph-Specific Patterns of Reproductive Senescence: Connections to Discrete Reproductive Strategies. Am Nat 2018; 191:744-755. [PMID: 29750559 DOI: 10.1086/697377] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
How reproductive strategies contribute to patterns of senescence in natural populations remains contentious. We studied reproductive senescence in the dimorphic white-throated sparrow, an excellent species for exploring this issue. Within both sexes the morphs use distinct reproductive strategies, and disassortative pairing by morph results in pair types with distinct parental systems. White morph birds are more colorful and aggressive than tan counterparts, and white males compete for extrapair matings, whereas tan males are more parental. Tan males and white females share parental care equally, whereas white males provide little parental support to tan females. We found morph-specific patterns of reproductive senescence in both sexes. White males exhibited greater reproductive senescence than tan males. This result likely reflects the difficulty of sustaining a highly competitive reproductive strategy as aging progresses rather than high physiological costs of competitiveness, since white males were also long-lived. Moreover, morph was not consistently related to reproductive senescence across the sexes, arguing against especially high costs of the traits associated with white morph identity. Rather, tan females exhibited earlier reproductive senescence than white females and were short-lived, perhaps reflecting the challenges of unsupported motherhood. Results underscore the importance of social dynamics in determining patterns of reproductive senescence.
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20
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Gaillard JM, Lemaître JF. The Williams' legacy: A critical reappraisal of his nine predictions about the evolution of senescence. Evolution 2017; 71:2768-2785. [DOI: 10.1111/evo.13379] [Citation(s) in RCA: 76] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2017] [Revised: 09/25/2017] [Accepted: 09/30/2017] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
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21
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Cheynel L, Lemaître JF, Gaillard JM, Rey B, Bourgoin G, Ferté H, Jégo M, Débias F, Pellerin M, Jacob L, Gilot-Fromont E. Immunosenescence patterns differ between populations but not between sexes in a long-lived mammal. Sci Rep 2017; 7:13700. [PMID: 29057949 PMCID: PMC5651810 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-13686-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2017] [Accepted: 09/22/2017] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
In animals, physiological mechanisms underlying reproductive and actuarial senescence remain poorly understood. Immunosenescence, the decline in the ability to display an efficient immune response with increasing age, is likely to influence both reproductive and actuarial senescence through increased risk of disease. Evidence for such a link has been reported from laboratory animal models but has been poorly investigated in the wild, where variation in resource acquisitions usually drives life-history trade-offs. We investigated immunosenescence patterns over 7 years in both sexes of two contrasting roe deer populations (Capreolus capreolus). We first measured twelve immune markers to obtain a thorough identification of innate and adaptive components of immunity and assessed, from the same individuals, the age-dependent variation observed in parasitic infections. Although the level of innate traits was maintained at old age, the functional innate immune traits declined with increasing age in one of two populations. In both populations, the production of inflammatory markers increased with advancing age. Finally, the adaptive response declined in late adulthood. The increasing parasite burden with age we reported suggests the effective existence of immunosenescence. Age-specific patterns differed between populations but not between sexes, which indicate that habitat quality could shape age-dependent immune phenotype in the wild.
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Affiliation(s)
- L Cheynel
- Univ Lyon, Université Lyon 1; CNRS, Laboratoire de Biométrie et Biologie Evolutive UMR 5558, F-69622, Villeurbanne, France.
| | - J-F Lemaître
- Univ Lyon, Université Lyon 1; CNRS, Laboratoire de Biométrie et Biologie Evolutive UMR 5558, F-69622, Villeurbanne, France
| | - J-M Gaillard
- Univ Lyon, Université Lyon 1; CNRS, Laboratoire de Biométrie et Biologie Evolutive UMR 5558, F-69622, Villeurbanne, France
| | - B Rey
- Univ Lyon, Université Lyon 1; CNRS, Laboratoire de Biométrie et Biologie Evolutive UMR 5558, F-69622, Villeurbanne, France
| | - G Bourgoin
- Univ Lyon, Université Lyon 1; CNRS, Laboratoire de Biométrie et Biologie Evolutive UMR 5558, F-69622, Villeurbanne, France
- Université de Lyon, VetAgro Sup, Marcy-l'Etoile, France
| | - H Ferté
- EA 4688 "VECPAR", UFR Pharmacie, Université de Reims Champagne-Ardenne, Reims, France
| | - M Jégo
- Univ Lyon, Université Lyon 1; CNRS, Laboratoire de Biométrie et Biologie Evolutive UMR 5558, F-69622, Villeurbanne, France
| | - F Débias
- Univ Lyon, Université Lyon 1; CNRS, Laboratoire de Biométrie et Biologie Evolutive UMR 5558, F-69622, Villeurbanne, France
| | - M Pellerin
- Office National de la Chasse et de la Faune Sauvage, Centre National de Recherches Appliquées sur les Cervidés-Sanglier, Bar-le-Duc, France
| | - L Jacob
- Univ Lyon, Université Lyon 1; CNRS, Laboratoire de Biométrie et Biologie Evolutive UMR 5558, F-69622, Villeurbanne, France
| | - E Gilot-Fromont
- Univ Lyon, Université Lyon 1; CNRS, Laboratoire de Biométrie et Biologie Evolutive UMR 5558, F-69622, Villeurbanne, France
- Université de Lyon, VetAgro Sup, Marcy-l'Etoile, France
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22
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Colchero F, Aliaga AE, Jones OR, Conde DA. Individual heterogeneity determines sex differences in mortality in a monogamous bird with reversed sexual dimorphism. J Anim Ecol 2017; 86:899-907. [PMID: 28393353 DOI: 10.1111/1365-2656.12677] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2016] [Accepted: 02/26/2017] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Sex differences in mortality are pervasive in vertebrates, and usually result in shorter life spans in the larger sex, although the underlying mechanisms are still unclear. On the other hand, differences in frailty among individuals (i.e. individual heterogeneity), can play a major role in shaping demographic trajectories in wild populations. The link between these two processes has seldom been explored. We used Bayesian survival trajectory analysis to study age-specific mortality trajectories in the Eurasian sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus), a monogamous raptor with reversed sexual size dimorphism. We tested the effect of individual heterogeneity on age-specific mortality, and the extent by which this heterogeneity was determined by average reproductive output and wing length as measures of an individual's frailty. We found that sex differences in age-specific mortality were primarily driven by the differences in individual heterogeneity between the two sexes. Females were more heterogeneous than males in their level of frailty. Thus, a larger number of females with low frailty are able to survive to older ages than males, with life expectancy for the least frail adult females reaching up to 4·23 years, while for the least frail adult males it was of 2·68 years. We found that 50% of this heterogeneity was determined by average reproductive output and wing length in both sexes. For both, individuals with high average reproductive output had also higher chances to survive. However, the effect of wing length was different between the two sexes. While larger females had higher survival, larger males had lower chances to survive. Our results contribute a novel perspective to the ongoing debate about the mechanisms that drive sex differences in vital rates in vertebrates. Although we found that variables that relate to the cost of reproduction and sexual dimorphism are at least partially involved in determining these sex differences, it is through their effect on the level of frailty that they affect age patterns of mortality. Therefore, our results raise the possibility that observed differences in age-specific demographic rates may in fact be driven by differences in individual heterogeneity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fernando Colchero
- Max-Planck Odense Center on the Biodemography of Aging, Campusvej 55, 5230, Odense M, Denmark.,Department of Mathematics and Computer Science (IMADA), University of Southern Denmark, Campusvej 55, 5230, Odense M, Denmark
| | - Alix Eva Aliaga
- Department of Biology, University of Southern Denmark, Campusvej 55, 5230, Odense M, Denmark.,Amphi Consult, Forskerparken, 10, 5230, Odense M, Denmark
| | - Owen R Jones
- Max-Planck Odense Center on the Biodemography of Aging, Campusvej 55, 5230, Odense M, Denmark.,Department of Biology, University of Southern Denmark, Campusvej 55, 5230, Odense M, Denmark
| | - Dalia A Conde
- Max-Planck Odense Center on the Biodemography of Aging, Campusvej 55, 5230, Odense M, Denmark.,Department of Biology, University of Southern Denmark, Campusvej 55, 5230, Odense M, Denmark.,Species 360, 7900 International Drive, Suite 1040, Bloomington, MN, 55425, USA
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23
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Baker KH, Gray HWI, Ramovs V, Mertzanidou D, Akın Pekşen Ç, Bilgin CC, Sykes N, Hoelzel AR. Strong population structure in a species manipulated by humans since the Neolithic: the European fallow deer (Dama dama dama). Heredity (Edinb) 2017; 119:16-26. [PMID: 28353685 PMCID: PMC5520134 DOI: 10.1038/hdy.2017.11] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2016] [Revised: 02/08/2017] [Accepted: 02/09/2017] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Species that have been translocated and otherwise manipulated by humans may show
patterns of population structure that reflect those interactions. At the same time,
natural processes shape populations, including behavioural characteristics like
dispersal potential and breeding system. In Europe, a key factor is the geography and
history of climate change through the Pleistocene. During glacial maxima throughout
that period, species in Europe with temperate distributions were forced south,
becoming distributed among the isolated peninsulas represented by Anatolia, Italy and
Iberia. Understanding modern patterns of diversity depends on understanding these
historical population dynamics. Traditionally, European fallow deer (Dama dama
dama) are thought to have been restricted to refugia in Anatolia and possibly
Sicily and the Balkans. However, the distribution of this species was also greatly
influenced by human-mediated translocations. We focus on fallow deer to better
understand the relative influence of these natural and anthropogenic processes. We
compared modern fallow deer putative populations across a broad geographic range
using microsatellite and mitochondrial DNA loci. The results revealed highly insular
populations, depauperate of genetic variation and significantly differentiated from
each other. This is consistent with the expectations of drift acting on populations
founded by small numbers of individuals, and reflects known founder populations in
the north. However, there was also evidence for differentiation among (but not
within) physically isolated regions in the south, including Iberia. In those regions
we find evidence for a stronger influence from natural processes than may be expected
for a species with such strong, known anthropogenic influence.
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Affiliation(s)
- K H Baker
- School of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Durham University, Durham, UK
| | - H W I Gray
- School of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Durham University, Durham, UK
| | - V Ramovs
- School of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Durham University, Durham, UK
| | - D Mertzanidou
- Department of Biology, University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Ç Akın Pekşen
- Department of Biology, Middle East Technical University, Ankara, Turkey.,Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Yüzüncü Yıl University, Van, Turkey
| | - C C Bilgin
- Department of Biology, Middle East Technical University, Ankara, Turkey
| | - N Sykes
- Department of Archaeology, University of Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, UK
| | - A R Hoelzel
- School of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Durham University, Durham, UK
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24
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Bonardi A, Corlatti L, Bragalanti N, Pedrotti L. The role of weather and density dependence on population dynamics of Alpine-dwelling red deer. Integr Zool 2017; 12:61-76. [PMID: 27616664 DOI: 10.1111/1749-4877.12237] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
The dynamics of red deer Cervus elaphus populations has been investigated across different environmental conditions, with the notable exception of the European Alps. Although the population dynamics of mountain-dwelling ungulates is typically influenced by the interaction between winter severity and density, the increase of temperatures and the reduction of snowpack occurring on the Alps since the 1980s may be expected to alter this pattern, especially in populations dwelling at medium - low elevations. Taking advantage of a 29-year time series of spring count data, we explored the role of weather stochasticity and density dependence on growth rate and vital rates (mortality and weaning success), and the density-dependent variation in body mass in a red deer population of the Italian Alps. The interaction between increasing values of density and snow depth exerted negative and positive effects on growth and mortality rates, respectively, while weaning success was negatively affected by increasing values of density, female-biased sex ratio and snow depth. Body mass of males and females of different age classes declined as population size increased. Our data support the role of winter severity and density dependence as key components of red deer population dynamics, and provide insight into the species' ecology on the European Alps. Despite the recent decline of snowpack on the Alpine Region, the negative impacts of winter severity and population abundance on growth rrate (possibly mediated by the density-dependent decline in body mass) confirms the importance of overwinter mortality in affecting the population dynamics of Alpine-dwelling red deer.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Luca Corlatti
- Institute of Wildlife Biology and Game Management, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna, Vienna, Austria.,Freiburg Institute for Advanced Studies and Chair of Wildlife Ecology and Management, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
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25
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Lemaître JF, Berger V, Bonenfant C, Douhard M, Gamelon M, Plard F, Gaillard JM. Early-late life trade-offs and the evolution of ageing in the wild. Proc Biol Sci 2016; 282:20150209. [PMID: 25833848 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2015.0209] [Citation(s) in RCA: 224] [Impact Index Per Article: 28.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Empirical evidence for declines in fitness components (survival and reproductive performance) with age has recently accumulated in wild populations, highlighting that the process of senescence is nearly ubiquitous in the living world. Senescence patterns are highly variable among species and current evolutionary theories of ageing propose that such variation can be accounted for by differences in allocation to growth and reproduction during early life. Here, we compiled 26 studies of free-ranging vertebrate populations that explicitly tested for a trade-off between performance in early and late life. Our review brings overall support for the presence of early-late life trade-offs, suggesting that the limitation of available resources leads individuals to trade somatic maintenance later in life for high allocation to reproduction early in life. We discuss our results in the light of two closely related theories of ageing-the disposable soma and the antagonistic pleiotropy theories-and propose that the principle of energy allocation roots the ageing process in the evolution of life-history strategies. Finally, we outline research topics that should be investigated in future studies, including the importance of natal environmental conditions in the study of trade-offs between early- and late-life performance and the evolution of sex-differences in ageing patterns.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jean-François Lemaître
- Université de Lyon, F-69000, Lyon; Université Lyon 1; CNRS, UMR 5558, Laboratoire de Biométrie et Biologie Evolutive, F-69622, Villeurbanne, France
| | - Vérane Berger
- Université de Lyon, F-69000, Lyon; Université Lyon 1; CNRS, UMR 5558, Laboratoire de Biométrie et Biologie Evolutive, F-69622, Villeurbanne, France
| | - Christophe Bonenfant
- Université de Lyon, F-69000, Lyon; Université Lyon 1; CNRS, UMR 5558, Laboratoire de Biométrie et Biologie Evolutive, F-69622, Villeurbanne, France
| | - Mathieu Douhard
- Université de Lyon, F-69000, Lyon; Université Lyon 1; CNRS, UMR 5558, Laboratoire de Biométrie et Biologie Evolutive, F-69622, Villeurbanne, France
| | - Marlène Gamelon
- Université de Lyon, F-69000, Lyon; Université Lyon 1; CNRS, UMR 5558, Laboratoire de Biométrie et Biologie Evolutive, F-69622, Villeurbanne, France
| | - Floriane Plard
- Université de Lyon, F-69000, Lyon; Université Lyon 1; CNRS, UMR 5558, Laboratoire de Biométrie et Biologie Evolutive, F-69622, Villeurbanne, France
| | - Jean-Michel Gaillard
- Université de Lyon, F-69000, Lyon; Université Lyon 1; CNRS, UMR 5558, Laboratoire de Biométrie et Biologie Evolutive, F-69622, Villeurbanne, France
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26
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Berger V, Lemaître JF, Dupont P, Allainé D, Gaillard JM, Cohas A. Age-specific survival in the socially monogamous alpine marmot (Marmota marmota): evidence of senescence. J Mammal 2016. [DOI: 10.1093/jmammal/gyw028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
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27
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Tidière M, Gaillard JM, Müller DWH, Lackey LB, Gimenez O, Clauss M, Lemaître JF. Does sexual selection shape sex differences in longevity and senescence patterns across vertebrates? A review and new insights from captive ruminants. Evolution 2015; 69:3123-40. [DOI: 10.1111/evo.12801] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2015] [Revised: 09/11/2015] [Accepted: 10/11/2015] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Morgane Tidière
- CNRS, UMR5558; Laboratoire de Biométrie et Biologie Evolutive; F-69622, Université Lyon 1 Villeurbanne France
| | - Jean-Michel Gaillard
- CNRS, UMR5558; Laboratoire de Biométrie et Biologie Evolutive; F-69622, Université Lyon 1 Villeurbanne France
| | - Dennis W. H. Müller
- Zoological Garden Halle (Saale); Fasanenstr. 5a; 06114 Halle (Saale) Germany
| | | | - Olivier Gimenez
- UMR 5175, Modelling and Conservation, Centre d'Ecologie Fonctionnelle et Evolutive; Campus CNRS; 1919 route de Mende 34293 Montpellier Cedex 5 France
| | - Marcus Clauss
- Clinic for Zoo Animals, Exotic Pets and Wildlife, Vetsuisse Faculty; University of Zurich; Winterthurerstr. 260 8057 Zurich Switzerland
| | - Jean-François Lemaître
- CNRS, UMR5558; Laboratoire de Biométrie et Biologie Evolutive; F-69622, Université Lyon 1 Villeurbanne France
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28
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29
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Lemaître JF, Gaillard JM, Pemberton JM, Clutton-Brock TH, Nussey DH. Early life expenditure in sexual competition is associated with increased reproductive senescence in male red deer. Proc Biol Sci 2015; 281:rspb.2014.0792. [PMID: 25122226 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2014.0792] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The evolutionary theories of senescence predict that investment in reproduction in early life should come at the cost of reduced somatic maintenance, and thus earlier or more rapid senescence. There is now growing support for such trade-offs in wild vertebrates, but these exclusively come from females. Here, we test this prediction in male red deer (Cervus elaphus) using detailed longitudinal data collected over a 40-year field study. We show that males which had larger harems and thereby allocated more resources to reproduction during early adulthood experienced higher rates of senescence in both harem size and rut duration. Males that carried antlers with more points during early life did not show more pronounced declines in reproductive traits in later life. Overall, we demonstrate that sexual competition shapes male reproductive senescence in wild red deer populations and provide rare empirical support for the disposable soma theory of ageing in males of polygynous vertebrate species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jean-François Lemaître
- Université de Lyon, F-69000, Lyon; Université Lyon 1; CNRS, UMR5558, Laboratoire de Biométrie et Biologie Evolutive, F-69622 Villeurbanne, France
| | - Jean-Michel Gaillard
- Université de Lyon, F-69000, Lyon; Université Lyon 1; CNRS, UMR5558, Laboratoire de Biométrie et Biologie Evolutive, F-69622 Villeurbanne, France
| | - Josephine M Pemberton
- Institute of Evolutionary Biology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH9 3JT, UK
| | - Tim H Clutton-Brock
- Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge CB2 3EJ, UK
| | - Daniel H Nussey
- Institute of Evolutionary Biology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH9 3JT, UK
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Tidière M, Gaillard JM, Müller DW, Bingaman Lackey L, Gimenez O, Clauss M, Lemaître JF. Males do not senesce faster in large herbivores with highly seasonal rut. Exp Gerontol 2014; 60:167-72. [DOI: 10.1016/j.exger.2014.11.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2014] [Revised: 11/03/2014] [Accepted: 11/04/2014] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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Jégo M, Lemaître JF, Bourgoin G, Capron G, Warnant C, Klein F, Gilot-Fromont E, Gaillard JM. Haematological parameters do senesce in the wild: evidence from different populations of a long-lived mammal. J Evol Biol 2014; 27:2745-52. [DOI: 10.1111/jeb.12535] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2014] [Revised: 10/20/2014] [Accepted: 10/23/2014] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- M. Jégo
- Université de Lyon; Université Lyon 1; UMR CNRS 5558; Villeurbanne Cedex France
- Université de Lyon; VetAgroSup; Marcy-l'Étoile France
| | - J.-F. Lemaître
- Université de Lyon; Université Lyon 1; UMR CNRS 5558; Villeurbanne Cedex France
| | - G. Bourgoin
- Université de Lyon; Université Lyon 1; UMR CNRS 5558; Villeurbanne Cedex France
- Université de Lyon; VetAgroSup; Marcy-l'Étoile France
| | - G. Capron
- Office National de la Chasse et de la Faune Sauvage; Centre National de Recherches Appliquées sur les Cervidés-Sanglier; Bar-le-Duc France
| | - C. Warnant
- Office National de la Chasse et de la Faune Sauvage; Centre National de Recherches Appliquées sur les Cervidés-Sanglier; Bar-le-Duc France
| | - F. Klein
- Office National de la Chasse et de la Faune Sauvage; Centre National de Recherches Appliquées sur les Cervidés-Sanglier; Bar-le-Duc France
| | - E. Gilot-Fromont
- Université de Lyon; Université Lyon 1; UMR CNRS 5558; Villeurbanne Cedex France
- Université de Lyon; VetAgroSup; Marcy-l'Étoile France
| | - J-M. Gaillard
- Université de Lyon; Université Lyon 1; UMR CNRS 5558; Villeurbanne Cedex France
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Gamelon M, Focardi S, Gaillard JM, Gimenez O, Bonenfant C, Franzetti B, Choquet R, Ronchi F, Baubet E, Lemaître JF. Do age-specific survival patterns of wild boar fit current evolutionary theories of senescence? Evolution 2014; 68:3636-43. [DOI: 10.1111/evo.12519] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2014] [Accepted: 08/12/2014] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Marlène Gamelon
- Department of Biology; Centre for Biodiversity Dynamics; Norwegian University of Science and Technology; N-7491 Trondheim Norway
| | - Stefano Focardi
- Istituto per i Sistemi Complessi; CNR; via Madonna del Piano 10 50019 Sesto Fiorentino Italy
| | - Jean-Michel Gaillard
- Université de Lyon, F-69000, Lyon; Université Lyon 1; CNRS, UMR 5558; Laboratoire de Biométrie et Biologie Évolutive; F-69622 Villeurbanne France
| | - Olivier Gimenez
- Centre d’Écologie Fonctionnelle et Évolutive; UMR 5175; Campus CNRS; 1919 route de Mende 34293 Montpellier Cedex 5 France
| | - Christophe Bonenfant
- Université de Lyon, F-69000, Lyon; Université Lyon 1; CNRS, UMR 5558; Laboratoire de Biométrie et Biologie Évolutive; F-69622 Villeurbanne France
| | - Barbara Franzetti
- Istituto Superiore per la Protezione e la Ricerca Ambientale; Via Ca’ Fornacetta 9 40064 Ozzano dell'Emilia Bologna Italy
| | - Rémi Choquet
- Centre d’Écologie Fonctionnelle et Évolutive; UMR 5175; Campus CNRS; 1919 route de Mende 34293 Montpellier Cedex 5 France
| | - Francesca Ronchi
- Istituto Superiore per la Protezione e la Ricerca Ambientale; Via Ca’ Fornacetta 9 40064 Ozzano dell'Emilia Bologna Italy
| | - Eric Baubet
- Office National de la Chasse et de la Faune Sauvage; 2 Bis Rue des Religieuses, BP 19 52120 Châteauvillain France
| | - Jean-François Lemaître
- Université de Lyon, F-69000, Lyon; Université Lyon 1; CNRS, UMR 5558; Laboratoire de Biométrie et Biologie Évolutive; F-69622 Villeurbanne France
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Lemaître JF, Vanpé C, Plard F, Gaillard JM. The allometry between secondary sexual traits and body size is nonlinear among cervids. Biol Lett 2014; 10:20130869. [PMID: 24598105 DOI: 10.1098/rsbl.2013.0869] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Allometric relationships between sexually selected traits and body size have been extensively studied in recent decades. While sexually selected traits generally display positive allometry, a few recent reports have suggested that allometric relationships are not always linear. In male cervids, having both long antlers and large size provides benefits in terms of increased mating success. However, such attributes are costly to grow and maintain, and these costs might constrain antler length from increasing at the same rate as body mass in larger species if the quantity of energy that males can extract from their environment is limiting. We tested for possible nonlinearity in the relationship between antler size and body mass (on a log-log scale) among 31 cervids and found clear deviation from linearity in the allometry of antler length. Antler length increased linearly until a male body mass threshold at approximately 110 kg. Beyond this threshold, antler length did not change with increasing mass. We discuss this evidence of nonlinear allometry in the light of life-history theory and stress the importance of testing for nonlinearity when studying allometric relationships.
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Affiliation(s)
- J F Lemaître
- Université de Lyon, , F-69000, Lyon; Université Lyon 1; , CNRS, UMR5558, Laboratoire de Biométrie et Biologie Evolutive, F-69622 Villeurbanne, France
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Polyandry Has No Detectable Mortality Cost in Female Mammals. PLoS One 2013; 8:e66670. [PMID: 23825000 PMCID: PMC3688942 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0066670] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2012] [Accepted: 05/13/2013] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
In several taxonomic groups, females mate with several males during a single reproductive cycle. Although there is evidence that polyandry provides some benefits to females, it often involves mortality costs. However, empirical evidences of mortality costs of polyandry have so far been reported only in invertebrates. Whether polyandry has mortality costs in vertebrates is currently unknown. In the present study, we aimed to fill the gap by investigating the relationships between the level of polyandry (measured either by male relative testes mass or the percentage of multiple paternities) and female patterns of mortality across mammals. While we found that the two metrics of female mortality co-varied with pace of life, we did not find any evidence that polyandry leads to either decreased median lifespan or increased aging rate in mammals. We discuss such an absence of detectable mortality costs of polyandry in female mammals in light of recent advances in the study of mammalian reproductive biology and life-history tactics.
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Comparing free-ranging and captive populations reveals intra-specific variation in aging rates in large herbivores. Exp Gerontol 2013; 48:162-7. [DOI: 10.1016/j.exger.2012.12.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2012] [Revised: 11/24/2012] [Accepted: 12/10/2012] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
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