1
|
Frydrychová RČ, Konopová B, Peska V, Brejcha M, Sábová M. Telomeres and telomerase: active but complex players in life-history decisions. Biogerontology 2024; 25:205-226. [PMID: 37610666 DOI: 10.1007/s10522-023-10060-z] [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: 07/27/2023] [Accepted: 08/01/2023] [Indexed: 08/24/2023]
Abstract
Studies on human telomeres have established that telomeres exert a significant influence on lifespan and health of organisms. However, recent research has indicated that the original idea that telomeres affect lifespan in a universal and central manner across all eukaryotic species is an oversimplification. Indeed, findings from a variety of animal species revealed that the role of telomere biology in aging is more subtle and intricate than previously recognized. Here, we show how telomere biology varies depending on the taxon. We also show how telomere biology corresponds to basic life history traits and affects the life table of a species and investments in growth, body size, reproduction, and lifespan; telomeres are hypothesized to shape evolutionary perspectives for species in an active but complex manner. Our evaluation is based on telomere biology data from many examples from throughout the animal kingdom that vary according to the degree of organismal complexity and life history strategies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Radmila Čapková Frydrychová
- Institute of Entomology, Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Branišovská 31, 370 05, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic.
- Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, Branišovská 1760, 370 05, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic.
| | - Barbora Konopová
- Institute of Entomology, Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Branišovská 31, 370 05, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic
| | - Vratislav Peska
- Department of Cell Biology and Radiobiology, Institute of Biophysics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Královopolská 135, 612 00, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Miloslav Brejcha
- Institute of Entomology, Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Branišovská 31, 370 05, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic
- Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, Branišovská 1760, 370 05, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic
| | - Michala Sábová
- Institute of Entomology, Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Branišovská 31, 370 05, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Monaghan P. Linking telomere dynamics to evolution, life history and environmental change: perspectives, predictions and problems. Biogerontology 2024; 25:301-311. [PMID: 38252370 PMCID: PMC10998769 DOI: 10.1007/s10522-023-10081-8] [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: 09/25/2023] [Accepted: 11/13/2023] [Indexed: 01/23/2024]
Abstract
This perspectives paper considers the value of studying telomere biology outside of a biomedical context. I provide illustrative examples of the kinds of questions that evolutionary ecologists have addressed in studies of telomere dynamics in non-model species, primarily metazoan animals, and what this can contribute to our understanding of their evolution, life histories and health. I also discuss why the predicted relationships between telomere dynamics and life history traits, based on the detailed cellular studies in humans and model organisms, are not always found in studies in other species.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Pat Monaghan
- School of Biodiversity, One Health and Veterinary Medicine, Graham Kerr Building University of Glasgow, Glasgow, G12 8QQ, UK.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Sabol A, Zhou Y, Zhang W, Ferreira BCLB, Chen J, Leblanc RM, Catenazzi A. Carbon nitride dots do not impair the growth, development, and telomere length of tadpoles. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 916:170176. [PMID: 38244620 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.170176] [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: 05/15/2023] [Revised: 12/29/2023] [Accepted: 01/13/2024] [Indexed: 01/22/2024]
Abstract
Carbon nanoparticles, or carbon dots, can have many beneficial uses. However, we must consider whether they may have any potential negative side effects on wildlife or the ecosystem when these particles end up in wastewater. Early development stages of amphibians are particularly sensitive to contaminants, and exposure to carbon dots could disrupt their development and cause morbidity or death. Past studies have investigated short-term exposure to certain types of nanoparticles, but if these particles get into wastewater exposure may not be short term. Therefore, we tested whether chronic exposure to different concentrations of carbon dots affects the growth, metamorphosis, and telomere length of Cuban tree frog (Osteopilus septentrionalis) tadpoles. We exposed 12 groups of five tadpoles each to different concentrations of carbon dots and a control for three months and tracked survival, growth and metamorphosis. We used carbon nitride dots approximately 2 nm in size at concentrations of 0.01 mg/ml and 0.02 mg/ml, known to interrupt development in zebrafish embryos. After three months, we measured telomere length from tissue samples. We found no difference in tadpole survivorship, growth, development rate, or telomere length among any of the groups, suggesting that carbon dots at these concentrations do not disrupt tadpole development.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Anne Sabol
- Department of Biological Sciences, Florida International University, Miami, FL 33199, USA.
| | - Yiqun Zhou
- Department of Biological Sciences, Florida International University, Miami, FL 33199, USA; Department of Chemistry, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL 33146, USA
| | - Wei Zhang
- Department of Chemistry, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL 33146, USA
| | | | - Jiuyan Chen
- Department of Chemistry, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL 33146, USA
| | - Roger M Leblanc
- Department of Chemistry, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL 33146, USA
| | - Alessandro Catenazzi
- Department of Biological Sciences, Florida International University, Miami, FL 33199, USA
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Shilovsky GA, Putyatina TS, Markov AV. Evolution of Longevity in Tetrapods: Safety Is More Important than Metabolism Level. BIOCHEMISTRY. BIOKHIMIIA 2024; 89:322-340. [PMID: 38622099 DOI: 10.1134/s0006297924020111] [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: 11/26/2023] [Revised: 12/04/2023] [Accepted: 12/29/2023] [Indexed: 04/17/2024]
Abstract
Various environmental morphological and behavioral factors can determine the longevity of representatives of various taxa. Long-lived species develop systems aimed at increasing organism stability, defense, and, ultimately, lifespan. Long-lived species to a different extent manifest the factors favoring longevity (gerontological success), such as body size, slow metabolism, activity of body's repair and antioxidant defense systems, resistance to toxic substances and tumorigenesis, and presence of neotenic features. In continuation of our studies of mammals, we investigated the characteristics that distinguish long-lived ectotherms (crocodiles and turtles) and compared them with those of other ectotherms (squamates and amphibians) and endotherms (birds and mammals). We also discussed mathematical indicators used to assess the predisposition to longevity in different species, including standard indicators (mortality rate, maximum lifespan, coefficient of variation of lifespan) and their derivatives. Evolutionary patterns of aging are further explained by the protective phenotypes and life history strategies. We assessed the relationship between the lifespan and various studied factors, such as body size and temperature, encephalization, protection of occupied ecological niches, presence of protective structures (for example, shells and osteoderms), and environmental temperature, and the influence of these factors on the variation of the lifespan as a statistical parameter. Our studies did not confirm the hypothesis on the metabolism level and temperature as the most decisive factors of longevity. It was found that animals protected by shells (e.g., turtles with their exceptional longevity) live longer than species that have poison or lack such protective adaptations. The improvement of defense against external threats in long-lived ectotherms is consistent with the characteristics of long-lived endotherms (for example, naked mole-rats that live in underground tunnels, or bats and birds, whose ability to fly is one of the best defense mechanisms).
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Gregory A Shilovsky
- Belozersky Institute of Physico-Chemical Biology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, 119991, Russia.
- Faculty of Biology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, 119234, Russia
- Institute for Information Transmission Problems (Kharkevich Institute), Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, 127051, Russia
| | - Tatyana S Putyatina
- Faculty of Biology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, 119234, Russia
| | - Alexander V Markov
- Faculty of Biology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, 119234, Russia
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Hansson A, Wapstra E, While GM, Olsson M. Sex and early-life conditions shape telomere dynamics in an ectotherm. J Exp Biol 2024; 227:jeb246512. [PMID: 38230426 PMCID: PMC10912812 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.246512] [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: 08/03/2023] [Accepted: 01/05/2024] [Indexed: 01/18/2024]
Abstract
Telomeres, the repetitive DNA regions that protect the ends of chromosomes, and their shortening have been linked to key life history trade-offs among growth, reproduction and lifespan. In contrast to most endotherms, many ectotherms can compensate for telomere shortening throughout life by upregulation of telomerase in somatic tissues. However, during development, marked by rapid growth and an increased sensitivity to extrinsic factors, the upregulation of telomerase may be overwhelmed, resulting in long-term impacts on telomere dynamics. In ectotherms, one extrinsic factor that may play a particularly important role in development is temperature. Here, we investigated the influence of developmental temperature and sex on early-life telomere dynamics in an oviparous ectotherm, Lacerta agilis. While there was no effect of developmental temperature on telomere length at hatching, there were subsequent effects on telomere maintenance capacity, with individuals incubated at warm temperatures exhibiting less telomere maintenance compared with cool-incubated individuals. Telomere dynamics were also sexually dimorphic, with females having longer telomeres and greater telomere maintenance compared with males. We suggest that selection drives this sexual dimorphism in telomere maintenance, in which females maximise their lifetime reproductive success by investing in traits promoting longevity such as maintenance, while males invest in short-term reproductive gains through a polygynous mating behaviour. These early-life effects, therefore, have the potential to mediate life-long changes to life histories.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alexander Hansson
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Gothenburg, Box 463, 405 30 Gothenburg, Sweden
- School of Natural Sciences, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 55, Hobart, TAS 7001, Australia
| | - Erik Wapstra
- School of Natural Sciences, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 55, Hobart, TAS 7001, Australia
| | - Geoffrey M. While
- School of Natural Sciences, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 55, Hobart, TAS 7001, Australia
| | - Mats Olsson
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Gothenburg, Box 463, 405 30 Gothenburg, Sweden
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Prévot D'Alvise N, Ascensio E, Richard S. Influence of EE2 exposure, age and sex on telomere length in European long-snouted seahorse (Hippocampus guttulatus). Gen Comp Endocrinol 2024; 346:114419. [PMID: 38040384 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2023.114419] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2023] [Revised: 11/17/2023] [Accepted: 11/26/2023] [Indexed: 12/03/2023]
Abstract
After a Telomere Lengthening in juvenile stage, a progressive telomere shortening occurs with age despite higher telomerase level. Telomere Length (TL) may also reflect past physiological state such as a chronic chemical stress. Several studies have revealed a correlation between TL, ageing and/or sex in vertebrates, including teleosts; however, the patterns of telomere dynamics with telomerase mRNA expression, sex, lifespan or chemical stress in teleosts are unclear. The first aim of this study is to verify if telomere length is age and sex-dependent. The second aim is to consider if TL is a useful indicator of stress response in European long-snouted seahorse, Hippocampus guttulatus, an ectothermic and non-model system. We showed that after telomere lengthening during the juvenile stage, a telomeric attrition became significant in sexually mature individuals (p = 0.042). TL decreased in older seahorses despite the presence of somatic telomerase mRNA expression at all life stages studied. There was no difference in TL between males and females, but telomerase mRNA expression was consistently higher in females than males. Exposure to EE2 had no effect on TL in young seahorses, but was correlated with a significant increase in telomerase mRNA expression and various physiological disruptions. Here, a growth retardation of -10 % for body length (p = 0.016) and approximately -45 % for mass (p = 0.001) compared to healthy juvenile seahorses was observed. Our data suggest that telomere dynamics alone should not be used as a marker of EE2 exposure in juvenile seahorses.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nathalie Prévot D'Alvise
- Mediterranean Institute of Oceanography (MIO), UMR 7294, Équipe EMBIO, Université de Toulon, CS 60584 - 83 041 Toulon Cedex 9, France.
| | - Eliette Ascensio
- Mediterranean Institute of Oceanography (MIO), UMR 7294, Équipe EMBIO, Université de Toulon, CS 60584 - 83 041 Toulon Cedex 9, France
| | - Simone Richard
- Mediterranean Institute of Oceanography (MIO), UMR 7294, Équipe EMBIO, Université de Toulon, CS 60584 - 83 041 Toulon Cedex 9, France
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Morbiato E, Cattelan S, Pilastro A, Grapputo A. Sperm production is negatively associated with muscle and sperm telomere length in a species subjected to strong sperm competition. Mol Ecol 2023; 32:5812-5822. [PMID: 37792396 DOI: 10.1111/mec.17158] [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: 03/10/2023] [Revised: 08/29/2023] [Accepted: 09/20/2023] [Indexed: 10/05/2023]
Abstract
Life-history theory suggests that ageing is one of the costs of reproduction. Accordingly, a higher reproductive allocation is expected to increase the deterioration of both the somatic and the germinal lines through enhanced telomere attrition. In most species, males' reproductive allocation mainly regards traits that increase mating and fertilization success, that is sexually selected traits. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that a higher investment in sexually selected traits is associated with a reduced relative telomere length (RTL) in the guppy (Poecilia reticulata), an ectotherm species characterized by strong pre- and postcopulatory sexual selection. We first measured telomere length in both the soma and the sperm over guppies' lifespan to see whether there was any variation in telomere length associated with age. Second, we investigated whether a greater investment in pre- and postcopulatory sexually selected traits is linked to shorter telomere length in both the somatic and the sperm germinal lines, and in young and old males. We found that telomeres lengthened with age in the somatic tissue, but there was no age-dependent variation in telomere length in the sperm cells. Telomere length in guppies was significantly and negatively correlated with sperm production in both tissues and life stages considered in this study. Our findings indicate that telomere length in male guppies is strongly associated with their reproductive investment (sperm production), suggesting that a trade-off between reproduction and maintenance is occurring at each stage of males' life in this species.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Elisa Morbiato
- Department of Biology, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Silvia Cattelan
- Department of Biology, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
- Fritz Lipmann Institute - Leibniz Institute on Aging, Jena, Germany
| | - Andrea Pilastro
- Department of Biology, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
- National Biodiversity Future Center, Palermo, Italy
| | - Alessandro Grapputo
- Department of Biology, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
- National Biodiversity Future Center, Palermo, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Eastwood JR, Dupoué A, Verhulst S, Cockburn A, Peters A. Cool, dry nights and short heatwaves during growth result in longer telomeres in temperate songbird nestlings. Mol Ecol 2023; 32:5382-5393. [PMID: 37606092 DOI: 10.1111/mec.17107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2023] [Revised: 07/28/2023] [Accepted: 08/10/2023] [Indexed: 08/23/2023]
Abstract
Exposure to rising sublethal temperatures can affect development and somatic condition, and thereby Darwinian fitness. In the context of climate warming, these changes could have implications for population viability, but they can be subtle and consequently difficult to quantify. Using telomere length (TL) as a known biomarker of somatic condition in early life, we investigated the impact of pre-hatching and nestling climate on six cohorts of wild nestling superb fairy wrens (Malurus cyaneus) in temperate south-eastern Australia. Models incorporating only climate information from the nestling phase were best supported compared to those including the (pre-)laying to incubation phase (previously shown to affect mass) or both phases combined. This implies that nestling TL is most sensitive to ambient climate in the nestling phase. The top model showed a negative relationship between early-life TL and nestling mean daily minimum temperature when rainfall was low which gradually became positive with increasing rainfall. In addition, there was a positive relationship between TL and the frequency of hot days (daily maximum temperature ≥35°C), although these temperatures were rare and short-term. Including other pre-hatching and nestling period, climate variables (e.g., mean daily maximum temperature and mean diurnal temperature variability) did not improve the prediction of nestling TL. Overall, our results suggest that cooler nights when conditions are dry and short-term temperature spikes above 35°C during development are conducive for somatic maintenance. While these findings indicate a potential pathway for climate warming to impact wildlife fitness, they emphasize the need to elucidate the mechanisms underlying these complex associations.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Justin R Eastwood
- School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
| | - Andréaz Dupoué
- School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
- Ifremer, Univ Brest, CNRS, IRD, LEMAR, Plouzane, France
| | - Simon Verhulst
- Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Andrew Cockburn
- Division of Ecology and Evolution, Research School of Biology, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
| | - Anne Peters
- School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
- Max Planck Institute for Ornithology, Vogelwarte Radolfzell, Radolfzell, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Ton R, Boner W, Raveh S, Monaghan P, Griffith SC. Effects of heat waves on telomere dynamics and parental brooding effort in nestlings of the zebra finch (Taeniopygia castanotis) transitioning from ectothermy to endothermy. Mol Ecol 2023; 32:4911-4920. [PMID: 37395529 DOI: 10.1111/mec.17064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2023] [Revised: 06/16/2023] [Accepted: 06/20/2023] [Indexed: 07/04/2023]
Abstract
Heat waves are predicted to be detrimental for organismal physiology with costs for survival that could be reflected in markers of biological state such as telomeres. Changes in early life telomere dynamics driven by thermal stress are of particular interest during the early post-natal stages of altricial birds because nestlings quickly shift from being ectothermic to endothermic after hatching. Telomeres of ectothermic and endothermic organisms respond differently to environmental temperature, but few investigations within species that transition from ectothermy to endothermy are available. Also, ambient temperature influences parental brooding behaviour, which will alter the temperature experienced by offspring and thereby, potentially, their telomeres. We exposed zebra finch nestlings to experimental heat waves and compared their telomere dynamics to that of a control group at 5, 12 and 80 days of age that encapsulate the transition from the ectothermic to the endothermic thermoregulatory stage; we also recorded parental brooding, offspring sex, mass, growth rates, brood size and hatch order. Nestling mass showed an inverse relationship with telomere length, and nestlings exposed to heat waves showed lower telomere attrition during their first 12 days of life (ectothermic stage) compared to controls. Additionally, parents of heated broods reduced the time they spent brooding offspring (at 5 days old) compared to controls. Our results indicate that the effect of heat waves on telomere dynamics likely varies depending on age and thermoregulatory stage of the offspring in combination with parental brooding behaviour during growth.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Riccardo Ton
- School of Natural Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Winnie Boner
- School of Biodiversity, One Health and Veterinary Medicine, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | - Shirley Raveh
- School of Biodiversity, One Health and Veterinary Medicine, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | - Pat Monaghan
- School of Biodiversity, One Health and Veterinary Medicine, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | - Simon C Griffith
- School of Natural Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Panasiak L, Kuciński M, Hliwa P, Pomianowski K, Ocalewicz K. Telomerase Activity in Somatic Tissues and Ovaries of Diploid and Triploid Rainbow Trout ( Oncorhynchus mykiss) Females. Cells 2023; 12:1772. [PMID: 37443805 PMCID: PMC10340188 DOI: 10.3390/cells12131772] [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: 05/27/2023] [Revised: 06/20/2023] [Accepted: 07/01/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Telomerase activity has been found in the somatic tissues of rainbow trout. The enzyme is essential for maintaining telomere length but also assures homeostasis of the fish organs, playing an important role during tissue regeneration. The unique morphological and physiological characteristics of triploid rainbow trout, when compared to diploid specimens, make them a promising model for studies concerning telomerase activity. Thus, in this study, we examined the expression of the Tert gene in various organs of subadult and adult diploid and triploid rainbow trout females. Upregulated Tert mRNA transcription was observed in all the examined somatic tissues sampled from the triploid fish when compared to diploid individuals. Contrastingly, Tert expression in the ovaries was significantly decreased in the triploid specimens. Within the diploids, the highest expression of Tert was observed in the liver and in the ovaries of the subadult individuals. In the triploids, Tert expression was increased in the somatic tissues, while the ovaries exhibited lower activity of telomerase compared to other organs and decreased compared to the ovaries in the diploids. The ovaries of triploid individuals were underdeveloped, consisting of only a few oocytes. The lack of germ cells, which are usually characterized by high Tert expression, might be responsible for the decrease in telomerase activity in the triploid ovaries. The increase in Tert expression in triploid somatic tissues suggests that they require higher telomerase activity to cope with environmental stress and maintain internal homeostasis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ligia Panasiak
- Department of Marine Biology and Biotechnology, Faculty of Oceanography and Geography, University of Gdansk, M. Piłsudskiego 46 Av., 81-378 Gdynia, Poland; (M.K.); (K.O.)
| | - Marcin Kuciński
- Department of Marine Biology and Biotechnology, Faculty of Oceanography and Geography, University of Gdansk, M. Piłsudskiego 46 Av., 81-378 Gdynia, Poland; (M.K.); (K.O.)
| | - Piotr Hliwa
- Department of Ichthyology and Aquaculture, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Warszawska St. 117, 10-719 Olsztyn, Poland;
| | - Konrad Pomianowski
- Laboratory of Physiology of Marine Organisms, Genetics and Marine Biotechnology Department, Institute of Oceanology Polish Academy of Sciences, Powstańców Warszawy 55, 81-712 Sopot, Poland;
| | - Konrad Ocalewicz
- Department of Marine Biology and Biotechnology, Faculty of Oceanography and Geography, University of Gdansk, M. Piłsudskiego 46 Av., 81-378 Gdynia, Poland; (M.K.); (K.O.)
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Rouan A, Pousse M, Djerbi N, Porro B, Bourdin G, Carradec Q, Hume BC, Poulain J, Lê-Hoang J, Armstrong E, Agostini S, Salazar G, Ruscheweyh HJ, Aury JM, Paz-García DA, McMinds R, Giraud-Panis MJ, Deshuraud R, Ottaviani A, Morini LD, Leone C, Wurzer L, Tran J, Zoccola D, Pey A, Moulin C, Boissin E, Iwankow G, Romac S, de Vargas C, Banaigs B, Boss E, Bowler C, Douville E, Flores M, Reynaud S, Thomas OP, Troublé R, Thurber RV, Planes S, Allemand D, Pesant S, Galand PE, Wincker P, Sunagawa S, Röttinger E, Furla P, Voolstra CR, Forcioli D, Lombard F, Gilson E. Telomere DNA length regulation is influenced by seasonal temperature differences in short-lived but not in long-lived reef-building corals. Nat Commun 2023; 14:3038. [PMID: 37263999 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-38499-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2022] [Accepted: 04/26/2023] [Indexed: 06/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Telomeres are environment-sensitive regulators of health and aging. Here,we present telomere DNA length analysis of two reef-building coral genera revealing that the long- and short-term water thermal regime is a key driver of between-colony variation across the Pacific Ocean. Notably, there are differences between the two studied genera. The telomere DNA lengths of the short-lived, more stress-sensitive Pocillopora spp. colonies were largely determined by seasonal temperature variation, whereas those of the long-lived, more stress-resistant Porites spp. colonies were insensitive to seasonal patterns, but rather influenced by past thermal anomalies. These results reveal marked differences in telomere DNA length regulation between two evolutionary distant coral genera exhibiting specific life-history traits. We propose that environmentally regulated mechanisms of telomere maintenance are linked to organismal performances, a matter of paramount importance considering the effects of climate change on health.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alice Rouan
- Université Côte d'Azur-CNRS-Inserm-Institute for Research on Cancer and Ageing, Nice (IRCAN), Medical School, Nice, France.
- Laboratoire International Associé Université Côte d'Azur-Centre Scientifique de Monaco (LIA ROPSE), Monaco, Nice, France.
| | - Melanie Pousse
- Université Côte d'Azur-CNRS-Inserm-Institute for Research on Cancer and Ageing, Nice (IRCAN), Medical School, Nice, France
- Laboratoire International Associé Université Côte d'Azur-Centre Scientifique de Monaco (LIA ROPSE), Monaco, Nice, France
- Institut Fédératif de Recherche-Ressources Marines (IFR MARRES), Université Côte d'Azur, Nice, France
| | - Nadir Djerbi
- Université Côte d'Azur-CNRS-Inserm-Institute for Research on Cancer and Ageing, Nice (IRCAN), Medical School, Nice, France
- Laboratoire International Associé Université Côte d'Azur-Centre Scientifique de Monaco (LIA ROPSE), Monaco, Nice, France
- Institut Fédératif de Recherche-Ressources Marines (IFR MARRES), Université Côte d'Azur, Nice, France
| | - Barbara Porro
- Université Côte d'Azur-CNRS-Inserm-Institute for Research on Cancer and Ageing, Nice (IRCAN), Medical School, Nice, France
- Laboratoire International Associé Université Côte d'Azur-Centre Scientifique de Monaco (LIA ROPSE), Monaco, Nice, France
- Institut Fédératif de Recherche-Ressources Marines (IFR MARRES), Université Côte d'Azur, Nice, France
| | | | - Quentin Carradec
- Génomique Métabolique, Genoscope, Institut François Jacob, CEA, CNRS, Univ Evry, Université Paris-Saclay, 91057, Evry, France
- Research Federation for the Study of Global Ocean Systems Ecology and Evolution, FR2022/Tara Oceans GO-SEE, 75016, Paris, France
| | - Benjamin Cc Hume
- Department of Biology, University of Konstanz, Konstanz, Germany
| | - Julie Poulain
- Génomique Métabolique, Genoscope, Institut François Jacob, CEA, CNRS, Univ Evry, Université Paris-Saclay, 91057, Evry, France
- Research Federation for the Study of Global Ocean Systems Ecology and Evolution, FR2022/Tara Oceans GO-SEE, 75016, Paris, France
| | - Julie Lê-Hoang
- Génomique Métabolique, Genoscope, Institut François Jacob, CEA, CNRS, Univ Evry, Université Paris-Saclay, 91057, Evry, France
- Research Federation for the Study of Global Ocean Systems Ecology and Evolution, FR2022/Tara Oceans GO-SEE, 75016, Paris, France
| | - Eric Armstrong
- Génomique Métabolique, Genoscope, Institut François Jacob, CEA, CNRS, Univ Evry, Université Paris-Saclay, 91057, Evry, France
- Research Federation for the Study of Global Ocean Systems Ecology and Evolution, FR2022/Tara Oceans GO-SEE, 75016, Paris, France
| | - Sylvain Agostini
- Shimoda Marine Research Center, University of Tsukuba, Shimoda, Japan
| | - Guillem Salazar
- Department of Biology, Institute of Microbiology and Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, ETH Zurich, 8092, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Hans-Joachim Ruscheweyh
- Department of Biology, Institute of Microbiology and Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, ETH Zurich, 8092, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Jean-Marc Aury
- Génomique Métabolique, Genoscope, Institut François Jacob, CEA, CNRS, Univ Evry, Université Paris-Saclay, 91057, Evry, France
- Research Federation for the Study of Global Ocean Systems Ecology and Evolution, FR2022/Tara Oceans GO-SEE, 75016, Paris, France
| | - David A Paz-García
- Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas del Noroeste (CIBNOR), Av. IPN 195, La Paz, Baja California Sur, 23096, La Paz, México
| | - Ryan McMinds
- Université Côte d'Azur-CNRS-Inserm-Institute for Research on Cancer and Ageing, Nice (IRCAN), Medical School, Nice, France
- University of South Florida Center for Global Health and Infectious Diseases Research, Tampa, FL, USA
- Maison de la Modélisation, de la Simulation et des Interactions (MSI),, Université Côte d'Azur, Nice, France
| | - Marie-Josèphe Giraud-Panis
- Université Côte d'Azur-CNRS-Inserm-Institute for Research on Cancer and Ageing, Nice (IRCAN), Medical School, Nice, France
- Laboratoire International Associé Université Côte d'Azur-Centre Scientifique de Monaco (LIA ROPSE), Monaco, Nice, France
- Institut Fédératif de Recherche-Ressources Marines (IFR MARRES), Université Côte d'Azur, Nice, France
| | - Romane Deshuraud
- Université Côte d'Azur-CNRS-Inserm-Institute for Research on Cancer and Ageing, Nice (IRCAN), Medical School, Nice, France
- Laboratoire International Associé Université Côte d'Azur-Centre Scientifique de Monaco (LIA ROPSE), Monaco, Nice, France
- Institut Fédératif de Recherche-Ressources Marines (IFR MARRES), Université Côte d'Azur, Nice, France
| | - Alexandre Ottaviani
- Université Côte d'Azur-CNRS-Inserm-Institute for Research on Cancer and Ageing, Nice (IRCAN), Medical School, Nice, France
- Laboratoire International Associé Université Côte d'Azur-Centre Scientifique de Monaco (LIA ROPSE), Monaco, Nice, France
- Institut Fédératif de Recherche-Ressources Marines (IFR MARRES), Université Côte d'Azur, Nice, France
| | - Lycia Die Morini
- Université Côte d'Azur-CNRS-Inserm-Institute for Research on Cancer and Ageing, Nice (IRCAN), Medical School, Nice, France
| | - Camille Leone
- Université Côte d'Azur-CNRS-Inserm-Institute for Research on Cancer and Ageing, Nice (IRCAN), Medical School, Nice, France
| | - Lia Wurzer
- Université Côte d'Azur-CNRS-Inserm-Institute for Research on Cancer and Ageing, Nice (IRCAN), Medical School, Nice, France
| | - Jessica Tran
- Université Côte d'Azur-CNRS-Inserm-Institute for Research on Cancer and Ageing, Nice (IRCAN), Medical School, Nice, France
| | - Didier Zoccola
- Laboratoire International Associé Université Côte d'Azur-Centre Scientifique de Monaco (LIA ROPSE), Monaco, Nice, France
- Centre Scientifique de Monaco, Principality of Monaco, Monaco, Monaco
| | - Alexis Pey
- Université Côte d'Azur-CNRS-Inserm-Institute for Research on Cancer and Ageing, Nice (IRCAN), Medical School, Nice, France
- Laboratoire International Associé Université Côte d'Azur-Centre Scientifique de Monaco (LIA ROPSE), Monaco, Nice, France
- Institut Fédératif de Recherche-Ressources Marines (IFR MARRES), Université Côte d'Azur, Nice, France
| | - Clémentine Moulin
- Research Federation for the Study of Global Ocean Systems Ecology and Evolution, FR2022/Tara Oceans GO-SEE, 75016, Paris, France
- Tara Ocean Foundation, 8 rue de Prague, 75012, Paris, France
| | - Emilie Boissin
- Laboratoire d'Excellence "CORAIL," PSL Research University: EPHE-UPVD-CNRS, USR 3278 CRIOBE, Université de Perpignan, Perpignan Cedex, France
| | - Guillaume Iwankow
- Laboratoire d'Excellence "CORAIL," PSL Research University: EPHE-UPVD-CNRS, USR 3278 CRIOBE, Université de Perpignan, Perpignan Cedex, France
| | - Sarah Romac
- Sorbonne Université, CNRS, Station Biologique de Roscoff, AD2M, UMR 7144, ECOMAP, Roscoff, France
| | - Colomban de Vargas
- Research Federation for the Study of Global Ocean Systems Ecology and Evolution, FR2022/Tara Oceans GO-SEE, 75016, Paris, France
- Sorbonne Université, CNRS, Station Biologique de Roscoff, AD2M, UMR 7144, ECOMAP, Roscoff, France
| | - Bernard Banaigs
- Laboratoire d'Excellence "CORAIL," PSL Research University: EPHE-UPVD-CNRS, USR 3278 CRIOBE, Université de Perpignan, Perpignan Cedex, France
| | - Emmanuel Boss
- School of Marine Sciences, University of Maine, Orono, ME, USA
| | - Chris Bowler
- Research Federation for the Study of Global Ocean Systems Ecology and Evolution, FR2022/Tara Oceans GO-SEE, 75016, Paris, France
- Institut de Biologie de l'Ecole Normale Supérieure (IBENS), Ecole normale supérieure, CNRS, INSERM, Université PSL, 75005, Paris, France
| | - Eric Douville
- Laboratoire des Sciences du Climat et de l'Environnement, LSCE/IPSL, CEA-CNRS-UVSQ, Université Paris-Saclay, 91191, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Michel Flores
- Weizmann Institute of Science, Department of Earth, and Planetary Sciences, 76100, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Stéphanie Reynaud
- Laboratoire International Associé Université Côte d'Azur-Centre Scientifique de Monaco (LIA ROPSE), Monaco, Nice, France
- Centre Scientifique de Monaco, Principality of Monaco, Monaco, Monaco
| | - Olivier P Thomas
- School of Biological and Chemical Sciences, Ryan Institute, University of Galway, University Road, H91TK33, Galway, Ireland
| | - Romain Troublé
- Research Federation for the Study of Global Ocean Systems Ecology and Evolution, FR2022/Tara Oceans GO-SEE, 75016, Paris, France
- Tara Ocean Foundation, 8 rue de Prague, 75012, Paris, France
| | - Rebecca Vega Thurber
- Oregon State University, Department of Microbiology, 220 Nash Hall, Corvallis, OR, 97331, USA
| | - Serge Planes
- Research Federation for the Study of Global Ocean Systems Ecology and Evolution, FR2022/Tara Oceans GO-SEE, 75016, Paris, France
- Laboratoire d'Excellence "CORAIL," PSL Research University: EPHE-UPVD-CNRS, USR 3278 CRIOBE, Université de Perpignan, Perpignan Cedex, France
| | - Denis Allemand
- Laboratoire International Associé Université Côte d'Azur-Centre Scientifique de Monaco (LIA ROPSE), Monaco, Nice, France
- Centre Scientifique de Monaco, Principality of Monaco, Monaco, Monaco
| | - Stephane Pesant
- European Bioinformatics Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Wellcome Genome Campus, Cambridge CB10 1SD, UK, UK
| | - Pierre E Galand
- Research Federation for the Study of Global Ocean Systems Ecology and Evolution, FR2022/Tara Oceans GO-SEE, 75016, Paris, France
- Sorbonne Université, CNRS, Laboratoire d'Ecogéochimie des Environnements Benthiques (LECOB), Observatoire Océanologique de Banyuls, Banyuls-sur-Mer, France
| | - Patrick Wincker
- Génomique Métabolique, Genoscope, Institut François Jacob, CEA, CNRS, Univ Evry, Université Paris-Saclay, 91057, Evry, France
- Research Federation for the Study of Global Ocean Systems Ecology and Evolution, FR2022/Tara Oceans GO-SEE, 75016, Paris, France
| | - Shinichi Sunagawa
- Department of Biology, Institute of Microbiology and Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, ETH Zurich, 8092, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Eric Röttinger
- Université Côte d'Azur-CNRS-Inserm-Institute for Research on Cancer and Ageing, Nice (IRCAN), Medical School, Nice, France
- Laboratoire International Associé Université Côte d'Azur-Centre Scientifique de Monaco (LIA ROPSE), Monaco, Nice, France
- Institut Fédératif de Recherche-Ressources Marines (IFR MARRES), Université Côte d'Azur, Nice, France
| | - Paola Furla
- Université Côte d'Azur-CNRS-Inserm-Institute for Research on Cancer and Ageing, Nice (IRCAN), Medical School, Nice, France
- Laboratoire International Associé Université Côte d'Azur-Centre Scientifique de Monaco (LIA ROPSE), Monaco, Nice, France
- Institut Fédératif de Recherche-Ressources Marines (IFR MARRES), Université Côte d'Azur, Nice, France
| | | | - Didier Forcioli
- Université Côte d'Azur-CNRS-Inserm-Institute for Research on Cancer and Ageing, Nice (IRCAN), Medical School, Nice, France
- Laboratoire International Associé Université Côte d'Azur-Centre Scientifique de Monaco (LIA ROPSE), Monaco, Nice, France
- Institut Fédératif de Recherche-Ressources Marines (IFR MARRES), Université Côte d'Azur, Nice, France
| | - Fabien Lombard
- Research Federation for the Study of Global Ocean Systems Ecology and Evolution, FR2022/Tara Oceans GO-SEE, 75016, Paris, France
- Sorbonne Université, Institut de la Mer de Villefranche sur mer, Laboratoire d'Océanographie de Villefranche, Villefranche-sur-Mer, France
- Institut Universitaire de France, Ministère chargé de l'enseignement supérieur, Paris, France
| | - Eric Gilson
- Université Côte d'Azur-CNRS-Inserm-Institute for Research on Cancer and Ageing, Nice (IRCAN), Medical School, Nice, France.
- Laboratoire International Associé Université Côte d'Azur-Centre Scientifique de Monaco (LIA ROPSE), Monaco, Nice, France.
- Institut Fédératif de Recherche-Ressources Marines (IFR MARRES), Université Côte d'Azur, Nice, France.
- Department of Medical Genetics, CHU, Nice, France.
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Voituron Y, Guillaume O, Dumet A, Zahn S, Criscuolo F. Temperature-independent telomere lengthening with age in the long-lived human fish ( Proteus anguinus). Proc Biol Sci 2023; 290:20230503. [PMID: 37132239 PMCID: PMC10154926 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2023.0503] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2023] [Accepted: 03/30/2023] [Indexed: 05/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Despite a number of studies showing a negative relationship between age and telomere length, the universality of this pattern has been recently challenged, mainly in ectothermic animals exhibiting diverse effects of age on telomere shortening. However, data on ectotherms may be strongly affected by the thermal history of the individuals. We thus investigated the age-related changes in relative telomere length in the skin of a small but long-lived amphibian living naturally in a stable thermal environment over its entire life, allowing comparison with other homeothermic animals like birds and mammals. The present data showed a positive relation between telomere length and individual age, independent of sex and body size. A segmented analysis highlighted a breakpoint in the telomere length-age relationship, suggesting that telomere length reached a plateau at the age of 25 years. Further studies focusing on the biology of animals that live much longer than expected based on body mass will contribute to our better understanding of how ageing processes evolved and may also bring innovation for extending human health span.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yann Voituron
- Université Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS, ENTPE, UMR 5023 LEHNA, 69622, Villeurbanne, France
| | - Olivier Guillaume
- Station d'Ecologie Théorique et Expérimentale (SETE), UMR5321 Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Moulis, France
| | - Adeline Dumet
- Université Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS, ENTPE, UMR 5023 LEHNA, 69622, Villeurbanne, France
| | - Sandrine Zahn
- Université de Strasbourg, CNRS, IPHC UMR 7178, Strasbourg, France
| | | |
Collapse
|
13
|
Zamora-Camacho FJ, Burraco P, Zambrano-Fernández S, Aragón P. Ammonium effects on oxidative stress, telomere length, and locomotion across life stages of an anuran from habitats with contrasting land-use histories. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 862:160924. [PMID: 36526187 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.160924] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2022] [Revised: 12/02/2022] [Accepted: 12/10/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Understanding the mechanistic implications behind wildlife responses to global changes is a central topic in eco-evolutionary research. In particular, anthropic pollution is known to impact wild populations across the globe, which may have even stronger consequences for species with complex life cycles. Among vertebrates, amphibians represent a paradigmatic example of metamorphosis, and their characteristics make them highly vulnerable to pollution. Here, we tested for differences in the redox status, telomere length, and locomotor performance across life stages of green frogs (Pelophylax perezi) from agrosystem and natural habitats, both constitutively and in response to an experimental ammonium exposure (10 mg/L). We found that larvae from the agrosystem constitutively showed an enhanced redox status (better antioxidant balance against H2O2, lower lipid peroxidation) but shorter telomeres as compared to larvae from the natural environment. The larval redox response to ammonium was, overall, similar in both habitats. In contrast, after metamorphosis, the redox status of individuals from the natural habitat seemed to cope better with ammonium exposure (denoted by lower lipid peroxidation), and differences between habitats in telomere length were no longer present. Intriguingly, while the swimming performance of larvae did not correlate with individual's physiology, metamorphs with lower glutathione reductase activity and longer telomeres had a better jumping performance. This may suggest that locomotor performance is both traded off with the production of reactive oxygen species and potentiated directly by longer telomeres or indirectly by the mechanisms that buffer their shortening. Overall, our study suggests that contrasting land-use histories can drive divergence in physiological pathways linked to individual health and lifespan. Since this pattern was life-stage dependent, divergent habitat conditions can have contrasting implications across the ontogenetic development of species with complex life cycles.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Francisco Javier Zamora-Camacho
- Department of Biogeography and Global Change, Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales (MNCN-CSIC), C/José Gutiérrez Abascal 2, 28006 Madrid, Spain.
| | - Pablo Burraco
- Department of Wetland Ecology, Doñana Biological Station, Avda. Américo Vespucio 26, 41092 Seville, Spain
| | | | - Pedro Aragón
- Department of Biogeography and Global Change, Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales (MNCN-CSIC), C/José Gutiérrez Abascal 2, 28006 Madrid, Spain
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Burraco P, Hernandez-Gonzalez M, Metcalfe NB, Monaghan P. Ageing across the great divide: tissue transformation, organismal growth and temperature shape telomere dynamics through the metamorphic transition. Proc Biol Sci 2023; 290:20222448. [PMID: 36750187 PMCID: PMC9904946 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2022.2448] [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: 08/30/2022] [Accepted: 01/12/2023] [Indexed: 02/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Telomere attrition is considered a useful indicator of cellular and whole-organism ageing rate. While approximately 80% of animal species undergo metamorphosis that includes extensive tissue transformations (involving cell division, apoptosis, de-differentiation and de novo formation of stem cells), the effect on telomere dynamics is unknown. We measured telomeres in Xenopus laevis developing from larvae to adults under contrasting environmental temperatures. Telomere dynamics were linked to the degree of tissue transformation during development. Average telomere length in gut tissue increased dramatically during metamorphosis, when the gut shortens by 75% and epithelial cells de-differentiate into stem cells. In the liver (retained from larva) and hindlimb muscle (newly formed before metamorphosis), telomeres gradually shortened until adulthood, likely due to extensive cell division. Tail muscle telomere lengths were constant until tail resorption, and those in heart (retained from larva) showed no change over time. Telomere lengths negatively correlated with larval growth, but for a given growth rate, telomeres were shorter in cooler conditions, suggesting that growing in the cold is more costly. Telomere lengths were not related to post-metamorphic growth rate. Further research is now needed to understand whether telomere dynamics are a good indicator of ageing rate in species undergoing metamorphosis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Pablo Burraco
- School of Biodiversity, One Health and Veterinary Medicine, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ, UK
- Ecology, Evolution and Development Group, Doñana Biological Station (CSIC), 41092, Seville, Spain
| | - Miguel Hernandez-Gonzalez
- School of Biodiversity, One Health and Veterinary Medicine, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ, UK
| | - Neil B. Metcalfe
- School of Biodiversity, One Health and Veterinary Medicine, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ, UK
| | - Pat Monaghan
- School of Biodiversity, One Health and Veterinary Medicine, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ, UK
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
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: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [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.
Collapse
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
| | | |
Collapse
|
16
|
Friesen CR, Wapstra E, Olsson M. Of telomeres and temperature: Measuring thermal effects on telomeres in ectothermic animals. Mol Ecol 2022; 31:6069-6086. [PMID: 34448287 DOI: 10.1111/mec.16154] [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: 05/03/2021] [Revised: 07/20/2021] [Accepted: 08/23/2021] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
Ectotherms are classic models for understanding life-history tradeoffs, including the reproduction-somatic maintenance tradeoffs that may be reflected in telomere length and their dynamics. Importantly, life-history traits of ectotherms are tightly linked to their thermal environment, with diverse or synergistic mechanistic explanations underpinning the variation. Telomere dynamics potentially provide a mechanistic link that can be used to monitor thermal effects on individuals in response to climatic perturbations. Growth rate, age and developmental stage are all affected by temperature, which interacts with telomere dynamics in complex and intriguing ways. The physiological processes underpinning telomere dynamics can be visualized and understood using thermal performance curves (TPCs). TPCs reflect the evolutionary history and the thermal environment during an individual's ontogeny. Telomere maintenance should be enhanced at or near the thermal performance optimum of a species, population and individual. The thermal sensitivity of telomere dynamics should reflect the interacting TPCs of the processes underlying them. The key processes directly underpinning telomere dynamics are mitochondrial function (reactive oxygen production), antioxidant activity, telomerase activity and telomere endcap protein status. We argue that identifying TPCs for these processes will significantly help design robust, repeatable experiments and field studies of telomere dynamics in ectotherms. Conceptually, TPCs are a valuable framework to predict and interpret taxon- and population-specific telomere dynamics across thermal regimes. The literature of thermal effects on telomeres in ectotherms is sparse and mostly limited to vertebrates, but our conclusions and recommendations are relevant across ectothermic animals.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Christopher R Friesen
- School of Earth, Atmospheric and Life Sciences, The University of Wollongong, Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia.,School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Erik Wapstra
- School of Natural Sciences, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
| | - Mats Olsson
- School of Earth, Atmospheric and Life Sciences, The University of Wollongong, Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia.,Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Monaghan P, Olsson M, Richardson DS, Verhulst S, Rogers SM. Integrating telomere biology into the ecology and evolution of natural populations: Progress and prospects. Mol Ecol 2022; 31:5909-5916. [PMID: 36330668 DOI: 10.1111/mec.16768] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2022] [Revised: 11/02/2022] [Accepted: 11/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Pat Monaghan
- Animal Health and Comparative Medicine, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, Institute of Biodiversity, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | - Mats Olsson
- Department of BioEnv - Zoologen, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - David S Richardson
- School of Biological Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, Norfolk, UK
| | - Simon Verhulst
- Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Sean M Rogers
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.,Bamfield Marine Sciences Centre, Bamfield, British Columbia, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Olsson M, Bererhi B, Miller E, Schwartz T, Rollings N, Lindsay W, Wapstra E. Inbreeding effects on telomeres in hatchling sand lizards (Lacerta agilis): An optimal family affair? Mol Ecol 2022; 31:6605-6616. [PMID: 36208022 PMCID: PMC10092626 DOI: 10.1111/mec.16723] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2022] [Revised: 09/15/2022] [Accepted: 09/21/2022] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
Telomeres are nucleotide-protein caps, predominantly at the ends of Metazoan linear chromosomes, showing complex dynamics with regard to their lengthening and shortening through life. Their complexity has entertained the idea that net telomere length and attrition could be valuable biomarkers of phenotypic and genetic quality of their bearer. Intuitively, those individuals could be more heterozygous and, hence, less inbred. However, some inbred taxa have longer, not shorter, telomeres. To understand the role of inbreeding in this complex scenario we need large samples across a range of genotypes with known maternity and paternity in telomere-screened organisms under natural conditions. We assessed the effects of parental and hatchling inbreeding on telomere length in >1300 offspring from >500 sires and dams in a population of sand lizards (Lacerta agilis). Maternal and paternal ID and their interactions predict hatchling telomere length at substantial effect sizes (R2 > .50). Deviation from mean maternal heterozygosity statistically predicts shorter offspring telomeres but this only when sibship is controlled for by paternal ID, and then is still limited (R2 = .06). Raw maternal heterozygosity scores, ignoring absolute deviation from the mean, explained 0.07% of the variance in hatchling telomere length. In conclusion, inbreeding is not a driver of telomere dynamics in the sand lizard (Lacerta agilis) study system.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mats Olsson
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.,School of Biological Sciences, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Badreddine Bererhi
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Emily Miller
- Sydney Medical School, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Tonia Schwartz
- Biological Sciences, Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama, USA
| | - Nicky Rollings
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Willow Lindsay
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Erik Wapstra
- School of Natural Sciences, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
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.
Collapse
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
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
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.
Collapse
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
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Metcalfe NB, Olsson M. How telomere dynamics are influenced by the balance between mitochondrial efficiency, reactive oxygen species production and DNA damage. Mol Ecol 2022; 31:6040-6052. [PMID: 34435398 DOI: 10.1111/mec.16150] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2021] [Revised: 08/02/2021] [Accepted: 08/23/2021] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
It is well known that oxidative stress is a major cause of DNA damage and telomere attrition. Most endogenous reactive oxygen species (ROS) are produced in the mitochondria, producing a link between mitochondrial function, DNA integrity and telomere dynamics. In this review we will describe how ROS production, rates of damage to telomeric DNA and DNA repair are dynamic processes. The rate of ROS production depends on mitochondrial features such as the level of inner membrane uncoupling and the proportion of time that ATP is actively being produced. However, the efficiency of ATP production (the ATP/O ratio) is positively related to the rate of ROS production, so leading to a trade-off between the body's energy requirements and its need to prevent oxidative stress. Telomeric DNA is especially vulnerable to oxidative damage due to features such as its high guanine content; while repair to damaged telomere regions is possible through a range of mechanisms, these can result in more rapid telomere shortening. There is increasing evidence that mitochondrial efficiency varies over time and with environmental context, as do rates of DNA repair. We argue that telomere dynamics can only be understood by appreciating that the optimal solution to the trade-off between energetic efficiency and telomere protection will differ between individuals and will change over time, depending on resource availability, energetic demands and life history strategy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Neil B Metcalfe
- Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health & Comparative Medicine, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | - Mats Olsson
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| |
Collapse
|
22
|
Bae J, Bertucci EM, Bock SL, Hale MD, Moore J, Wilkinson PM, Rainwater TR, Bowden JA, Koal T, PhamTuan H, Parrott BB. Intrinsic and extrinsic factors interact during development to influence telomere length in a long-lived reptile. Mol Ecol 2022; 31:6114-6127. [PMID: 34101921 DOI: 10.1111/mec.16017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2020] [Revised: 06/04/2021] [Accepted: 06/04/2021] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
The mechanisms connecting environmental conditions to plasticity in biological aging trajectories are fundamental to understanding individual variation in functional traits and life history. Recent findings suggest that telomere biology is especially dynamic during early life stages and has long-term consequences for subsequent reproduction and survival. However, our current understanding is mostly derived from studies investigating ecological and anthropogenic factors separately, leaving the effects of complex environmental interactions unresolved. American alligators (Alligator mississippiensis) are long-lived apex predators that rely on incubation temperature during a discrete period during development and endocrine cues to determine sex, making them especially vulnerable to current climatic variability and exposure to anthropogenic contaminants interfering with hormone function. Here, we combine field studies with a factorial design to understand how the developmental environment, along with intrinsic biological variation contribute to persistent telomere variation. We found that exposure to a common endocrine disrupting contaminant, DDE, affects telomere length, but that the directionality is highly dependent upon incubation temperature. Variation in hatchling growth, underlies a strong clutch effect. We also assess concentrations of a panel of glucocorticoid hormones and find that contaminant exposure elicits an increase in circulating glucocorticoids. Consistent with emerging evidence linking stress and aging trajectories, GC levels also appear to trend with shorter telomere length. Thus, we add support for a mechanistic link between contaminants and glucocorticoid signalling, which interacts with ecological aspects of the developmental environment to alter telomere dynamics.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Junsoo Bae
- Savannah River Ecology Laboratory, Aiken, SC, USA.,Augusta University, Augusta, GA, USA
| | - Emily M Bertucci
- Savannah River Ecology Laboratory, Aiken, SC, USA.,Eugene P. Odum School of Ecology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
| | - Samantha L Bock
- Savannah River Ecology Laboratory, Aiken, SC, USA.,Eugene P. Odum School of Ecology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
| | - Matthew D Hale
- Savannah River Ecology Laboratory, Aiken, SC, USA.,Eugene P. Odum School of Ecology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
| | - Jameel Moore
- Savannah River Ecology Laboratory, Aiken, SC, USA.,Benedict College, Columbia, SC, USA
| | | | - Thomas R Rainwater
- Tom Yawkey Wildlife Center, Georgetown, SC, USA.,Belle W. Baruch Institute of Coastal Ecology & Forest Science, Clemson University, Georgetown, SC, USA
| | - John A Bowden
- Center for Environmental and Human Toxicology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | | | | | - Benjamin B Parrott
- Savannah River Ecology Laboratory, Aiken, SC, USA.,Eugene P. Odum School of Ecology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
| |
Collapse
|
23
|
Kärkkäinen T, Briga M, Laaksonen T, Stier A. Within-individual repeatability in telomere length: A meta-analysis in nonmammalian vertebrates. Mol Ecol 2022; 31:6339-6359. [PMID: 34455645 DOI: 10.1111/mec.16155] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2021] [Revised: 07/27/2021] [Accepted: 08/23/2021] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
Telomere length is increasingly used as a biomarker of long-term somatic state and future survival prospects. While most studies have overlooked this aspect, biological interpretations based on a given telomere length will benefit from considering the level of within-individual repeatability of telomere length through time. Therefore, we conducted a meta-analysis on 74 longitudinal studies in nonmammalian vertebrates, with the aim to establish the current pattern of within-individual repeatability in telomere length and to identify the methodological (e.g., qPCR/TRF) and biological factors (e.g., age class, phylogeny) that may affect it. While the median within-individual repeatability of telomere length was moderate to high (R = 0.55; 95% CI: 0.05-0.95; N = 82), marked heterogeneity between studies was evident. Measurement method affected the repeatability estimate strongly, with TRF-based studies exhibiting high repeatability (R = 0.80; 95% CI: 0.34-0.96; N = 25), while repeatability of qPCR-based studies was markedly lower and more variable (R = 0.46; 95% CI: 0.04-0.82; N = 57). While phylogeny explained some variance in repeatability, phylogenetic signal was not significant (λ = 0.32; 95% CI: 0.00-0.83). None of the biological factors investigated here significantly explained variation in the repeatability of telomere length, being potentially obscured by methodological differences. Our meta-analysis highlights the high variability in within-individual repeatability estimates between studies and the need to put more effort into separating technical and biological explanations. This is important to better understand to what extent biological factors can affect the repeatability of telomere length and thus the interpretation of telomere length data.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Michael Briga
- Department of Biology, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
| | - Toni Laaksonen
- Department of Biology, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
| | - Antoine Stier
- Department of Biology, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
| |
Collapse
|
24
|
Lizards from warm and declining populations are born with extremely short telomeres. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2022; 119:e2201371119. [PMID: 35939680 PMCID: PMC9388115 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2201371119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Aging is the price to pay for acquiring and processing energy through cellular activity and life history productivity. Climate warming can exacerbate the inherent pace of aging, as illustrated by a faster erosion of protective telomere DNA sequences. This biomarker integrates individual pace of life and parental effects through the germline, but whether intra- and intergenerational telomere dynamics underlies population trends remains an open question. Here, we investigated the covariation between life history, telomere length (TL), and extinction risk among three age classes in a cold-adapted ectotherm (Zootoca vivipara) facing warming-induced extirpations in its distribution limits. TL followed the same threshold relationships with population extinction risk at birth, maturity, and adulthood, suggesting intergenerational accumulation of accelerated aging rate in declining populations. In dwindling populations, most neonates inherited already short telomeres, suggesting they were born physiologically old and unlikely to reach recruitment. At adulthood, TL further explained females' reproductive performance, switching from an index of individual quality in stable populations to a biomarker of reproductive costs in those close to extirpation. We compiled these results to propose the aging loop hypothesis and conceptualize how climate-driven telomere shortening in ectotherms may accumulate across generations and generate tipping points before local extirpation.
Collapse
|
25
|
Pepke ML, Kvalnes T, Ranke PS, Araya‐Ajoy YG, Wright J, Sæther B, Jensen H, Ringsby TH. Causes and consequences of variation in early-life telomere length in a bird metapopulation. Ecol Evol 2022; 12:e9144. [PMID: 35923948 PMCID: PMC9339764 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.9144] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2021] [Revised: 06/24/2022] [Accepted: 07/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
Environmental conditions during early-life development can have lasting effects shaping individual heterogeneity in fitness and fitness-related traits. The length of telomeres, the DNA sequences protecting chromosome ends, may be affected by early-life conditions, and telomere length (TL) has been associated with individual performance within some wild animal populations. Thus, knowledge of the mechanisms that generate variation in TL, and the relationship between TL and fitness, is important in understanding the role of telomeres in ecology and life-history evolution. Here, we investigate how environmental conditions and morphological traits are associated with early-life blood TL and if TL predicts natal dispersal probability or components of fitness in 2746 wild house sparrow (Passer domesticus) nestlings from two populations sampled across 20 years (1994-2013). We retrieved weather data and we monitored population fluctuations, individual survival, and reproductive output using field observations and genetic pedigrees. We found a negative effect of population density on TL, but only in one of the populations. There was a curvilinear association between TL and the maximum daily North Atlantic Oscillation index during incubation, suggesting that there are optimal weather conditions that result in the longest TL. Dispersers tended to have shorter telomeres than non-dispersers. TL did not predict survival, but we found a tendency for individuals with short telomeres to have higher annual reproductive success. Our study showed how early-life TL is shaped by effects of growth, weather conditions, and population density, supporting that environmental stressors negatively affect TL in wild populations. In addition, shorter telomeres may be associated with a faster pace-of-life, as individuals with higher dispersal rates and annual reproduction tended to have shorter early-life TL.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Michael Le Pepke
- Department of Biology, Centre for Biodiversity Dynamics (CBD)Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU)TrondheimNorway
| | - Thomas Kvalnes
- Department of Biology, Centre for Biodiversity Dynamics (CBD)Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU)TrondheimNorway
| | - Peter Sjolte Ranke
- Department of Biology, Centre for Biodiversity Dynamics (CBD)Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU)TrondheimNorway
| | - Yimen G. Araya‐Ajoy
- Department of Biology, Centre for Biodiversity Dynamics (CBD)Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU)TrondheimNorway
| | - Jonathan Wright
- Department of Biology, Centre for Biodiversity Dynamics (CBD)Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU)TrondheimNorway
| | - Bernt‐Erik Sæther
- Department of Biology, Centre for Biodiversity Dynamics (CBD)Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU)TrondheimNorway
| | - Henrik Jensen
- Department of Biology, Centre for Biodiversity Dynamics (CBD)Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU)TrondheimNorway
| | - Thor Harald Ringsby
- Department of Biology, Centre for Biodiversity Dynamics (CBD)Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU)TrondheimNorway
| |
Collapse
|
26
|
Dujon AM, Boutry J, Tissot S, Lemaître JF, Boddy AM, Gérard AL, Alvergne A, Arnal A, Vincze O, Nicolas D, Giraudeau M, Telonis-Scott M, Schultz A, Pujol P, Biro PA, Beckmann C, Hamede R, Roche B, Ujvari B, Thomas F. Cancer Susceptibility as a Cost of Reproduction and Contributor to Life History Evolution. Front Ecol Evol 2022. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2022.861103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Reproduction is one of the most energetically demanding life-history stages. As a result, breeding individuals often experience trade-offs, where energy is diverted away from maintenance (cell repair, immune function) toward reproduction. While it is increasingly acknowledged that oncogenic processes are omnipresent, evolving and opportunistic entities in the bodies of metazoans, the associations among reproductive activities, energy expenditure, and the dynamics of malignant cells have rarely been studied. Here, we review the diverse ways in which age-specific reproductive performance (e.g., reproductive aging patterns) and cancer risks throughout the life course may be linked via trade-offs or other mechanisms, as well as discuss situations where trade-offs may not exist. We argue that the interactions between host–oncogenic processes should play a significant role in life-history theory, and suggest some avenues for future research.
Collapse
|
27
|
Cheron M, Costantini D, Angelier F, Ribout C, Brischoux F. Aminomethylphosphonic acid (AMPA) alters oxidative status during embryonic development in an amphibian species. CHEMOSPHERE 2022; 287:131882. [PMID: 34509012 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2021.131882] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2021] [Revised: 08/09/2021] [Accepted: 08/11/2021] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
Glyphosate's primary metabolite (aminomethylphosphonic acid, AMPA) is known to alter embryonic development at environmentally relevant concentrations in amphibians. However, we have limited understanding of the physiological mechanisms through which AMPA affects organisms. In this study, we tested whether alteration of the oxidative status is one mechanism through which AMPA affects organism performance. To this end, we analysed several oxidative status markers in hatchling tadpoles that were exposed to sublethal concentrations of AMPA during embryonic development (~16 days). We compared the influence of environmentally relevant concentrations of AMPA (from 0.07 to 3.57 μg l-1) on the relation between developmental traits (i.e, embryonic development duration, embryonic mortality and hatchling size) and oxidative status markers known to alter homeostasis when unbalanced (superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), catalase (CAT), thiols and ratios thereof). We included measures of telomere length as an indicator of physiological state. We found that AMPA concentrations induce non-monotonic effects on some oxidative status markers with hatchlings displaying elevated antioxidant responses (elevated thiols and unbalanced SOD/(GPx + CAT) ratio). The lack of effect of AMPA on the relation between developmental traits, oxidative status and telomere length suggests that selective mortality of embryos susceptible to oxidative stress may have occurred prior to hatching in individuals less resistant to AMPA which display lower hatching success. Future studies are required to disentangle whether oxidative unbalance is a cause or a consequence of AMPA exposition. This study highlights the need to investigate effects of the metabolites of contaminants at environmental concentrations to comprehensively assess impacts of anthropogenic contamination on wildlife.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marion Cheron
- Centre d'Études Biologiques de Chizé (CEBC), UMR 7372 CNRS-La Rochelle Université, 79360, Villiers en Bois, France.
| | - David Costantini
- Unité Physiologie Moléculaire et Adaptation (PhyMA), UMR 7221 Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, CNRS, CP32, 7 Rue Cuvier, Paris, France
| | - Frédéric Angelier
- Centre d'Études Biologiques de Chizé (CEBC), UMR 7372 CNRS-La Rochelle Université, 79360, Villiers en Bois, France
| | - Cécile Ribout
- Centre d'Études Biologiques de Chizé (CEBC), UMR 7372 CNRS-La Rochelle Université, 79360, Villiers en Bois, France
| | - François Brischoux
- Centre d'Études Biologiques de Chizé (CEBC), UMR 7372 CNRS-La Rochelle Université, 79360, Villiers en Bois, France
| |
Collapse
|
28
|
Cunningham K, Hinton TG, Luxton JJ, Bordman A, Okuda K, Taylor LE, Hayes J, Gerke HC, Chinn SM, Anderson D, Laudenslager ML, Takase T, Nemoto Y, Ishiniwa H, Beasley JC, Bailey SM. Evaluation of DNA damage and stress in wildlife chronically exposed to low-dose, low-dose rate radiation from the Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Plant accident. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2021; 155:106675. [PMID: 34120002 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2021.106675] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2021] [Revised: 05/24/2021] [Accepted: 05/25/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
The health effects associated with chronic low-dose, low-dose rate (LD-LDR) exposures to environmental radiation are uncertain. All dose-effect studies conducted outside controlled laboratory conditions are challenged by inherent complexities of ecological systems and difficulties quantifying dose to free-ranging organisms in natural environments. Consequently, the effects of chronic LD-LDR radiation exposures on wildlife health remain poorly understood and much debated. Here, samples from wild boar (Sus scrofa leucomystax) and rat snakes (Elaphe spp.) were collected between 2016 and 2018 across a gradient of radiation exposures in Fukushima, Japan. In vivo biomarkers of DNA damage and stress were evaluated as a function of multiple measurements of radiation dose. Specifically, we assessed frequencies of dicentric chromosomes (Telomere-Centromere Fluorescence in situ Hybridization: TC-FISH), telomere length (Telo-FISH, qPCR), and cortisol hormone levels (Enzyme Immunoassay: EIA) in wild boar, and telomere length (qPCR) in snakes. These biological parameters were then correlated to robust calculations of radiation dose rate at the time of capture and plausible upper bound lifetime dose, both of which incorporated internal and external dose. No significant relationships were observed between dicentric chromosome frequencies or telomere length and dose rate at capture or lifetime dose (p value range: 0.20-0.97). Radiation exposure significantly associated only with cortisol, where lower concentrations were associated with higher dose rates (r2 = 0.58; p < 0.0001), a relationship that was likely due to other (unmeasured) factors. Our results suggest that wild boar and snakes chronically exposed to LD-LDR radiation sufficient to prohibit human occupancy were not experiencing significant adverse health effects as assessed by biomarkers of DNA damage and stress.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kelly Cunningham
- Department of Environmental and Radiological Health Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523-1618, USA
| | - Thomas G Hinton
- Centre for Environmental Radioactivity, Faculty of Environmental Sciences and Natural Resource Management, Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU), P.O. Box 5003, N-1433 Ås, Norway; Institute of Environmental Radioactivity, 1 Kanayagawa, Fukushima City, Fukushima 960-1296, Japan.
| | - Jared J Luxton
- Department of Environmental and Radiological Health Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523-1618, USA
| | - Aryn Bordman
- Department of Environmental and Radiological Health Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523-1618, USA
| | - Kei Okuda
- Faculty of Human Environmental Studies, Hiroshima Shudo University, Hiroshima 731-3195, Japan
| | - Lynn E Taylor
- Department of Environmental and Radiological Health Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523-1618, USA
| | - Josh Hayes
- Department of Environmental and Radiological Health Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523-1618, USA
| | - Hannah C Gerke
- Savannah River Ecology Laboratory, Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of Georgia, Aiken, SC 29808, USA
| | - Sarah M Chinn
- Savannah River Ecology Laboratory, Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of Georgia, Aiken, SC 29808, USA
| | - Donovan Anderson
- Symbiotic Systems Science and Technology, Fukushima University, Fukushima, Fukushima City, Kanayagawa 960-1248, Japan
| | - Mark L Laudenslager
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - Tsugiko Takase
- Institute of Environmental Radioactivity, 1 Kanayagawa, Fukushima City, Fukushima 960-1296, Japan
| | - Yui Nemoto
- Fukushima Prefectural Centre for Environmental Creation, 2-10 Fukasaku, Miharu, Fukushima 963-7799, Japan
| | - Hiroko Ishiniwa
- Institute of Environmental Radioactivity, 1 Kanayagawa, Fukushima City, Fukushima 960-1296, Japan
| | - James C Beasley
- Savannah River Ecology Laboratory, Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of Georgia, Aiken, SC 29808, USA
| | - Susan M Bailey
- Department of Environmental and Radiological Health Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523-1618, USA
| |
Collapse
|
29
|
Ritchie DJ, Friesen CR. Invited review: Thermal effects on oxidative stress in vertebrate ectotherms. Comp Biochem Physiol A Mol Integr Physiol 2021; 263:111082. [PMID: 34571153 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpa.2021.111082] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2021] [Revised: 09/07/2021] [Accepted: 09/16/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Human-induced climate change is occurring rapidly. Ectothermic organisms are particularly vulnerable to these temperature changes due to their reliance on environmental temperature. The extent of ectothermic thermal adaptation and plasticity in the literature is well documented; however, the role of oxidative stress in these processes needs more attention. Oxidative stress occurs when reactive oxygen species, generated mainly through aerobic respiration, overwhelm antioxidant defences and damage crucial biomolecules. The effects of oxidative damage include the alteration of life-history traits and reductions in whole-organism fitness. Here we review the literature addressing experimental temperature effects on oxidative stress in vertebrate ectotherms. Acute and acclimation temperature treatments produce distinctly different results and highlight the role of phylogeny and thermal adaptation in shaping oxidative stress responses. Acute treatments on organisms adapted to stable environments generally produced significant oxidative stress responses, whilst organisms adapted to variable conditions exhibited capacity to cope with temperature changes and mitigate oxidative stress. In acclimation treatments, the temperature treatments higher than optimal temperatures tended to produce significantly less oxidative stress than lower temperatures in reptiles, whilst in some eurythermal fish species, no oxidative stress response was observed. These results highlight the importance of phylogeny and adaptation to past environmental conditions for temperature-dependent oxidative stress responses. We conclude with recommendations on experimental procedures to investigate these phenomena with reference to thermal plasticity, adaptation and biogeographic variation that provide the most significant benefits to adaptable populations. These results have potential conservation ramifications as they may shed light on the physiological effects of temperature alterations in some vertebrate ectotherms.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Daniel J Ritchie
- School of Earth, Atmospheric and Life Sciences, The University of Wollongong, 2522 Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Christopher R Friesen
- School of Earth, Atmospheric and Life Sciences, The University of Wollongong, 2522 Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia; School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Sydney, Heydon-Laurence Bldg A08, Science Road, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia.
| |
Collapse
|
30
|
Fitzpatrick LJ, Olsson M, Pauliny A, While GM, Wapstra E. Individual telomere dynamics and their links to life history in a viviparous lizard. Proc Biol Sci 2021; 288:20210271. [PMID: 34034513 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2021.0271] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Emerging patterns suggest telomere dynamics and life history are fundamentally linked in endotherms through life-history traits that mediate the processes underlying telomere attrition. Unlike endotherms, ectotherms maintain the ability to lengthen somatic telomeres throughout life and the link between life-history strategies and ectotherm telomere dynamics is unknown. In a well-characterized model system (Niveoscincus ocellatus), we used long-term longitudinal data to study telomere dynamics across climatically divergent populations. We found longer telomeres in individuals from the cool highlands than those from the warm lowlands at birth and as adults. The key determinant of adult telomere length across populations was telomere length at birth, with population-specific effects of age and growth on adult telomere length. The reproductive effort had no proximate effect on telomere length in either population. Maternal factors influenced telomere length at birth in the warm lowlands but not the cool highlands. Our results demonstrate that life-history traits can have pervasive and context-dependent effects on telomere dynamics in ectotherms both within and between populations. We argue that these telomere dynamics may reflect the populations' different life histories, with the slow-growing cool highland population investing more into telomere lengthening compared to the earlier-maturing warm lowland population.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- L J Fitzpatrick
- School of Natural Sciences, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Australia
| | - M Olsson
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - A Pauliny
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - G M While
- School of Natural Sciences, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Australia
| | - E Wapstra
- School of Natural Sciences, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
31
|
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.
Collapse
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
| |
Collapse
|
32
|
Ensminger DC, Siegel SR, Owen DAS, Sheriff MJ, Langkilde T. Elevated glucocorticoids during gestation suggest sex-specific effects on offspring telomere lengths in a wild lizard. Comp Biochem Physiol A Mol Integr Physiol 2021; 257:110971. [PMID: 33933630 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpa.2021.110971] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2021] [Revised: 04/06/2021] [Accepted: 04/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
The effects of maternal glucocorticoids (e.g. corticosterone, CORT) on offspring interest biologists due to increasing environmental perturbations. While little is known about the impact of maternal CORT on offspring fitness, it may modulate telomere length and compromise offspring health. Here, we use a modified real-time quantitative PCR assay to assess telomere length using small DNA quantities (<60 ng). We tested the hypothesis that increased maternal CORT during gestation decreases offspring telomere length. While CORT-driven telomere shortening is well established within individuals, cross-generational effects remain unclear. We treated wild-caught gravid female eastern fence lizards (Sceloporus undulatus) with daily transdermal applications of CORT, at ecologically relevant levels, from capture to laying. Maternal CORT treatment did not alter maternal telomere length, although baseline maternal CORT concentrations had a weak, negative correlation with maternal telomere length. There was no relation between mother and offspring telomere length. There was a trend for maternal CORT treatment to shorten telomeres of sons but not daughters. Our treatment replicated exposure to a single stressor per day, likely underestimating effects seen in the wild where stressors may be more frequent. Future research should further explore fitness consequences of maternal CORT effects.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- David C Ensminger
- Department of Ecosystem Science and Management, The Pennsylvania State University, Forest Resources Building, University Park, PA 16802, United States of America; Department of Biology, The Pennsylvania State University, Mueller Laboratory, University Park, PA 16802, United States of America.
| | - Sue R Siegel
- Department of Biobehavioral Health, The Pennsylvania State University, Biomarker Core Lab, University Park, PA 16802, United States of America
| | - Dustin A S Owen
- Department of Ecosystem Science and Management, The Pennsylvania State University, Forest Resources Building, University Park, PA 16802, United States of America; Department of Biology, The Pennsylvania State University, Mueller Laboratory, University Park, PA 16802, United States of America; Intercollege Graduate Degree Program in Ecology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, United States of America
| | - Michael J Sheriff
- Biology Department, University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, Dartmouth, MA 02747, United States of America
| | - Tracy Langkilde
- Department of Biology, The Pennsylvania State University, Mueller Laboratory, University Park, PA 16802, United States of America; Intercollege Graduate Degree Program in Ecology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, United States of America
| |
Collapse
|
33
|
Sauer DJ, Heidinger BJ, Kittilson JD, Lackmann AR, Clark ME. No evidence of physiological declines with age in an extremely long-lived fish. Sci Rep 2021; 11:9065. [PMID: 33907285 PMCID: PMC8079698 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-88626-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2020] [Accepted: 04/09/2021] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Although the pace of senescence varies considerably, the physiological systems that contribute to different patterns of senescence are not well understood, especially in long-lived vertebrates. Long-lived bony fish (i.e., Class Osteichthyes) are a particularly useful model for studies of senescence because they can readily be aged and exhibit some of the longest lifespans among vertebrates. In this study we examined the potential relationship between age and multiple physiological systems including: stress levels, immune function, and telomere length in individuals ranging in age from 2 to 99 years old in bigmouth buffalo (Ictiobus cyprinellus), the oldest known freshwater teleost fish. Contrary to expectation, we did not find any evidence for age-related declines in these physiological systems. Instead, older fish appeared to be less stressed and had greater immunity than younger fish, suggesting age-related improvements rather than declines in these systems. There was no significant effect of age on telomeres, but individuals that may be more stressed had shorter telomeres. Taken together, these findings suggest that bigmouth buffalo exhibit negligible senescence in multiple physiological systems despite living for nearly a century.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Derek J. Sauer
- grid.9654.e0000 0004 0372 3343Institute of Marine Science, University of Auckland, Leigh, 0985 New Zealand
| | - Britt J. Heidinger
- grid.261055.50000 0001 2293 4611Department of Biological Sciences, North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND 58102 USA
| | - Jeffrey D. Kittilson
- grid.261055.50000 0001 2293 4611Department of Biological Sciences, North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND 58102 USA
| | - Alec R. Lackmann
- grid.266744.50000 0000 9540 9781Department of Biology, University of Minnesota Duluth, Duluth, MN 55804 USA
| | - Mark E. Clark
- grid.266744.50000 0000 9540 9781Department of Biology, University of Minnesota Duluth, Duluth, MN 55804 USA
| |
Collapse
|
34
|
Molbert N, Angelier F, Alliot F, Ribout C, Goutte A. Fish from urban rivers and with high pollutant levels have shorter telomeres. Biol Lett 2021; 17:20200819. [PMID: 33465329 DOI: 10.1098/rsbl.2020.0819] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Environmental pressures, such as urbanization and exposure to pollutants may jeopardize survival of free-living animals. Yet, much remains to be known about physiological and ecological responses to currently-released pollutants, especially in wild vertebrate ectotherms. We tested the effect of urbanization and pollution (phthalates, organochlorine and pyrethroid pesticides, polychlorobiphenyls, polybromodiphenylethers, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and some of their metabolites) on telomere length, a suggested biomarker of life expectancy, in the European chub, Squalius cephalus, from urban and agricultural rivers of the Marne hydrographic network, France. We showed that telomere length was reduced in chub from urban rivers. Moreover, among the wide range of anthropogenic contaminants investigated, high levels of phthalate metabolites in liver were associated with shorter telomeres. This study suggests that urbanization and chemical pollution may compromise survival of wild fish, by accelerating telomere attrition.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Noëlie Molbert
- Sorbonne Université, CNRS, EPHE, UMR METIS, 75005 Paris, France
| | - Frédéric Angelier
- Centre d'Etudes Biologiques de Chizé (CEBC), UMR 7372 CNRS, La Rochelle Université, 79360 Villiers en Bois, France
| | - Fabrice Alliot
- Sorbonne Université, CNRS, EPHE, UMR METIS, 75005 Paris, France.,EPHE, PSL Research University, 75005 Paris, France
| | - Cécile Ribout
- Centre d'Etudes Biologiques de Chizé (CEBC), UMR 7372 CNRS, La Rochelle Université, 79360 Villiers en Bois, France
| | - Aurélie Goutte
- Sorbonne Université, CNRS, EPHE, UMR METIS, 75005 Paris, France.,EPHE, PSL Research University, 75005 Paris, France
| |
Collapse
|
35
|
Álvarez‐Quintero N, Velando A, Noguera JC, Kim S. Environment-induced changes in reproductive strategies and their transgenerational effects in the three-spined stickleback. Ecol Evol 2021; 11:771-783. [PMID: 33520165 PMCID: PMC7820166 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.7052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2020] [Revised: 10/23/2020] [Accepted: 10/23/2020] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
An organism may increase its fitness by changing its reproductive strategies in response to environmental cues, but the possible consequences of those changes for the next generation have rarely been explored. By using an experiment on the three-spined stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus), we studied how changes in the onset of breeding photoperiod (early versus late) affect reproductive strategies of males and females, and life histories of their offspring. We also explored whether telomeres are involved in the within- and transgenerational effects. In response to the late onset of breeding photoperiod, females reduced their investment in the early clutches, but males increased their investment in sexual signals. Costs of increased reproductive investment in terms of telomere loss were evident only in the late females. The environmentally induced changes in reproductive strategies affected offspring growth and survival. Most notably, offspring growth rate was the fastest when both parents experienced a delayed (i.e., late) breeding photoperiod, and survival rate was the highest when both parents experienced an advanced (i.e., early) breeding photoperiod. There was no evidence of transgenerational effects on offspring telomere length despite positive parents-offspring relationships in this trait. Our results highlight that environmental changes may impact more than one generation by altering reproductive strategies of seasonal breeders with consequences for offspring viability.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Náyade Álvarez‐Quintero
- Grupo Ecoloxía Animal (Lab 97)Torre CACTICentro de Investigación MariñaUniversidade de VigoVigoSpain
| | - Alberto Velando
- Grupo Ecoloxía Animal (Lab 97)Torre CACTICentro de Investigación MariñaUniversidade de VigoVigoSpain
| | - Jose C. Noguera
- Grupo Ecoloxía Animal (Lab 97)Torre CACTICentro de Investigación MariñaUniversidade de VigoVigoSpain
| | - Sin‐Yeon Kim
- Grupo Ecoloxía Animal (Lab 97)Torre CACTICentro de Investigación MariñaUniversidade de VigoVigoSpain
| |
Collapse
|
36
|
Criscuolo F, Pillay N, Zahn S, Schradin C. Seasonal variation in telomere dynamics in African striped mice. Oecologia 2020; 194:609-620. [DOI: 10.1007/s00442-020-04801-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2020] [Accepted: 11/05/2020] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
|
37
|
Burraco P, Orizaola G, Monaghan P, Metcalfe NB. Climate change and ageing in ectotherms. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2020; 26:5371-5381. [PMID: 32835446 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.15305] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2020] [Revised: 07/31/2020] [Accepted: 07/31/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Human activity is changing climatic conditions at an unprecedented rate. The impact of these changes may be especially acute on ectotherms since they have limited capacities to use metabolic heat to maintain their body temperature. An increase in temperature is likely to increase the growth rate of ectothermic animals, and may also induce thermal stress via increased exposure to heat waves. Fast growth and thermal stress are metabolically demanding, and both factors can increase oxidative damage to essential biomolecules, accelerating the rate of ageing. Here, we explore the potential impact of global warming on ectotherm ageing through its effects on reactive oxygen species production, oxidative damage, and telomere shortening, at the individual and intergenerational levels. Most evidence derives primarily from vertebrates, although the concepts are broadly applicable to invertebrates. We also discuss candidate mechanisms that could buffer ectotherms from the potentially negative consequences of climate change on ageing. Finally, we suggest some potential applications of the study of ageing mechanisms for the implementation of conservation actions. We find a clear need for more ecological, biogeographical, and evolutionary studies on the impact of global climate change on patterns of ageing rates in wild populations of ectotherms facing warming conditions. Understanding the impact of warming on animal life histories, and on ageing in particular, needs to be incorporated into the design of measures to preserve biodiversity to improve their effectiveness.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Pablo Burraco
- Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health, and Comparative Medicine, College of Medical, Veterinary, and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
- Animal Ecology, Department of Ecology and Genetics, Evolutionary Biology Centre, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Germán Orizaola
- IMIB-Biodiversity Research Institute (Univ. Oviedo-CSIC-Principado Asturias), Mieres-Asturias, Spain
- Zoology Unit, Department of Organisms and Systems Biology, University of Oviedo, Oviedo-Asturias, Spain
| | - Pat Monaghan
- Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health, and Comparative Medicine, College of Medical, Veterinary, and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | - Neil B Metcalfe
- Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health, and Comparative Medicine, College of Medical, Veterinary, and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| |
Collapse
|
38
|
Burraco P, Comas M, Reguera S, Zamora-Camacho FJ, Moreno-Rueda G. Telomere length mirrors age structure along a 2200-m altitudinal gradient in a Mediterranean lizard. Comp Biochem Physiol A Mol Integr Physiol 2020; 247:110741. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpa.2020.110741] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2020] [Revised: 05/18/2020] [Accepted: 06/01/2020] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
|
39
|
Panasiak L, Dobosz S, Ocalewicz K. Telomere Dynamics in the Diploid and Triploid Rainbow Trout ( Oncorhynchus mykiss) Assessed by Q-FISH Analysis. Genes (Basel) 2020; 11:E786. [PMID: 32668770 PMCID: PMC7397301 DOI: 10.3390/genes11070786] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2020] [Revised: 07/07/2020] [Accepted: 07/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Changes of telomere length with age were assessed in diploid and triploid rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) females in the cross-sectional study using Q-FISH technique. Triploid trout as sterile do not invest an energy in gametogenesis and continue to grow, whereas fertile diploid individuals suffer from declines in growth and survival during sexual maturation. However, triploid and diploid specimens exhibited similar patterns of telomere dynamics. Telomere length in the embryos, larvae and one-year-old juveniles did not change significantly. In the second year after hatching, subadults exhibited substantially shortened telomeres, while significant increase of the telomere length was reported in the three-year-old adults. On the other hand, correlation between telomere length and body size was observed in the triploid, but not in the diploid rainbow trout. Telomere shortening observed in two-year-old subadults may have been associated with the premature period of the fast growth in rainbow trout. Similar pattern of the telomere dynamics reported in the fertile diploids and sterile triploids indicated processes related to reproduction did not affect telomere dynamics in this species. Unexpected increase of the telomere length reported during the third year of life confirmed that in rainbow trout telomeric DNA shortens and lengthens, depending on the developmental stage.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ligia Panasiak
- Department of Marine Biology and Ecology, Institute of Oceanography, Faculty of Oceanography and Geography, University of Gdansk, M. Piłsudskiego 46 Av, 81378 Gdynia, Poland;
| | - Stefan Dobosz
- Department of Salmonid Research, Inland Fisheries Institute in Olsztyn, Rutki, 10719 Olsztyn, Poland;
| | - Konrad Ocalewicz
- Department of Marine Biology and Ecology, Institute of Oceanography, Faculty of Oceanography and Geography, University of Gdansk, M. Piłsudskiego 46 Av, 81378 Gdynia, Poland;
| |
Collapse
|
40
|
Sánchez-Montes G, Martínez-Solano Í, Díaz-Paniagua C, Vilches A, Ariño AH, Gomez-Mestre I. Telomere attrition with age in a wild amphibian population. Biol Lett 2020; 16:20200168. [PMID: 32673551 PMCID: PMC7423040 DOI: 10.1098/rsbl.2020.0168] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2020] [Accepted: 06/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Telomere shortening with age has been documented in many organisms, but few studies have reported telomere length measurements in amphibians, and no information is available for growth after metamorphosis, nor in wild populations. We provide both cross-sectional and longitudinal evidence of net telomere attrition with age in a wild amphibian population of natterjack toads (Epidalea calamita). Based on age-estimation by skeletochronology and qPCR telomere length measurements in the framework of an individual-based monitoring programme, we confirmed telomere attrition in recaptured males. Our results support that toads experience telomere attrition throughout their ontogeny, and that most attrition occurs during the first 1-2 years. We did not find associations between telomere length and inbreeding or body condition. Our results on telomere length dynamics under natural conditions confirm telomere shortening with age in amphibians and provide quantification of wide telomere length variation within and among age-classes in a wild breeding population.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Gregorio Sánchez-Montes
- Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales, CSIC, c/ José Gutiérrez Abascal, 2, 28006 Madrid, Spain
| | - Íñigo Martínez-Solano
- Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales, CSIC, c/ José Gutiérrez Abascal, 2, 28006 Madrid, Spain
| | - Carmen Díaz-Paniagua
- Ecology, Evolution, and Development Group, Doñana Biological Station, CSIC, c/ Américo Vespucio 26, 41092 Seville, Spain
| | - Antonio Vilches
- Department of Environmental Biology, University of Navarra, c/ Irunlarrea, 1, 31008 Pamplona, Spain
| | - Arturo H. Ariño
- Department of Environmental Biology, University of Navarra, c/ Irunlarrea, 1, 31008 Pamplona, Spain
| | - Ivan Gomez-Mestre
- Ecology, Evolution, and Development Group, Doñana Biological Station, CSIC, c/ Américo Vespucio 26, 41092 Seville, Spain
| |
Collapse
|
41
|
Friesen CR, Rollings N, Wilson M, Whittington CM, Shine R, Olsson M. Covariation in superoxide, sperm telomere length and sperm velocity in a polymorphic reptile. Behav Ecol Sociobiol 2020. [DOI: 10.1007/s00265-020-02855-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
|
42
|
Olsson M, Geraghty NJ, Wapstra E, Wilson M. Telomere length varies substantially between blood cell types in a reptile. ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE 2020; 7:192136. [PMID: 32742684 PMCID: PMC7353983 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.192136] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2020] [Accepted: 05/12/2020] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
Telomeres are repeat sequences of non-coding DNA-protein molecules that cap or intersperse metazoan chromosomes. Interest in telomeres has increased exponentially in recent years, to now include their ongoing dynamics and evolution within natural populations where individuals vary in telomere attributes. Phylogenetic analyses show profound differences in telomere length across non-model taxa. However, telomeres may also differ in length within individuals and between tissues. The latter becomes a potential source of error when researchers use different tissues for extracting DNA for telomere analysis and scientific inference. A commonly used tissue type for assessing telomere length is blood, a tissue that itself varies in terms of nuclear content among taxa, in particular to what degree their thrombocytes and red blood cells (RBCs) contain nuclei or not. Specifically, when RBCs lack nuclei, leucocytes become the main source of telomeric DNA. RBCs and leucocytes differ in lifespan and how long they have been exposed to 'senescence' and erosion effects. We report on a study in which cells in whole blood from individual Australian painted dragon lizards (Ctenophorus pictus) were identified using flow cytometry and their telomere length simultaneously measured. Lymphocyte telomeres were on average 270% longer than RBC telomeres, and in azurophils (a reptilian monocyte), telomeres were more than 388% longer than those in RBCs. If this variation in telomere length among different blood cell types is a widespread phenomenon, and DNA for comparative telomere analyses are sourced from whole blood, evolutionary inference of telomere traits among taxa may be seriously complicated by the blood cell type comprising the main source of DNA.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mats Olsson
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
- The School of Earth, Atmospheric and Life Sciences, University of Wollongong, Australia
- Author for correspondence: Mats Olsson e-mail:
| | - Nicholas J. Geraghty
- The School of Earth, Atmospheric and Life Sciences, University of Wollongong, Australia
| | - Erik Wapstra
- School of Natural Sciences, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Australia
| | - Mark Wilson
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Bioscience, Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute, University of Wollongong, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
43
|
Rollings N, Waye HL, Krohmer RW, Uhrig EJ, Mason RT, Olsson M, Whittington CM, Friesen CR. Sperm telomere length correlates with blood telomeres and body size in red‐sided garter snakes,
Thamnophis sirtalis parietalis. J Zool (1987) 2020. [DOI: 10.1111/jzo.12789] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- N. Rollings
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences University of Sydney Sydney NSW Australia
| | - H. L. Waye
- Division of Science and Mathematics University of Minnesota Morris Morris MN USA
| | - R. W Krohmer
- Department of Biological Sciences Saint Xavier University Chicago IL USA
| | - E. J. Uhrig
- Department of Integrative Biology Oregon State University Corvallis OR USA
| | - R. T. Mason
- Department of Integrative Biology Oregon State University Corvallis OR USA
| | - M. Olsson
- Department of Biological & Environmental Sciences University of Gothenburg Gothenburg Sweden
- School of Earth, Atmospheric and Life Sciences University of Wollongong Wollongong NSW Australia
| | - C. M. Whittington
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences University of Sydney Sydney NSW Australia
| | - C. R. Friesen
- School of Earth, Atmospheric and Life Sciences University of Wollongong Wollongong NSW Australia
- Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute (IHMRI)University of Wollongong Wollongong NSW Australia
| |
Collapse
|
44
|
Monteforte S, Cattelan S, Morosinotto C, Pilastro A, Grapputo A. Maternal predator-exposure affects offspring size at birth but not telomere length in a live-bearing fish. Ecol Evol 2020; 10:2030-2039. [PMID: 32128135 PMCID: PMC7042736 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.6035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2019] [Revised: 01/06/2020] [Accepted: 01/07/2020] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
The perception of predation risk could affect prey phenotype both within and between generations (via parental effects). The response to predation risk could involve modifications in physiology, morphology, and behavior and can ultimately affect long-term fitness. Among the possible modifications mediated by the exposure to predation risk, telomere length could be a proxy for investigating the response to predation risk both within and between generations, as telomeres can be significantly affected by environmental stress. Maternal exposure to the perception of predation risk can affect a variety of offspring traits but the effect on offspring telomere length has never been experimentally tested. Using a live-bearing fish, the guppy (Poecilia reticulata), we tested if the perceived risk of predation could affect the telomere length of adult females directly and that of their offspring with a balanced experimental setup that allowed us to control for both maternal and paternal contribution. We exposed female guppies to the perception of predation risk during gestation using a combination of both visual and chemical cues and we then measured female telomere length after the exposure period. Maternal effects mediated by the exposure to predation risk were measured on offspring telomere length and body size at birth. Contrary to our predictions, we did not find a significant effect of predation-exposure neither on female nor on offspring telomere length, but females exposed to predation risk produced smaller offspring at birth. We discuss the possible explanations for our findings and advocate for further research on telomere dynamics in ectotherms.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Chiara Morosinotto
- Department of BiologyUniversity of PadovaPadovaItaly
- Bioeconomy Research TeamNovia University of Applied SciencesEkenäsFinland
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
45
|
Contrasting seasonal patterns of telomere dynamics in response to environmental conditions in the ectothermic sand lizard, Lacerta agilis. Sci Rep 2020; 10:182. [PMID: 31932620 PMCID: PMC6957525 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-57084-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2019] [Accepted: 12/17/2019] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Telomeres, the protective, terminal parts of the chromosomes erode during cell division and as a result of oxidative damage by reactive oxygen species (ROS). Ectotherms rely on the ambient temperature for maintaining temperature-dependent metabolic rate, regulated through behavioural thermoregulation. Their temperature-dependant metabolism, hence also the ROS production, is indirectly regulated through thermoregulation. Consequently, a potential causal chain affecting telomere length and attrition is: temperature (in particular, its deviation from a species-specific optimum) – metabolism - ROS production – anti-oxidation - telomere erosion. We measured telomere length in sand lizards (Lacerta agilis) using qPCR on blood samples from 1998–2006. Effects of climatological parameters (mean temperature and average sunshine hours) in the summer and winter preceding telomere sampling were used as predictors of telomere length in mixed model analysis. During the lizards’ active period (summer), there was a largely negative effect of mean temperature and sun on telomere length, whereas a combined measure of age and size (head length) was positively related to telomere length. During the inactive period of lizards (winter), the results were largely the opposite with a positive relationship between temperature and sunshine hours and telomere length. In all four cases, thermal and age effects on telomere length appeared to be non-linear in the two sexes and seasons, with complex response surface effects on telomere length from combined age and thermal effects.
Collapse
|
46
|
Van Dyke JU, Thompson MB, Burridge CP, Castelli MA, Clulow S, Dissanayake DSB, Dong CM, Doody JS, Edwards DL, Ezaz T, Friesen CR, Gardner MG, Georges A, Higgie M, Hill PL, Holleley CE, Hoops D, Hoskin CJ, Merry DL, Riley JL, Wapstra E, While GM, Whiteley SL, Whiting MJ, Zozaya SM, Whittington CM. Australian lizards are outstanding models for reproductive biology research. AUST J ZOOL 2020. [DOI: 10.1071/zo21017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Australian lizards are a diverse group distributed across the continent and inhabiting a wide range of environments. Together, they exhibit a remarkable diversity of reproductive morphologies, physiologies, and behaviours that is broadly representative of vertebrates in general. Many reproductive traits exhibited by Australian lizards have evolved independently in multiple lizard lineages, including sociality, complex signalling and mating systems, viviparity, and temperature-dependent sex determination. Australian lizards are thus outstanding model organisms for testing hypotheses about how reproductive traits function and evolve, and they provide an important basis of comparison with other animals that exhibit similar traits. We review how research on Australian lizard reproduction has contributed to answering broader evolutionary and ecological questions that apply to animals in general. We focus on reproductive traits, processes, and strategies that are important areas of current research, including behaviours and signalling involved in courtship; mechanisms involved in mating, egg production, and sperm competition; nesting and gestation; sex determination; and finally, birth in viviparous species. We use our review to identify important questions that emerge from an understanding of this body of research when considered holistically. Finally, we identify additional research questions within each topic that Australian lizards are well suited for reproductive biologists to address.
Collapse
|
47
|
Hoekstra LA, Schwartz TS, Sparkman AM, Miller DAW, Bronikowski AM. The untapped potential of reptile biodiversity for understanding how and why animals age. Funct Ecol 2020; 34:38-54. [PMID: 32921868 PMCID: PMC7480806 DOI: 10.1111/1365-2435.13450] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2019] [Accepted: 09/03/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
1. The field of comparative aging biology has greatly expanded in the past 20 years. Longitudinal studies of populations of reptiles with a range of maximum lifespans have accumulated and been analyzed for evidence of mortality senescence and reproductive decline. While not as well represented in studies of amniote senescence, reptiles have been the subjects of many recent demographic and mechanistic studies of the biology of aging. 2. We review recent literature on reptile demographic senescence, mechanisms of senescence, and identify unanswered questions. Given the ecophysiological and demographic diversity of reptiles, what is the expected range of reptile senescence rates? Are known mechanisms of aging in reptiles consistent with canonical hallmarks of aging in model systems? What are the knowledge gaps in our understanding of reptile aging? 3. We find ample evidence of increasing mortality with advancing age in many reptiles. Testudines stand out as slower aging than other orders, but data on crocodilians and tuatara are sparse. Sex-specific analyses are generally not available. Studies of female reproduction suggest that reptiles are less likely to have reproductive decline with advancing age than mammals. 4. Reptiles share many physiological and molecular pathways of aging with mammals, birds, and laboratory model organisms. Adaptations related to stress physiology coupled with reptilian ectothermy suggest novel comparisons and contrasts that can be made with canonical aging phenotypes in mammals. These include stem cell and regeneration biology, homeostatic mechanisms, IIS/TOR signaling, and DNA repair. 5. To overcome challenges to the study of reptile aging, we recommend extending and expanding long-term monitoring of reptile populations, developing reptile cell lines to aid cellular biology, conducting more comparative studies of reptile morphology and physiology sampled along relevant life-history axes, and sequencing more reptile genomes for comparative genomics. Given the diversity of reptile life histories and adaptations, achieving these directives will likely greatly benefit all aging biology.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Luke A Hoekstra
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Organismal Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa, 50010, USA
| | - Tonia S Schwartz
- Department of Biological Sciences, Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama 36849, USA
| | - Amanda M Sparkman
- Department of Biology, Westmont College, Santa Barbara, California, 93108, USA
| | - David A W Miller
- Department of Ecosystem Science and Management, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
| | - Anne M Bronikowski
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Organismal Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa, 50010, USA
| |
Collapse
|
48
|
Fitzpatrick LJ, Olsson M, Parsley LM, Pauliny A, Pinfold TL, Pirtle T, While GM, Wapstra E. Temperature and telomeres: thermal treatment influences telomere dynamics through a complex interplay of cellular processes in a cold-climate skink. Oecologia 2019; 191:767-776. [PMID: 31620874 DOI: 10.1007/s00442-019-04530-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2018] [Accepted: 10/04/2019] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Telomere dynamics vary fundamentally between endothermic populations and species as a result of differences in life history, yet we know little about these patterns in ectotherms. In ectotherms, the relationships between climate, metabolism and life history suggest that telomere attrition should be higher at relatively high environmental temperatures compared to relatively low environmental temperatures, but these effects may vary between populations due to local adaptation. To address this hypothesis, we sampled reactive oxygen species (ROS) and telomere length of lizards from warm lowland and cool highland populations of a climatically widespread lizard species that we exposed to hot or cold basking treatments. The hot treatment increased relative telomere length compared to the cold treatment independent of climatic origin or ROS levels. Lizards from the cool highland region had lower ROS levels than those from the warm lowland region. Within the highland lizards, ROS increased more in the cold basking treatment than the hot basking treatment. These results are in the opposite direction to those predicted, suggesting that the relationships between temperature, metabolism, ROS and telomere dynamics are not straightforward. Future work incorporating detailed understanding of the thermal reaction norms of these and other linked traits is needed to fully understand these processes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- L J Fitzpatrick
- School of Natural Sciences, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Australia.
| | - M Olsson
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - L M Parsley
- School of Natural Sciences, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Australia.,School of Biological Sciences, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand
| | - A Pauliny
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - T L Pinfold
- School of Medicine, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Australia
| | - T Pirtle
- School of Natural Sciences, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Australia
| | - G M While
- School of Natural Sciences, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Australia
| | - E Wapstra
- School of Natural Sciences, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
49
|
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
| |
Collapse
|
50
|
Pauliny A, Miller E, Rollings N, Wapstra E, Blomqvist D, Friesen CR, Olsson M. Effects of male telomeres on probability of paternity in sand lizards. Biol Lett 2019; 14:rsbl.2018.0033. [PMID: 30135115 PMCID: PMC6127112 DOI: 10.1098/rsbl.2018.0033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2018] [Accepted: 08/02/2018] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Standardized swim-up trials are used in in vitro fertilization clinics to select particularly motile spermatozoa in order to increase the probability of a successful fertilization. Such trials demonstrate that sperm with longer telomeres have higher motility and lower levels of DNA damage. Regardless of whether sperm motility, and successful swim-up to fertilization sites, is a direct or correlational effect of telomere length or DNA damage, covariation between telomere length and sperm performance predicts a relationship between telomere length and probability of paternity in sperm competition, a prediction that for ethical reasons cannot be tested on humans. Here, we test this prediction in sand lizards (Lacerta agilis) using experimental data from twice-mated females in a laboratory population, and telomere length in blood from the participating lizards. Female identity influenced paternity (while the mechanism was not identified), while relatively longer male telomeres predicted higher probability of paternity. We discuss potential mechanisms underpinning this result.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Angela Pauliny
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Emily Miller
- School of Life Sciences, University of Sydney, Heydon-Laurence Building (A08), New South Wales 2006, Australia
| | - Nicky Rollings
- School of Life Sciences, University of Sydney, Heydon-Laurence Building (A08), New South Wales 2006, Australia
| | - Erik Wapstra
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Tasmania, Hobart 7001, Australia
| | - Donald Blomqvist
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Chris R Friesen
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Wollongong, Australia
| | - Mats Olsson
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Gothenburg, Sweden .,School of Biological Sciences, The University of Wollongong, Australia
| |
Collapse
|