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Brisson-Curadeau É, Scheffer A, Trathan P, Roquet F, Cotté C, Delord K, Barbraud C, Elliott K, Bost CA. Investigating two consecutive catastrophic breeding seasons in a large king penguin colony. Sci Rep 2023; 13:12967. [PMID: 37563162 PMCID: PMC10415367 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-40123-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2023] [Accepted: 08/04/2023] [Indexed: 08/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Large-scale breeding failures, such as offspring die-offs, can disproportionately impact wildlife populations that are characterized by a few large colonies. However, breeding monitoring-and thus investigations of such die-offs-is especially challenging in species with long reproductive cycles. We investigate two unresolved dramatic breeding failures that occurred in consecutive years (2009 and 2010) in a large king penguin Aptenodytes patagonicus colony, a long-lived species with a breeding cycle lasting over a year. Here we found that a single period, winter 2009, was likely responsible for the occurrence of breeding anomalies during both breeding seasons, suggesting that adults experienced poor foraging conditions at sea at that time. Following that unfavorable winter, the 2009 breeding cohort-who were entering the late stage of chick-rearing-immediately experienced high chick mortality. Meanwhile, the 2010 breeding cohort greatly delayed their arrival and egg laying, which would have otherwise started not long after the winter. The 2010 breeding season continued to display anomalies during the incubation and chick-rearing period, such as high abandonment rate, long foraging trips and eventually the death of all chicks in winter 2010. These anomalies could have resulted from either a domino-effect caused by the delayed laying, the continuation of poor foraging conditions, or both. This study provides an example of a large-scale catastrophic breeding failure and highlights the importance of the winter period on phenology and reproduction success for wildlife that breed in few large colonies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Émile Brisson-Curadeau
- UMR 7372-CNRS, Centre d'Études Biologiques de Chizé, La Rochelle University, Villiers-en-Bois, France.
- Natural Resource Sciences, McGill University, Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, QC, Canada.
| | - Annette Scheffer
- OKEANOS Centre, University of the Azores, 9901-862, Horta, Portugal
| | - Phil Trathan
- British Antarctic Survey, High Cross, Madingley Road, Cambridge, CB3 0ET, UK
- National Oceanography Centre, Waterfront Campus European Way, Southampton, SO14 3ZH, UK
| | - Fabien Roquet
- Department of Marine Sciences, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Cédric Cotté
- Laboratoire d'Océanographie et du Climat: Expérimentations et Approches Numériques (LOCEAN-IPSL), CNRS, IRD, MNHN, Sorbonne Université, Paris, France
| | - Karine Delord
- UMR 7372-CNRS, Centre d'Études Biologiques de Chizé, La Rochelle University, Villiers-en-Bois, France
| | - Christophe Barbraud
- UMR 7372-CNRS, Centre d'Études Biologiques de Chizé, La Rochelle University, Villiers-en-Bois, France
| | - Kyle Elliott
- Natural Resource Sciences, McGill University, Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, QC, Canada
| | - Charles-André Bost
- UMR 7372-CNRS, Centre d'Études Biologiques de Chizé, La Rochelle University, Villiers-en-Bois, France
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2
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Hammer TL, Bize P, Gineste B, Robin JP, Groscolas R, Viblanc VA. Disentangling the "many-eyes", "dilution effect", "selfish herd", and "distracted prey" hypotheses in shaping alert and flight initiation distance in a colonial seabird. Behav Processes 2023:104919. [PMID: 37481004 DOI: 10.1016/j.beproc.2023.104919] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2023] [Revised: 06/07/2023] [Accepted: 07/18/2023] [Indexed: 07/24/2023]
Abstract
Group living is thought to have important antipredator benefits for animals, owing to the mechanisms of shared vigilance ("many-eyes" hypothesis), risk dilution ("dilution effect" hypothesis), and relative safety in the center of the group ("selfish herd" hypothesis). However, it can also incur costs since social stimuli, such as conspecific aggression, may distract individuals from anti-predator behavior ("distracted prey" hypothesis). We simultaneously evaluated how these four different hypotheses shape anti-predator behaviors of breeding king penguins (Aptenodytes patagonicus), which aggregate into large colonies, experience frequent aggressive social interactions, and are regularly exposed to predation by giant petrels (Macronectes sp.) and brown skuas (Catharacta loonbergi) when breeding on land. We approached 200 incubating penguins at four different periods of the breeding season across a range of overall increasing colony densities. We measured the distance at which focal birds detected the approaching threat (alert distance: AD), whether birds decided to flee or not, and the distance of flight initiation (flight initiation distance: FID, viz. the bird attempting to walk away with its egg on its feet). We quantified relative local neighbor density, centrality within the colony (rank), and the number of aggressions the focal bird emitted towards neighbors during the approach. We found that birds engaged in aggressive conflicts with neighbors were less likely to flee, and that increasing relative local neighbor density at low and medium overall colony density resulted in a decrease in bird AD, both supporting the "distracted prey" hypothesis. However, at maximal overall colony density, increasing relative local neighbor density resulted in longer AD, supporting the "many-eyes" hypothesis. We found no support for the "dilution effect" and "selfish herd" hypotheses, and no effects of any hypothesis on FID.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tracey L Hammer
- University of Strasbourg, CNRS, Institut Pluridisciplinaire Hubert Curien, UMR 7178, 67000 Strasbourg, France
| | - Pierre Bize
- Swiss Ornithological Institute, Sempach, Switzerland
| | - Benoit Gineste
- University of Strasbourg, CNRS, Institut Pluridisciplinaire Hubert Curien, UMR 7178, 67000 Strasbourg, France; IPEV - Institut Polaire Français Paul Émile Victor, 29280 Plouzané, France
| | - Jean-Patrice Robin
- University of Strasbourg, CNRS, Institut Pluridisciplinaire Hubert Curien, UMR 7178, 67000 Strasbourg, France
| | - René Groscolas
- University of Strasbourg, CNRS, Institut Pluridisciplinaire Hubert Curien, UMR 7178, 67000 Strasbourg, France
| | - Vincent A Viblanc
- University of Strasbourg, CNRS, Institut Pluridisciplinaire Hubert Curien, UMR 7178, 67000 Strasbourg, France
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3
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Armstrong E, Boonekamp J. Does oxidative stress shorten telomeres in vivo? A meta-analysis. Ageing Res Rev 2023; 85:101854. [PMID: 36657619 DOI: 10.1016/j.arr.2023.101854] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2022] [Revised: 12/18/2022] [Accepted: 01/15/2023] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
Telomere attrition is considered a hallmark of ageing. Untangling the proximate causes of telomere attrition may therefore reveal important aspects about the ageing process. In a landmark paper in 2002 Thomas von Zglinicki demonstrated that oxidative stress accelerates telomere attrition in cell culture. In the next 20 years, oxidative stress became firmly embedded into modern theories of ageing and telomere attrition. However, a recent surge of in vivo studies reveals an inconsistent pattern questioning the unequivocal role of oxidative stress in telomere length and telomere attrition (henceforth referred to as telomere dynamics), in living organisms. Here we report the results of the first formal meta-analysis on the association between oxidative stress and telomere dynamics in vivo, representing 37 studies, 4969 individuals, and 18,677 correlational measurements. The overall correlation between oxidative stress markers and telomere dynamics was indistinguishable from zero (r = 0.027). This result was independent of the type of oxidative stress marker, telomere dynamic, or taxonomic group. However, telomere measurement method affected the analysis and the subset of TRF-based studies showed a significant overall correlation (r = 0.09), supporting the prediction that oxidative stress accelerates telomere attrition. The correlation was more pronounced in short-lived species and during the adult life phase, when ageing becomes apparent. We then performed an additional meta-analysis of interventional studies (n = 7) manipulating oxidative stress. This revealed a significant effect of treatment on telomere dynamics (d=0.36). Our findings provide new support for the hypothesis that oxidative stress causes telomere attrition in living organisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emma Armstrong
- School of Biodiversity, One Health & Veterinary Medicine, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom; The Roslin Institute, The University of Edinburgh, Easter Bush Campus, Midlothian, United Kingdom
| | - Jelle Boonekamp
- School of Biodiversity, One Health & Veterinary Medicine, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom.
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4
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Criscuolo F, Dobson FS, Schull Q. The influence of phylogeny and life history on telomere lengths and telomere rate of change among bird species: A meta-analysis. Ecol Evol 2021; 11:12908-12922. [PMID: 34646443 DOI: 10.22541/au.162308930.07224518/v1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2021] [Accepted: 06/07/2021] [Indexed: 05/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Longevity is highly variable among animal species and has coevolved with other life-history traits, such as body size and rates of reproduction. Telomeres, through their erosion over time, are one of the cell mechanisms that produce senescence at the cell level and might even have an influence on the rate of aging in whole organisms. However, uneroded telomeres are also risk factors of cell immortalization. The associations of telomere lengths, their rate of change, and life-history traits independent of body size are largely underexplored for birds. To test associations of life-history traits and telomere dynamics, we conducted a phylogenetic meta-analysis using studies of 53 species of birds. We restricted analyses to studies that applied the telomere restriction fragment length (TRF) method, and examined relationships between mean telomere length at the chick (Chick TL) and adult (Adult TL) stages, the mean rate of change in telomere length during life (TROC), and life-history traits. We examined 3 principal components of 12 life-history variables that represented: body size (PC1), the slow-fast continuum of pace of life (PC2), and postfledging parental care (PC3). Phylogeny had at best a small-to-medium influence on Adult and Chick TL (r 2 = .190 and .138, respectively), but a substantial influence on TROC (r 2 = .688). Phylogeny strongly influenced life histories: PC1 (r 2 = .828), PC2 (.838), and PC3 (.613). Adult TL and Chick TL were poorly associated with the life-history variables. TROC, however, was negatively and moderate-to-strongly associated with PC2 (unadjusted r = -.340; with phylogenetic correction, r = -.490). Independent of body size, long-lived species with smaller clutches, and slower embryonic rate of growth may exhibit less change in telomere length over their lifetimes. We suggest that telomere lengths may have diverged, even among closely avian-related species, yet telomere dynamics are strongly linked to the pace of life.
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Affiliation(s)
- François Criscuolo
- CNRS Institut Pluridisciplinaire Hubert Curien UMR 7178 University of Strasbourg Strasbourg France
| | - F Stephen Dobson
- CNRS Institut Pluridisciplinaire Hubert Curien UMR 7178 University of Strasbourg Strasbourg France
- Department of Biological Sciences Auburn University Auburn AL USA
| | - Quentin Schull
- MARBEC IFREMER IRD CNRS University of Montpellier Sète France
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5
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Criscuolo F, Dobson FS, Schull Q. The influence of phylogeny and life history on telomere lengths and telomere rate of change among bird species: A meta-analysis. Ecol Evol 2021; 11:12908-12922. [PMID: 34646443 PMCID: PMC8495793 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.7931] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2021] [Accepted: 06/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Longevity is highly variable among animal species and has coevolved with other life-history traits, such as body size and rates of reproduction. Telomeres, through their erosion over time, are one of the cell mechanisms that produce senescence at the cell level and might even have an influence on the rate of aging in whole organisms. However, uneroded telomeres are also risk factors of cell immortalization. The associations of telomere lengths, their rate of change, and life-history traits independent of body size are largely underexplored for birds. To test associations of life-history traits and telomere dynamics, we conducted a phylogenetic meta-analysis using studies of 53 species of birds. We restricted analyses to studies that applied the telomere restriction fragment length (TRF) method, and examined relationships between mean telomere length at the chick (Chick TL) and adult (Adult TL) stages, the mean rate of change in telomere length during life (TROC), and life-history traits. We examined 3 principal components of 12 life-history variables that represented: body size (PC1), the slow-fast continuum of pace of life (PC2), and postfledging parental care (PC3). Phylogeny had at best a small-to-medium influence on Adult and Chick TL (r 2 = .190 and .138, respectively), but a substantial influence on TROC (r 2 = .688). Phylogeny strongly influenced life histories: PC1 (r 2 = .828), PC2 (.838), and PC3 (.613). Adult TL and Chick TL were poorly associated with the life-history variables. TROC, however, was negatively and moderate-to-strongly associated with PC2 (unadjusted r = -.340; with phylogenetic correction, r = -.490). Independent of body size, long-lived species with smaller clutches, and slower embryonic rate of growth may exhibit less change in telomere length over their lifetimes. We suggest that telomere lengths may have diverged, even among closely avian-related species, yet telomere dynamics are strongly linked to the pace of life.
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Affiliation(s)
- François Criscuolo
- CNRSInstitut Pluridisciplinaire Hubert CurienUMR 7178University of StrasbourgStrasbourgFrance
| | - F. Stephen Dobson
- CNRSInstitut Pluridisciplinaire Hubert CurienUMR 7178University of StrasbourgStrasbourgFrance
- Department of Biological SciencesAuburn UniversityAuburnALUSA
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6
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Quque M, Paquet M, Zahn S, Théron F, Faivre B, Sueur C, Criscuolo F, Doutrelant C, Covas R. Contrasting associations between nestling telomere length and pre and postnatal helpers' presence in a cooperatively breeding bird. Oecologia 2021; 196:37-51. [PMID: 33864121 DOI: 10.1007/s00442-021-04917-8] [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: 07/24/2020] [Accepted: 04/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Studies on cooperative breeders have addressed the effects of non-breeding 'helpers' on reproduction and parental care, but the consequences for offspring physiology and long-term survival are less understood. Helpers are expected to benefit offspring, but their presence can also lead to decreased pre- or post-natal parental reproductive effort. To examine whether prenatal and postnatal helpers influence offspring condition, we conducted a whole-clutch cross-fostering experiment in sociable weavers (Philetairus socius) that altered the nestlings' social environment (presence/absence of helpers). We tested whether relative telomere length (rTL), an indicator of somatic maintenance, was influenced by prenatal and/or postnatal presence of helpers 9 and 17 days after hatching, and whether rTL predicted long-term survival. Nine days after hatching, we found an overall positive effect of postnatal helpers on rTL: for nestlings with prenatal helpers, a reduction in the number of helpers post-hatch was associated with shorter telomeres, while nestlings swapped from nests without helpers to nests with helpers had a larger rTL. However, when prenatal helpers were present, an increased number of helpers after hatching led to shorter telomeres. Nine-day old chicks with longer rTL tended to be more likely to survive over the 5 years following hatching. However, close to fledging, there was no detectable effect of the experiment on rTL and no link between rTL and survival. This experimental study of a wild cooperative breeder, therefore, presents partial support for the importance of the presence of helpers for offspring rTL and the link between early-life telomere length and long-term survival.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin Quque
- CNRS, IPHC UMR 7178, Université de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France.
| | - Matthieu Paquet
- Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Sandrine Zahn
- CNRS, IPHC UMR 7178, Université de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
| | - Frank Théron
- CNRS, CEFE UMR 5175, Université de Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| | - Bruno Faivre
- Biogéosciences, CNRS UMR 6282, Université de Bourgogne Franche-Comté, Dijon, France
| | - Cédric Sueur
- CNRS, IPHC UMR 7178, Université de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France.,Institut Universitaire de France, Paris, France
| | | | - Claire Doutrelant
- CNRS, CEFE UMR 5175, Université de Montpellier, Montpellier, France.,Research Centre On Biodiversity and Genetic Resources, CIBIO-InBio, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Rita Covas
- Research Centre On Biodiversity and Genetic Resources, CIBIO-InBio, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal.,Fitzpatrick Institute of African Ornithology, DST-NRF Centre of Excellence, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
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7
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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]
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8
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Montoya B, Ancona S, Beamonte-Barrientos R, Martínez-Gómez M. Does Vitamin E Supplementation Enhance Growth Benefits of Breeding Helpers at No Oxidative Costs? Physiol Biochem Zool 2020; 93:37-48. [PMID: 31718435 DOI: 10.1086/706464] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
During early postnatal development, biomolecules are particularly exposed to the detrimental actions of unneutralized reactive oxygen species. These prooxidant molecules have been claimed to mediate the trade-off between growth and somatic maintenance. Vitamin E is a key exogenous antioxidant that plays an important role in protecting biological membranes against oxidative damage. However, evidence of the effect of vitamin E supplementation during early life on growth and oxidative status in wild populations is equivocal. We tested the effect of supplementing western bluebird nestlings (Sialia mexicana) with vitamin E on growth rate, antioxidant capacity, and oxidative damage to lipids. During the period of accelerated growth (5-8 d), bill growth rate was 21% higher in supplemented nestlings from nests with breeding helpers than in supplemented nestlings from unassisted nests. Vitamin E also boosted tarsus growth rate during the period of slow growth (11-18 d), and this effect was independent of the presence of breeding helpers. Differences in body size and mass, oxidative damage to lipids, and antioxidant capacity were not evident between supplemented and control nestlings at 18 d. Therefore, we conclude that vitamin E promoted faster bill and tarsus growth, but this transient effect disappeared as soon as the supplementation ceased. Our experimental study also supports the idea that tocopherols are rapidly metabolized, since we failed to detect any evident increase of vitamin E in supplemented nestlings at age 18 d. These results provide partial support for the hypothesis that growth rate is constrained by its costs in terms of increased susceptibility to oxidative stress.
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9
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Casagrande S, Stier A, Monaghan P, Loveland JL, Boner W, Lupi S, Trevisi R, Hau M. Increased glucocorticoid concentrations in early life cause mitochondrial inefficiency and short telomeres. J Exp Biol 2020; 223:jeb222513. [PMID: 32532864 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.222513] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2020] [Accepted: 06/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Telomeres are DNA structures that protect chromosome ends. However, telomeres shorten during cell replication and at critically low lengths can reduce cell replicative potential, induce cell senescence and decrease fitness. Stress exposure, which elevates glucocorticoid hormone concentrations, can exacerbate telomere attrition. This phenomenon has been attributed to increased oxidative stress generated by glucocorticoids ('oxidative stress hypothesis'). We recently suggested that glucocorticoids could increase telomere attrition during stressful periods by reducing the resources available for telomere maintenance through changes in the metabolic machinery ('metabolic telomere attrition hypothesis'). Here, we tested whether experimental increases in glucocorticoid levels affected telomere length and mitochondrial function in wild great tit (Parus major) nestlings during the energy-demanding early growth period. We monitored resulting corticosterone (Cort) concentrations in plasma and red blood cells, telomere lengths and mitochondrial metabolism (metabolic rate, proton leak, oxidative phosphorylation, maximal mitochondrial capacity and mitochondrial inefficiency). We assessed oxidative damage caused by reactive oxygen species (ROS) metabolites as well as the total non-enzymatic antioxidant protection in plasma. Compared with control nestlings, Cort-nestlings had higher baseline corticosterone, shorter telomeres and higher mitochondrial metabolic rate. Importantly, Cort-nestlings showed increased mitochondrial proton leak, leading to a decreased ATP production efficiency. Treatment groups did not differ in oxidative damage or antioxidants. Hence, glucocorticoid-induced telomere attrition is associated with changes in mitochondrial metabolism, but not with ROS production. These findings support the hypothesis that shortening of telomere length during stressful periods is mediated by glucocorticoids through metabolic rearrangements.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefania Casagrande
- Max Planck Institute for Ornithology, Evolutionary Physiology Group, 82319 Seewiesen, Germany
| | - Antoine Stier
- Institute of Biodiversity Animal Health and Comparative Medicine, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, G12 8QQ, UK
- Department of Biology, University of Turku, FI-20014 Turku, Finland
| | - Pat Monaghan
- Institute of Biodiversity Animal Health and Comparative Medicine, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, G12 8QQ, UK
| | - Jasmine L Loveland
- Max Planck Institute for Ornithology, Behavioural Genetics and Evolutionary Ecology Group, 82319 Seewiesen, Germany
| | - Winifred Boner
- Institute of Biodiversity Animal Health and Comparative Medicine, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, G12 8QQ, UK
| | - Sara Lupi
- Max Planck Institute for Ornithology, Evolutionary Physiology Group, 82319 Seewiesen, Germany
- Konrad Lorenz Institute of Ethology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, A-1160 Vienna, Austria
| | - Rachele Trevisi
- Max Planck Institute for Ornithology, Evolutionary Physiology Group, 82319 Seewiesen, Germany
| | - Michaela Hau
- Max Planck Institute for Ornithology, Evolutionary Physiology Group, 82319 Seewiesen, Germany
- Department of Biology, University of Konstanz, D-78464 Konstanz, Germany
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10
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Viblanc VA, Schull Q, Stier A, Durand L, Lefol E, Robin J, Zahn S, Bize P, Criscuolo F. Foster rather than biological parental telomere length predicts offspring survival and telomere length in king penguins. Mol Ecol 2020; 29:3155-3167. [DOI: 10.1111/mec.15485] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2019] [Revised: 05/08/2020] [Accepted: 05/19/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Vincent A. Viblanc
- Institut Pluridisciplinaire Hubert Curien UMR 7178Université de StrasbourgCNRS Strasbourg France
- Centre d’Ecologie Fonctionnelle et Evolutive UMR 5175, IRD, CNRS, EPHE Université de Montpellier, Université Paul Valéry Montpellier 3 Montpellier France
| | - Quentin Schull
- Institut Pluridisciplinaire Hubert Curien UMR 7178Université de StrasbourgCNRS Strasbourg France
- MARBEC IFREMER, IRD CNRSUniversité de Montpellier Sète France
| | - Antoine Stier
- Department of Biology University of Turku Turku Finland
| | - Laureline Durand
- Institut Pluridisciplinaire Hubert Curien UMR 7178Université de StrasbourgCNRS Strasbourg France
- IPEV – Institut Polaire Français Paul Emile Victor Plouzané France
| | - Emilie Lefol
- Institut Pluridisciplinaire Hubert Curien UMR 7178Université de StrasbourgCNRS Strasbourg France
- IPEV – Institut Polaire Français Paul Emile Victor Plouzané France
| | - Jean‐Patrice Robin
- Institut Pluridisciplinaire Hubert Curien UMR 7178Université de StrasbourgCNRS Strasbourg France
| | - Sandrine Zahn
- Institut Pluridisciplinaire Hubert Curien UMR 7178Université de StrasbourgCNRS Strasbourg France
| | - Pierre Bize
- School of Biological Sciences University of Aberdeen Aberdeen UK
| | - François Criscuolo
- Institut Pluridisciplinaire Hubert Curien UMR 7178Université de StrasbourgCNRS Strasbourg France
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11
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Correcting for within-season demographic turnover to estimate the island-wide population of King Penguins (Aptenodytes patagonicus) on South Georgia. Polar Biol 2020. [DOI: 10.1007/s00300-020-02627-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
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12
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Abstract
Stress exposure can leave long-term footprints within the organism, like in telomeres (TLs), protective chromosome caps that shorten during cell replication and following exposure to stressors. Short TLs are considered to indicate lower fitness prospects, but why TLs shorten under stressful conditions is not understood. Glucocorticoid hormones (GCs) increase upon stress exposure and are thought to promote TL shortening by increasing oxidative damage. However, evidence that GCs are pro-oxidants and oxidative stress is causally linked to TL attrition is mixed . Based on new biochemical findings, we propose the metabolic telomere attrition hypothesis: during times of substantially increased energy demands, TLs are shortened as part of the transition into an organismal 'emergency state', which prioritizes immediate survival functions over processes with longer-term benefits. TL attrition during energy shortages could serve multiple roles including amplified signalling of cellular energy debt to re-direct critical resources to immediately important processes. This new view of TL shortening as a strategy to resolve major energetic trade-offs can improve our understanding of TL dynamics. We suggest that TLs are master regulators of cell homeostasis and propose future research avenues to understand the interactions between energy homeostasis, metabolic regulators and TL.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefania Casagrande
- 1 Research Group Evolutionary Physiology, Max Planck Institute for Ornithology , 82319 Seewiesen , Germany
| | - Michaela Hau
- 1 Research Group Evolutionary Physiology, Max Planck Institute for Ornithology , 82319 Seewiesen , Germany.,2 Department of Biology, University of Konstanz , D-78457 Konstanz , Germany
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13
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Eastwood JR, Hall ML, Teunissen N, Kingma SA, Hidalgo Aranzamendi N, Fan M, Roast M, Verhulst S, Peters A. Early-life telomere length predicts lifespan and lifetime reproductive success in a wild bird. Mol Ecol 2019; 28:1127-1137. [PMID: 30592345 DOI: 10.1111/mec.15002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 76] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2018] [Revised: 11/26/2018] [Accepted: 12/07/2018] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Poor conditions during early development can initiate trade-offs that favour current survival at the expense of somatic maintenance and subsequently, future reproduction. However, the mechanisms that link early and late life-history are largely unknown. Recently it has been suggested that telomeres, the nucleoprotein structures at the terminal end of chromosomes, could link early-life conditions to lifespan and fitness. In wild purple-crowned fairy-wrens, we combined measurements of nestling telomere length (TL) with detailed life-history data to investigate whether early-life TL predicts fitness prospects. Our study differs from previous studies in the completeness of our fitness estimates in a highly philopatric population. The association between TL and survival was age-dependent with early-life TL having a positive effect on lifespan only among individuals that survived their first year. Early-life TL was not associated with the probability or age of gaining a breeding position. Interestingly, early-life TL was positively related to breeding duration, contribution to population growth and lifetime reproductive success because of their association with lifespan. Thus, early-life TL, which reflects growth, accumulated early-life stress and inherited TL, predicted fitness in birds that reached adulthood but not noticeably among fledglings. These findings suggest that a lack of investment in somatic maintenance during development particularly affects late life performance. This study demonstrates that factors in early-life are related to fitness prospects through lifespan, and suggests that the study of telomeres may provide insight into the underlying physiological mechanisms linking early- and late-life performance and trade-offs across a lifetime.
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Affiliation(s)
- Justin R Eastwood
- School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Michelle L Hall
- School of BioSciences, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.,Max Planck Institute for Ornithology, Vogelwarte Radolfzell, Radolfzell, Germany
| | - Niki Teunissen
- School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Sjouke A Kingma
- Max Planck Institute for Ornithology, Vogelwarte Radolfzell, Radolfzell, Germany.,Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | | | - Marie Fan
- School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Michael Roast
- School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Simon Verhulst
- Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Anne Peters
- School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.,Max Planck Institute for Ornithology, Vogelwarte Radolfzell, Radolfzell, Germany
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14
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Chatelain M, Drobniak SM, Szulkin M. The association between stressors and telomeres in non‐human vertebrates: a meta‐analysis. Ecol Lett 2019; 23:381-398. [DOI: 10.1111/ele.13426] [Citation(s) in RCA: 99] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2019] [Revised: 10/10/2019] [Accepted: 10/16/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Marion Chatelain
- Centre of New Technologies University of Warsaw Banacha 2C 02‐097 Warszawa Poland
| | - Szymon M. Drobniak
- Institute of Environmental Sciences Jagiellonian University Gronostajowa 7 30‐387 Kraków Poland
- Ecology & Evolution Research Centre School of Biological, Environmental and Earth Sciences University of New South Wales Sydney Australia
| | - Marta Szulkin
- Centre of New Technologies University of Warsaw Banacha 2C 02‐097 Warszawa Poland
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15
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Stier A, Schull Q, Bize P, Lefol E, Haussmann M, Roussel D, Robin JP, Viblanc VA. Oxidative stress and mitochondrial responses to stress exposure suggest that king penguins are naturally equipped to resist stress. Sci Rep 2019; 9:8545. [PMID: 31189949 PMCID: PMC6561961 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-44990-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2018] [Accepted: 05/23/2019] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Exposure to unpredictable environmental stressors could influence animal health and fitness by inducing oxidative stress, potentially through downstream effects of glucocorticoid stress hormones (e.g. corticosterone) on mitochondrial function. Yet, it remains unclear whether species that have evolved in stochastic and challenging environments may present adaptations to alleviate the effects of stress exposure on oxidative stress. We tested this hypothesis in wild king penguins by investigating mitochondrial and oxidative stress responses to acute restraint-stress, and their relationships with baseline (potentially mirroring exposure to chronic stress) and stress-induced increase in corticosterone levels. Acute restraint-stress did not significantly influence mitochondrial function. However, acute restraint-stress led to a significant increase in endogenous antioxidant defences, while oxidative damage levels were mostly not affected or even decreased. High baseline corticosterone levels were associated with an up-regulation of the glutathione antioxidant system and a decrease in mitochondrial efficiency. Both processes might contribute to prevent oxidative damage, potentially explaining the negative relationship observed between baseline corticosterone and plasma oxidative damage to proteins. While stress exposure can represent an oxidative challenge for animals, protective mechanisms like up-regulating antioxidant defences and decreasing mitochondrial efficiency seem to occur in king penguins, allowing them to cope with their stochastic and challenging environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antoine Stier
- Department of Biology, University of Turku, Turku, Finland. .,Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative Medicine, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK. .,Université d'Angers, Angers, France.
| | - Quentin Schull
- Université de Strasbourg, CNRS, IPHC UMR 7178, 67000, Strasbourg, France
| | - Pierre Bize
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, UK
| | - Emilie Lefol
- Université de Strasbourg, CNRS, IPHC UMR 7178, 67000, Strasbourg, France.,Département de Biologie, Faculté des Sciences, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Canada
| | - Mark Haussmann
- Department of Biology, Bucknell University, Lewisburg, USA
| | - Damien Roussel
- Laboratoire d'Ecologie des Hydrosystèmes Naturels et Anthropisés, CNRS UMR 5023, Université de Lyon, Lyon, France
| | - Jean-Patrice Robin
- Université de Strasbourg, CNRS, IPHC UMR 7178, 67000, Strasbourg, France
| | - Vincent A Viblanc
- Université de Strasbourg, CNRS, IPHC UMR 7178, 67000, Strasbourg, France
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16
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Stier A, Schull Q, Bize P, Lefol E, Haussmann M, Roussel D, Robin JP, Viblanc VA. Oxidative stress and mitochondrial responses to stress exposure suggest that king penguins are naturally equipped to resist stress. Sci Rep 2019. [PMID: 31189949 DOI: 10.1002/10.1038/s41598-019-44990-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Exposure to unpredictable environmental stressors could influence animal health and fitness by inducing oxidative stress, potentially through downstream effects of glucocorticoid stress hormones (e.g. corticosterone) on mitochondrial function. Yet, it remains unclear whether species that have evolved in stochastic and challenging environments may present adaptations to alleviate the effects of stress exposure on oxidative stress. We tested this hypothesis in wild king penguins by investigating mitochondrial and oxidative stress responses to acute restraint-stress, and their relationships with baseline (potentially mirroring exposure to chronic stress) and stress-induced increase in corticosterone levels. Acute restraint-stress did not significantly influence mitochondrial function. However, acute restraint-stress led to a significant increase in endogenous antioxidant defences, while oxidative damage levels were mostly not affected or even decreased. High baseline corticosterone levels were associated with an up-regulation of the glutathione antioxidant system and a decrease in mitochondrial efficiency. Both processes might contribute to prevent oxidative damage, potentially explaining the negative relationship observed between baseline corticosterone and plasma oxidative damage to proteins. While stress exposure can represent an oxidative challenge for animals, protective mechanisms like up-regulating antioxidant defences and decreasing mitochondrial efficiency seem to occur in king penguins, allowing them to cope with their stochastic and challenging environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antoine Stier
- Department of Biology, University of Turku, Turku, Finland. .,Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative Medicine, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK. .,Université d'Angers, Angers, France.
| | - Quentin Schull
- Université de Strasbourg, CNRS, IPHC UMR 7178, 67000, Strasbourg, France
| | - Pierre Bize
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, UK
| | - Emilie Lefol
- Université de Strasbourg, CNRS, IPHC UMR 7178, 67000, Strasbourg, France.,Département de Biologie, Faculté des Sciences, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Canada
| | - Mark Haussmann
- Department of Biology, Bucknell University, Lewisburg, USA
| | - Damien Roussel
- Laboratoire d'Ecologie des Hydrosystèmes Naturels et Anthropisés, CNRS UMR 5023, Université de Lyon, Lyon, France
| | - Jean-Patrice Robin
- Université de Strasbourg, CNRS, IPHC UMR 7178, 67000, Strasbourg, France
| | - Vincent A Viblanc
- Université de Strasbourg, CNRS, IPHC UMR 7178, 67000, Strasbourg, France
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17
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Eckbo N, Le Bohec C, Planas-Bielsa V, Warner NA, Schull Q, Herzke D, Zahn S, Haarr A, Gabrielsen GW, Borgå K. Individual variability in contaminants and physiological status in a resident Arctic seabird species. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2019; 249:191-199. [PMID: 30889502 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2019.01.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2018] [Revised: 11/08/2018] [Accepted: 01/08/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
While migratory seabirds dominate ecotoxicological studies within the Arctic, there is limited knowledge about exposure and potential effects from circulating legacy and emerging contaminants in species who reside in the high-Arctic all year round. Here, we focus on the case of the Mandt's Black guillemot (Cepphus grylle mandtii) breeding at Kongsfjorden, Svalbard (79.00°N, 11.66°E) and investigate exposure to legacy and emerging contaminants in relation to individual physiological status, i.e. body condition, oxidative stress and relative telomere length. Despite its benthic-inshore foraging strategy, the Black guillemot displayed overall similar contaminant concentrations in blood during incubation (∑PCB11 (15.7 ng/g w.w.) > ∑PFAS5 (9.9 ng/g w.w.) > ∑Pesticides9 (6.7 ng/g w.w.) > ∑PBDE4 (2.7 ng/g w.w.), and Hg (0.3 μg/g d.w.) compared to an Arctic migratory seabird in which several contaminant-related stress responses have been observed. Black guillemots in poorer condition tended to display higher levels of contaminants, higher levels of reactive oxygen metabolites, lower plasmatic antioxidant capacity, and shorter telomere lengths; however the low sample size restrict any strong conclusions. Nevertheless, our data suggests that nonlinear relationships with a threshold may exist between accumulated contaminant concentrations and physiological status of the birds. These findings were used to build a hypothesis to be applied in future modelling for describing how chronic exposure to contaminants may be linked to telomere dynamics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Norith Eckbo
- University of Oslo, Department of Biosciences, Problemveien 7, 0315, Oslo, Norway.
| | - Céline Le Bohec
- Université de Strasbourg, CNRS, IPHC UMR 7178, 23 rue Becquerel, F-67000, Strasbourg, France; Centre Scientifique de Monaco - Département de Biologie Polaire, 8, quai Antoine 1er, MC 98000, Monaco, Monaco; Laboratoire International Associé LIA 647 BioSensib (CSM-CNRS-Unistra), 8, quai Antoine 1er, MC 98000, Monaco, Monaco
| | - Victor Planas-Bielsa
- Centre Scientifique de Monaco - Département de Biologie Polaire, 8, quai Antoine 1er, MC 98000, Monaco, Monaco; Laboratoire International Associé LIA 647 BioSensib (CSM-CNRS-Unistra), 8, quai Antoine 1er, MC 98000, Monaco, Monaco
| | - Nicholas A Warner
- NILU, Norwegian Institute for Air Research, Fram Centre, Hjalmar Johansens Gate 14, 9007, Tromsø, Norway
| | - Quentin Schull
- MARBEC, Ifremer, Université de Montpellier, CNRS, IRD, Avenue Jean Monnet CS 30171, 34203, Sète, France
| | - Dorte Herzke
- NILU, Norwegian Institute for Air Research, Fram Centre, Hjalmar Johansens Gate 14, 9007, Tromsø, Norway
| | - Sandrine Zahn
- Université de Strasbourg, CNRS, IPHC UMR 7178, 23 rue Becquerel, F-67000, Strasbourg, France
| | - Ane Haarr
- University of Oslo, Department of Biosciences, Problemveien 7, 0315, Oslo, Norway
| | - Geir W Gabrielsen
- Norwegian Polar Institute, Fram Centre, Hjalmar Johansens Gate 14, 9007, Tromsø, Norway
| | - Katrine Borgå
- University of Oslo, Department of Biosciences, Problemveien 7, 0315, Oslo, Norway
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18
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Angelier F, Weimerskirch H, Barbraud C, Chastel O. Is telomere length a molecular marker of individual quality? Insights from a long-lived bird. Funct Ecol 2019. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2435.13307] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Frédéric Angelier
- Centre d'Etudes Biologiques de Chizé; CNRS-Université de La Rochelle, UMR-7372; Villiers-en-Bois France
| | - Henri Weimerskirch
- Centre d'Etudes Biologiques de Chizé; CNRS-Université de La Rochelle, UMR-7372; Villiers-en-Bois France
| | - Christophe Barbraud
- Centre d'Etudes Biologiques de Chizé; CNRS-Université de La Rochelle, UMR-7372; Villiers-en-Bois France
| | - Olivier Chastel
- Centre d'Etudes Biologiques de Chizé; CNRS-Université de La Rochelle, UMR-7372; Villiers-en-Bois France
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19
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Wilbourn RV, Moatt JP, Froy H, Walling CA, Nussey DH, Boonekamp JJ. The relationship between telomere length and mortality risk in non-model vertebrate systems: a meta-analysis. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2019; 373:rstb.2016.0447. [PMID: 29335371 PMCID: PMC5784067 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2016.0447] [Citation(s) in RCA: 159] [Impact Index Per Article: 31.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/29/2017] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Telomere length (TL) has become a biomarker of increasing interest within ecology and evolutionary biology, and has been found to predict subsequent survival in some recent avian studies but not others. Here, we undertake the first formal meta-analysis to test whether there is an overall association between TL and subsequent mortality risk in vertebrates other than humans and model laboratory rodents. We identified 27 suitable studies and obtained standardized estimates of the hazard ratio associated with TL from each. We performed a meta-analysis on these estimates and found an overall significant negative association implying that short telomeres are associated with increased mortality risk, which was robust to evident publication bias. While we found that heterogeneity in the hazard ratios was not explained by sex, follow-up period, maximum lifespan or the age group of the study animals, the TL–mortality risk association was stronger in studies using qPCR compared to terminal restriction fragment methodologies. Our results provide support for a consistent association between short telomeres and increased mortality risk in birds, but also highlight the need for more research into non-avian vertebrates and the reasons why different telomere measurement methods may yield different results. This article is part of the theme issue ‘Understanding diversity in telomere dynamics’.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachael V Wilbourn
- Institute of Evolutionary Biology, University of Edinburgh, The King's Buildings, Ashworth Laboratories, Charlotte Auerbach Road, Edinburgh EH9 3FL, UK
| | - Joshua P Moatt
- Institute of Evolutionary Biology, University of Edinburgh, The King's Buildings, Ashworth Laboratories, Charlotte Auerbach Road, Edinburgh EH9 3FL, UK
| | - Hannah Froy
- Institute of Evolutionary Biology, University of Edinburgh, The King's Buildings, Ashworth Laboratories, Charlotte Auerbach Road, Edinburgh EH9 3FL, UK
| | - Craig A Walling
- Institute of Evolutionary Biology, University of Edinburgh, The King's Buildings, Ashworth Laboratories, Charlotte Auerbach Road, Edinburgh EH9 3FL, UK
| | - Daniel H Nussey
- Institute of Evolutionary Biology, University of Edinburgh, The King's Buildings, Ashworth Laboratories, Charlotte Auerbach Road, Edinburgh EH9 3FL, UK
| | - Jelle J Boonekamp
- Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen, PO Box 72, 9700 AB Groningen, The Netherlands
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20
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Grunst AS, Grunst ML, Gonser RA, Tuttle EM. Developmental stress and telomere dynamics in a genetically polymorphic species. J Evol Biol 2018; 32:134-143. [DOI: 10.1111/jeb.13400] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2018] [Revised: 11/05/2018] [Accepted: 11/05/2018] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Andrea S. Grunst
- Department of Biology The Center for Genomic Advocacy Indiana State University Terre Haute Indiana
- Department of Biology, Behavioural Ecology and Ecophysiology Research Group University of Antwerp Wilrijk Belgium
| | - Melissa L. Grunst
- Department of Biology The Center for Genomic Advocacy Indiana State University Terre Haute Indiana
- Department of Biology, Behavioural Ecology and Ecophysiology Research Group University of Antwerp Wilrijk Belgium
| | - Rusty A. Gonser
- Department of Biology The Center for Genomic Advocacy Indiana State University Terre Haute Indiana
| | - Elaina M. Tuttle
- Department of Biology The Center for Genomic Advocacy Indiana State University Terre Haute Indiana
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21
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Viblanc VA, Schull Q, Cornioley T, Stier A, Ménard JJ, Groscolas R, Robin JP. An integrative appraisal of the hormonal and metabolic changes induced by acute stress using king penguins as a model. Gen Comp Endocrinol 2018; 269:1-10. [PMID: 28843614 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2017.08.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2017] [Revised: 08/21/2017] [Accepted: 08/22/2017] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
A large number of studies have focused on the reactivity of the hypothalamic-pituitaryadrenal (HPA) axis and the consequences of glucocorticoids (GC) in mediating life-history trade-offs. Although short-term increases in GCs are viewed as adaptive, mobilizing energy substrates allowing animals to deal with impending threats (e.g. stimulating hepatic gluconeogenesis, stimulating lipolysis, mobilizing amino acids), few studies have actually measured the exact time-course of substrate mobilisation in response to acute stress in natural conditions. We evaluated the hormonal and metabolic components of the stress response to acute stress in 32 free-living king penguins (Aptenodytes patagonicus). We monitored changes in blood GCs (corticosterone, CORT), glucose, lactate, ketone bodies (β-hydroxybutyrate), non-esterified fatty acids, and uric acid in response to a standardized capture-restraint protocol lasting for up to 90min. Furthermore, we tested whether the vigilance status of the animal (alert or asleep) affected its perception of the capture, thereby modulating the hormonal and metabolic stress responses. The time course of energy mobilisation followed the characteristic pattern expected from laboratory and theoretical models, with a rapid depletion of those energy stores linked to rapid adrenergic responses (i.e. glucose and ketone bodies), followed by a mobilisation of energy stores associated with the sustained longer-term GC response (i.e. fats and protein stores). HPA reactivity was generally slower than reported in other birds, and there was high inter-individual variability. Sleeping birds had higher GC and glucose responses to acute stress, suggesting a more rapid mobilization of energy stores. Our results highlight the importance of considering HPA and metabolic responses to acute stress against species-specific life history and ecological relevant backgrounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vincent A Viblanc
- Université de Strasbourg, CNRS, IPHC UMR 7178, F-67000 Strasbourg, France.
| | - Quentin Schull
- Université de Strasbourg, CNRS, IPHC UMR 7178, F-67000 Strasbourg, France
| | - Tina Cornioley
- Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Antoine Stier
- Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative Medicine, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | - Jean-Jérôme Ménard
- Université de Strasbourg, CNRS, IPHC UMR 7178, F-67000 Strasbourg, France
| | - René Groscolas
- Université de Strasbourg, CNRS, IPHC UMR 7178, F-67000 Strasbourg, France
| | - Jean-Patrice Robin
- Université de Strasbourg, CNRS, IPHC UMR 7178, F-67000 Strasbourg, France.
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22
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Reichert S, Stier A. Does oxidative stress shorten telomeres in vivo? A review. Biol Lett 2018; 13:rsbl.2017.0463. [PMID: 29212750 DOI: 10.1098/rsbl.2017.0463] [Citation(s) in RCA: 212] [Impact Index Per Article: 35.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2017] [Accepted: 11/14/2017] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
The length of telomeres, the protective caps of chromosomes, is increasingly used as a biomarker of individual health state because it has been shown to predict chances of survival in a range of endothermic species including humans. Oxidative stress is presumed to be a major cause of telomere shortening, but most evidence to date comes from in vitro cultured cells. The importance of oxidative stress as a determinant of telomere shortening in vivo remains less clear and has recently been questioned. We, therefore, reviewed correlative and experimental studies investigating the links between oxidative stress and telomere shortening in vivo While correlative studies provide equivocal support for a connection between oxidative stress and telomere attrition (10 of 18 studies), most experimental studies published so far (seven of eight studies) partially or fully support this hypothesis. Yet, this link seems to be tissue-dependent in some cases, or restricted to particular categories of individual (e.g. sex-dependent) in other cases. More experimental studies, especially those decreasing antioxidant protection or increasing pro-oxidant generation, are required to further our understanding of the importance of oxidative stress in determining telomere length in vivo Studies comparing growing versus adult individuals, or proliferative versus non-proliferative tissues would provide particularly important insights.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sophie Reichert
- Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative Medicine, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK.,Department of Animal and Plant Science, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
| | - Antoine Stier
- Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative Medicine, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
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23
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Schull Q, Viblanc VA, Dobson FS, Robin JP, Zahn S, Cristofari R, Bize P, Criscuolo F. Assortative pairing by telomere length in King Penguins (Aptenodytes patagonicus) and relationships with breeding success. CAN J ZOOL 2018. [DOI: 10.1139/cjz-2017-0094] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Telomeres are noncoding genetic repeats protecting the ends of linear chromosomes. Long telomeres are often associated with high individual survival, and interindividual variation in telomere length has recently been proposed as a proxy for individual quality. Therefore, one might expect individuals of either sex with long telomeres to be of higher intrinsic quality and to be preferred in the context of mate choice. Thus, in sexually monomorphic species where individuals discriminate mates on the basis of signals of intrinsic quality, mate choice should lead to assortative pairing by telomere length, and it should be associated with breeding performance. We tested these two predictions in the King Penguin (Aptenodytes patagonicus J.F. Miller, 1778), a sexually monomorphic seabird. Over 3 years of study and 73 penguin pairs under contrasting environmental conditions, we found strong assortative pairing by telomere length. Interestingly, only female telomere length was positively associated to chick survival up to fledging, and this relationship was only apparent when foraging conditions at sea were average. The positive link between telomere length and breeding success confirmed that telomere length is somehow related to individual biological state at a given time. The proximate mechanisms by which birds assess individual state related to telomere length remain to be discovered.
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Affiliation(s)
- Quentin Schull
- Université de Strasbourg, CNRS, IPHC UMR 7178, 67000 Strasbourg, France
| | | | | | | | - Sandrine Zahn
- Université de Strasbourg, CNRS, IPHC UMR 7178, 67000 Strasbourg, France
| | - Robin Cristofari
- Université de Strasbourg, CNRS, IPHC UMR 7178, 67000 Strasbourg, France
| | - Pierre Bize
- University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, AB24 2TZ, United Kingdom
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24
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Rapid larval development under time stress reduces adult life span through increasing oxidative damage. Funct Ecol 2018. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2435.13068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
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25
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Foley CM, Hart T, Lynch HJ. King Penguin populations increase on South Georgia but explanations remain elusive. Polar Biol 2018. [DOI: 10.1007/s00300-018-2271-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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26
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Angelier F, Costantini D, Blévin P, Chastel O. Do glucocorticoids mediate the link between environmental conditions and telomere dynamics in wild vertebrates? A review. Gen Comp Endocrinol 2018; 256:99-111. [PMID: 28705731 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2017.07.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 104] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2017] [Revised: 06/06/2017] [Accepted: 07/06/2017] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Following the discoveries of telomeres and of their implications in terms of health and ageing, there has been a growing interest into the study of telomere dynamics in wild vertebrates. Telomeres are repeated sequences of non-coding DNA located at the terminal ends of chromosomes and they play a major role in maintaining chromosome stability. Importantly, telomeres shorten over time and shorter telomeres seem to be related with lower survival in vertebrates. Because of this potential link with longevity, it is crucial to understand not only the ecological determinants of telomere dynamics but also the regulatory endocrine mechanisms that may mediate the effect of the environment on telomeres. In this paper, we review the relationships that link environmental conditions, glucocorticoids (GC, the main hormonal mediator of allostasis) and telomere length in vertebrates. First, we review current knowledge about the determinants of inter-individual variations in telomere length. We emphasize the potential strong impact of environmental stressors and predictable life-history events on telomere dynamics. Despite recent progress, we still lack crucial basic data to fully understand the costs of several life-history stages and biotic and abiotic factors on telomere length. Second, we review the link that exists between GCs, oxidative stress and telomere dynamics in vertebrates. Although circulating GC levels may be closely and functionally linked with telomere dynamics, data are still scarce and somewhat contradictory. Further laboratory and field studies are therefore needed not only to better assess the proximate link between GC levels and telomere dynamics, but also to ultimately understand to what extent GCs and telomere length could be informative to measure the fitness costs of specific life-history stages and environmental conditions. Finally, we highlight the importance of exploring the functional links that may exist between coping styles, the GC stress response, and telomere dynamics in a life-history framework. To conclude, we raise new hypotheses regarding the potential of the GC stress response to drive the trade-off between immediate survival and telomere protection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frédéric Angelier
- Centre d'Etudes Biologiques de Chizé, CNRS-ULR, UMR 7372, Villiers en Bois, France.
| | - David Costantini
- Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, UMR 7221, Paris, France; Behavioural Ecology & Ecophysiology Group, Department of Biology, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium
| | - Pierre Blévin
- Centre d'Etudes Biologiques de Chizé, CNRS-ULR, UMR 7372, Villiers en Bois, France
| | - Olivier Chastel
- Centre d'Etudes Biologiques de Chizé, CNRS-ULR, UMR 7372, Villiers en Bois, France
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27
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Michel ES, Demarais S, Strickland BK, Wang G. Birth date promotes a tortoise or hare tactic for body mass development of a long-lived male ungulate. Oecologia 2017; 186:117-128. [PMID: 29164369 DOI: 10.1007/s00442-017-4013-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2016] [Accepted: 11/14/2017] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
Maternal and early-life influences may affect life-long individual phenotype, potentially influencing reproductive success. However, some individuals may compensate for a poor start to life, which may improve longevity and reproductive success later in life. We developed four models to assess whether maternal characteristics (age, body mass and previous year cumulative lactation demand) and/or birth date influenced a long-lived mammal's phenotype to maturity. We used a directional separation analysis to assess the relative influence of each maternal characteristic and birth date on captive male white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) body mass and antler size. We found that birth date was the only characteristic that persistently influenced male body mass. Depending on when offspring were born, they used alternative tactics to increase their body mass. Birth date positively influenced body mass at 1, 2 and 3 years of age-indicating males displayed faster growth and compensated for late birth (hare tactic). However, early-, heavy-born males were heavy juveniles, and juvenile body mass positively influenced mature body mass (slow but steady growth; tortoise tactic). Our findings provide a first evidence that a long-lived ungulate can display alternative tactics to achieve heavy body mass; individuals are either born early and heavy and are heavy throughout life (tortoise), or light, late-born individuals compensate for a poor start in life by growing at a faster rate to equal or surpass the body mass of early-born individuals (hare). Either tactic may be viable if it influences reproductive success as body mass positively influences access to mates in ungulates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric S Michel
- Deer Ecology and Management Laboratory, Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Aquaculture, Forest and Wildlife Research Center, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, MS, 39762, USA. .,Department of Natural Resource Management, South Dakota State University, 1390 College Avenue, Biostress Lab Room 138, Brookings, SD, 57007-1696, USA.
| | - Stephen Demarais
- Deer Ecology and Management Laboratory, Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Aquaculture, Forest and Wildlife Research Center, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, MS, 39762, USA
| | - Bronson K Strickland
- Deer Ecology and Management Laboratory, Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Aquaculture, Forest and Wildlife Research Center, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, MS, 39762, USA
| | - Guiming Wang
- Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Aquaculture, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, MS, USA
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Morten JM, Parsons NJ, Schwitzer C, Holderied MW, Sherley RB. Body condition as a quantitative tool to guide hand-rearing decisions in an endangered seabird. Anim Conserv 2017. [DOI: 10.1111/acv.12338] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- J. M. Morten
- School of Biological Sciences; University of Bristol; Bristol UK
- Bristol Zoological Society; Clifton Bristol UK
| | - N. J. Parsons
- Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds (SANCCOB); Cape Town South Africa
| | | | - M. W. Holderied
- School of Biological Sciences; University of Bristol; Bristol UK
| | - R. B. Sherley
- Bristol Zoological Society; Clifton Bristol UK
- Environment and Sustainability Institute; University of Exeter; Penryn Cornwall UK
- Animal Demography Unit; Department of Biological Sciences; University of Cape Town; Rondebosch Western Cape South Africa
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29
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Parolini M, Romano A, Costanzo A, Khoriauli L, Santagostino M, Nergadze SG, Canova L, Rubolini D, Giulotto E, Saino N. Telomere length is reflected by plumage coloration and predicts seasonal reproductive success in the barn swallow. Mol Ecol 2017; 26:6100-6109. [DOI: 10.1111/mec.14340] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2017] [Revised: 08/14/2017] [Accepted: 08/15/2017] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Marco Parolini
- Department of Environmental Science and Policy University of Milan Milan Italy
| | - Andrea Romano
- Department of Environmental Science and Policy University of Milan Milan Italy
| | - Alessandra Costanzo
- Department of Environmental Science and Policy University of Milan Milan Italy
| | - Lela Khoriauli
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology University of Pavia Pavia Italy
| | | | | | - Luca Canova
- Department of Chemistry University of Pavia Pavia Italy
| | - Diego Rubolini
- Department of Environmental Science and Policy University of Milan Milan Italy
| | - Elena Giulotto
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology University of Pavia Pavia Italy
| | - Nicola Saino
- Department of Environmental Science and Policy University of Milan Milan Italy
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30
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Spurgin LG, Bebbington K, Fairfield EA, Hammers M, Komdeur J, Burke T, Dugdale HL, Richardson DS. Spatio-temporal variation in lifelong telomere dynamics in a long-term ecological study. J Anim Ecol 2017; 87:187-198. [PMID: 28796902 PMCID: PMC5765431 DOI: 10.1111/1365-2656.12741] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2017] [Accepted: 07/15/2017] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Understanding individual‐level variation in response to the environment is fundamental to understanding life‐history evolution and population dynamics. Telomeres, the protective caps at the ends of chromosomes, shorten in response to oxidative stress, and telomere shortening is correlated with reduced survival and life span. Investigating telomere dynamics may help us quantify individual variation in the costs experienced from social and ecological factors, and enhance our understanding of the dynamics of natural populations. Here, we study spatio‐temporal variation in lifelong telomere dynamics in the Seychelles warbler, Acrocephalus sechellensis. We combine long‐term life history and ecological data with a large longitudinal dataset of mean telomere lengths, consisting of 1,808 samples from 22 cohorts born between 1993 and 2014. We provide a detailed analysis of how telomere dynamics vary over individual life spans and cohorts, and with spatio‐temporal variation in the social and ecological environment. We found that telomere length decreases with cross‐sectional and longitudinal measures of age, and most rapidly very early in life. However, both cross‐sectional and longitudinal data suggested that against this overall pattern of shortening, bouts of telomere length increase occur in some individuals. Using a large number of repeated measurements we show statistically that these increases are unlikely to be explained solely by qPCR measurement error. Telomere length varied markedly among cohorts. Telomere length was positively associated with temporal variation in island‐wide insect abundance—a key resource for the insectivorous Seychelles warbler—suggesting that the costs associated with living in harsher environments can be studied by investigating telomere dynamics. We also found evidence for sex‐specific relationships between telomeres and tarsus length, potentially reflecting differential costs of growth. Our long‐term data show that in a natural population, telomere dynamics vary in a complex manner over individual life spans, and across space and time. Variance in telomere dynamics among individuals is the product of a wide array of genetic, parental and environmental factors. Explaining this variation more fully will require the integration of comprehensive long‐term ecological and genetic data from multiple populations and species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lewis G Spurgin
- School of Biological Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park, UK
| | - Kat Bebbington
- School of Biological Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park, UK
| | - Eleanor A Fairfield
- School of Biological Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park, UK
| | - Martijn Hammers
- Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Jan Komdeur
- Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Terry Burke
- Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
| | - Hannah L Dugdale
- Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.,School of Biology, The Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
| | - David S Richardson
- School of Biological Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park, UK.,Nature Seychelles, Roche Caiman, Mahé, Republic of Seychelles
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31
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Marasco V, Stier A, Boner W, Griffiths K, Heidinger B, Monaghan P. Environmental conditions can modulate the links among oxidative stress, age, and longevity. Mech Ageing Dev 2017; 164:100-107. [PMID: 28487181 DOI: 10.1016/j.mad.2017.04.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2016] [Revised: 04/17/2017] [Accepted: 04/29/2017] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Understanding the links between environmental conditions and longevity remains a major focus in biological research. We examined within-individual changes between early- and mid-adulthood in the circulating levels of four oxidative stress markers linked to ageing, using zebra finches (Taeniopygia guttata): a DNA damage product (8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine; 8-OHdG), protein carbonyls (PC), non-enzymatic antioxidant capacity (OXY), and superoxide dismutase activity (SOD). We further examined whether such within-individual changes differed among birds living under control (ad lib food) or more challenging environmental conditions (unpredictable food availability), having previously found that the latter increased corticosterone levels when food was absent but improved survival over a three year period. Our key findings were: (i) 8-OHdG and PC increased with age in both environments, with a higher increase in 8-OHdG in the challenging environment; (ii) SOD increased with age in the controls but not in the challenged birds, while the opposite was true for OXY; (iii) control birds with high levels of 8-OHdG died at a younger age, but this was not the case in challenged birds. Our data clearly show that while exposure to the potentially damaging effects of oxidative stress increases with age, environmental conditions can modulate the pace of this age-related change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valeria Marasco
- Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative Medicine, Graham Kerr Building, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, G12 8QQ, UK
| | - Antoine Stier
- Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative Medicine, Graham Kerr Building, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, G12 8QQ, UK
| | - Winnie Boner
- Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative Medicine, Graham Kerr Building, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, G12 8QQ, UK
| | - Kate Griffiths
- Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative Medicine, Graham Kerr Building, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, G12 8QQ, UK
| | - Britt Heidinger
- Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative Medicine, Graham Kerr Building, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, G12 8QQ, UK
| | - Pat Monaghan
- Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative Medicine, Graham Kerr Building, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, G12 8QQ, UK.
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Young RC, Welcker J, Barger CP, Hatch SA, Merkling T, Kitaiskaia EV, Haussmann MF, Kitaysky AS. Effects of developmental conditions on growth, stress and telomeres in black-legged kittiwake chicks. Mol Ecol 2017; 26:3572-3584. [DOI: 10.1111/mec.14121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2016] [Revised: 03/13/2017] [Accepted: 03/21/2017] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca C. Young
- Instituto de Ecología; UNAM; Ciudad Universitaria; Ciudad de México México
| | - Jorg Welcker
- Institute of Arctic Biology; Department of Biology and Wildlife; University of Alaska Fairbanks; Fairbanks AK USA
| | - Christopher P. Barger
- Institute of Arctic Biology; Department of Biology and Wildlife; University of Alaska Fairbanks; Fairbanks AK USA
| | - Scott A. Hatch
- Institute for Seabird Research and Conservation; Anchorage AK USA
| | - Thomas Merkling
- Université Toulouse 3 Paul Sabatier; CNRS; ENFA; UMR5174 EDB (Laboratoire Évolution & Diversité Biologique); Toulouse France
| | - Evgenia V. Kitaiskaia
- Institute of Arctic Biology; Department of Biology and Wildlife; University of Alaska Fairbanks; Fairbanks AK USA
| | | | - Alexander S. Kitaysky
- Institute of Arctic Biology; Department of Biology and Wildlife; University of Alaska Fairbanks; Fairbanks AK USA
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33
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Whelan S, Strickland D, Morand-Ferron J, Norris DR. Reduced reproductive performance associated with warmer ambient temperatures during incubation in a winter-breeding, food-storing passerine. Ecol Evol 2017; 7:3029-3036. [PMID: 28480002 PMCID: PMC5415522 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.2864] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2016] [Revised: 01/30/2017] [Accepted: 02/13/2017] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
Timing of reproduction can influence individual fitness whereby early breeders tend to have higher reproductive success than late breeders. However, the fitness consequences of timing of breeding may also be influenced by environmental conditions after the commencement of breeding. We tested whether ambient temperatures during the incubation and early nestling periods modulated the effect of laying date on brood size and dominant juvenile survival in gray jays (Perisoreus canadensis), a sedentary boreal species whose late winter nesting depends, in part, on caches of perishable food. Previous evidence has suggested that warmer temperatures degrade the quality of these food hoards, and we asked whether warmer ambient temperatures during the incubation and early nestling periods would be associated with smaller brood sizes and lower summer survival of dominant juveniles. We used 38 years of data from a range‐edge population of gray jays in Algonquin Provincial Park, Ontario, where the population has declined over 50% since the study began. Consistent with the “hoard‐rot” hypothesis, we found that cold temperatures during incubation were associated with larger brood sizes in later breeding attempts, but temperatures had little effect on brood size for females breeding early in the season. This is the first evidence that laying date and temperature during incubation interactively influence brood size in any bird species. We did not find evidence that ambient temperatures during the incubation period or early part of the nestling period influenced summer survival of dominant juveniles. Our findings provide evidence that warming temperatures are associated with some aspects of reduced reproductive performance in a species that is reliant on cold temperatures to store perishable food caches, some of which are later consumed during the reproductive period.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shannon Whelan
- Department of Biology University of Ottawa Ottawa ON Canada
| | | | | | - D Ryan Norris
- Department of Integrative Biology University of Guelph Guelph ON Canada
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34
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Stier A, Dupoué A, Picard D, Angelier F, Brischoux F, Lourdais O. Oxidative stress in a capital breeder ( Vipera aspis) facing pregnancy and water constraints. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2017; 220:1792-1796. [PMID: 28292781 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.156752] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2017] [Accepted: 03/08/2017] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
The physiological mechanisms underlying the 'cost of reproduction' remain under debate, though oxidative stress has emerged as a potential candidate. The 'oxidative cost of reproduction' has received considerable attention with regards to food and antioxidant availability; however, the limitation of water availability has thus far been neglected. In this study, we experimentally examined the combined effect of pregnancy and water deprivation on oxidative status in a viviparous snake (Vipera aspis), a species naturally exposed to periods of water and food deprivation. We predicted a cumulative effect of pregnancy and dehydration on oxidative stress levels. Our results support the occurrence of an oxidative cost of reproduction as we found higher oxidative damage levels in pregnant females than in non-reproductive individuals, despite an up-regulation of antioxidant defences. Surprisingly, water deprivation was associated with an up-regulation of antioxidant defences, and did not increase oxidative damage, either alone or in combination with reproduction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antoine Stier
- Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative Medicine, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ, UK .,Université d'Angers, Angers 49000, France
| | - Andréaz Dupoué
- CNRS UPMC, UMR 7618, iEES Paris, Université Pierre et Marie Curie, 7 Quai St Bernard, Paris 75005, France
| | | | - Frédéric Angelier
- Centre d'Etudes Biologiques de Chizé, CNRS Université de La Rochelle UMR 7372, La Rochelle, Villiers en Bois 79360, France
| | - François Brischoux
- Centre d'Etudes Biologiques de Chizé, CNRS Université de La Rochelle UMR 7372, La Rochelle, Villiers en Bois 79360, France
| | - Olivier Lourdais
- Centre d'Etudes Biologiques de Chizé, CNRS Université de La Rochelle UMR 7372, La Rochelle, Villiers en Bois 79360, France
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35
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The relationship of telomere length to baseline corticosterone levels in nestlings of an altricial passerine bird in natural populations. Front Zool 2016; 13:1. [PMID: 26759601 PMCID: PMC4710010 DOI: 10.1186/s12983-016-0133-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2015] [Accepted: 01/03/2016] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Environmental stressors increase the secretion of glucocorticoids that in turn can shorten telomeres via oxidative damage. Modification of telomere length, as a result of adversity faced early in life, can modify an individual’s phenotype. Studies in captivity have suggested a relationship between glucocorticoids and telomere length in developing individuals, however less is known about that relationship in natural populations. Methods In order to evaluate the effect of early environmental stressors on telomere length in natural populations, we compared baseline corticosterone (CORT) levels and telomere length in nestlings of the same age. We collected blood samples for hormone assay and telomere determination from two geographically distinct populations of the Thorn-tailed Rayadito (Aphrastura spinicauda) that differed in brood size; nestlings body mass and primary productivity. Within each population we used path analysis to evaluate the relationship between brood size, body mass, baseline CORT and telomere length. Results Within each distinct population, path coefficients showed a positive relationship between brood size and baseline CORT and a strong and negative correlation between baseline CORT and telomere length. In general, nestlings that presented higher baseline CORT levels tended to present shorter telomeres. When comparing populations it was the low latitude population that presented higher levels of baseline CORT and shorter telomere length. Conclusions Taken together our results reveal the importance of the condition experienced early in life in affecting telomere length, and the relevance of integrative studies carried out in natural conditions.
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36
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Cree A, Hare KM. Maternal basking regime has complex implications for birthdate and offspring phenotype in a nocturnally foraging, viviparous gecko. J Exp Biol 2016; 219:2934-2943. [DOI: 10.1242/jeb.140020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2016] [Accepted: 07/15/2016] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Maternal basking regime can affect gestation length in viviparous squamates, but effects on offspring phenotype in species with extended pregnancies and ability to delay the birth season are unclear. We investigated the effects of three maternal basking regimes on maternal thermoregulation, gestation length, pregnancy outcome and offspring phenotype in the gecko Woodworthia “Otago/Southland”. This long-lived (30+ years), nocturnal forager has field pregnancies lasting up to 14 mo, with fully developed offspring maintained in utero over winter. Within regimes, we also compared outcomes for spontaneous (early) deliveries with those from induced (late) deliveries to test the ‘adaptive prolongation of pregnancy’ hypothesis. Although a cool regime significantly extended gestation, the effect was reduced by increased maternal basking, and embryonic development under the cool regime was just as successful. Offspring from spontaneous births (but not induced births) were smaller and grew more slowly when from the cool regime. However, induced offspring did not differ in consistent ways from those delivered spontaneously and offspring from all groups had high viability, similar use of warm retreat sites and similar sprint speeds. Thus, consistent evidence for ‘adaptive prolongation of pregnancy’ was lacking. Unusually for squamates, pregnant females can begin vitellogenesis before giving birth, and a profound drop in maternal body temperature near the end of pregnancy (∼6.3°C, confirmed under the warm regime) may assist survival of embryos in utero. Female lizards that maintain fully-developed embryos in utero have the potential to make complex trade-offs among birthdate, offspring phenotype and future reproduction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alison Cree
- Department of Zoology, University of Otago, PO Box 56, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand
| | - Kelly M. Hare
- Department of Zoology, University of Otago, PO Box 56, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand
- Present address: Centre for Biodiversity and Restoration Ecology, Victoria University of Wellington, PO Box 600, Wellington 6140, New Zealand
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37
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Stier A, Reichert S, Criscuolo F, Bize P. Red blood cells open promising avenues for longitudinal studies of ageing in laboratory, non-model and wild animals. Exp Gerontol 2015; 71:118-34. [DOI: 10.1016/j.exger.2015.09.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2015] [Revised: 09/01/2015] [Accepted: 09/02/2015] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
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38
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Starting with a handicap: effects of asynchronous hatching on growth rate, oxidative stress and telomere dynamics in free-living great tits. Oecologia 2015; 179:999-1010. [DOI: 10.1007/s00442-015-3429-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2014] [Accepted: 08/14/2015] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
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40
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Viblanc VA, Smith AD, Gineste B, Kauffmann M, Groscolas R. Modulation of heart rate response to acute stressors throughout the breeding season in the king penguin Aptenodytes patagonicus. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2015; 218:1686-92. [PMID: 25883375 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.112003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2014] [Accepted: 03/31/2015] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
'Fight-or-flight' stress responses allow animals to cope adaptively to sudden threats by mobilizing energy resources and priming the body for action. Because such responses can be costly and redirect behavior and energy from reproduction to survival, they are likely to be shaped by specific life-history stages, depending on the available energy resources and the commitment to reproduction. Here, we consider how heart rate (HR) responses to acute stressors are affected by the advancing breeding season in a colonial seabird, the king penguin (Aptenodytes patagonicus). We subjected 77 birds (44 males, 33 females) at various stages of incubation and chick-rearing to three experimental stressors (metal sound, distant approach and capture) known to vary both in their intensity and associated risk, and monitored their HR responses. Our results show that HR increase in response to acute stressors was progressively attenuated with the stage of breeding from incubation to chick-rearing. Stress responses did not vary according to nutritional status or seasonal timing (whether breeding was initiated early or late in the season), but were markedly lower during chick-rearing than during incubation. This pattern was obvious for all three stressors. We discuss how 'fight-or-flight' responses may be modulated by considering the energy commitment to breeding, nutritional status and reproductive value of the brood in breeding seabirds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vincent A Viblanc
- Université de Strasbourg, Institut Pluridisciplinaire Hubert Curien (IPHC), Département Ecologie, Physiologie et Ethologie (DEPE), 23 rue Becquerel, Strasbourg 67087, France CNRS, UMR7178, Strasbourg 67087, France Centre d'Ecologie Fonctionnelle et Evolutive, UMR 5175, CNRS - Université de Montpellier - Université Paul-Valéry Montpellier - EPHE, 1919 route de Mende, Montpellier 34293, France
| | - Andrew D Smith
- Université de Strasbourg, Institut Pluridisciplinaire Hubert Curien (IPHC), Département Ecologie, Physiologie et Ethologie (DEPE), 23 rue Becquerel, Strasbourg 67087, France CNRS, UMR7178, Strasbourg 67087, France
| | - Benoit Gineste
- Université de Strasbourg, Institut Pluridisciplinaire Hubert Curien (IPHC), Département Ecologie, Physiologie et Ethologie (DEPE), 23 rue Becquerel, Strasbourg 67087, France CNRS, UMR7178, Strasbourg 67087, France
| | - Marion Kauffmann
- Université de Strasbourg, Institut Pluridisciplinaire Hubert Curien (IPHC), Département Ecologie, Physiologie et Ethologie (DEPE), 23 rue Becquerel, Strasbourg 67087, France CNRS, UMR7178, Strasbourg 67087, France
| | - René Groscolas
- Université de Strasbourg, Institut Pluridisciplinaire Hubert Curien (IPHC), Département Ecologie, Physiologie et Ethologie (DEPE), 23 rue Becquerel, Strasbourg 67087, France CNRS, UMR7178, Strasbourg 67087, France
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41
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Beirne C, Delahay R, Hares M, Young A. Age-related declines and disease-associated variation in immune cell telomere length in a wild mammal. PLoS One 2014; 9:e108964. [PMID: 25268841 PMCID: PMC4182606 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0108964] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2014] [Accepted: 09/05/2014] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Immunosenescence, the deterioration of immune system capability with age, may play a key role in mediating age-related declines in whole-organism performance, but the mechanisms that underpin immunosenescence are poorly understood. Biomedical research on humans and laboratory models has documented age and disease related declines in the telomere lengths of leukocytes ('immune cells'), stimulating interest their having a potentially general role in the emergence of immunosenescent phenotypes. However, it is unknown whether such observations generalise to the immune cell populations of wild vertebrates living under ecologically realistic conditions. Here we examine longitudinal changes in the mean telomere lengths of immune cells in wild European badgers (Meles meles). Our findings provide the first evidence of within-individual age-related declines in immune cell telomere lengths in a wild vertebrate. That the rate of age-related decline in telomere length appears to be steeper within individuals than at the overall population level raises the possibility that individuals with short immune cell telomeres and/or higher rates of immune cell telomere attrition may be selectively lost from this population. We also report evidence suggestive of associations between immune cell telomere length and bovine tuberculosis infection status, with individuals detected at the most advanced stage of infection tending to have shorter immune cell telomeres than disease positive individuals. While male European badgers are larger and show higher rates of annual mortality than females, we found no evidence of a sex difference in either mean telomere length or the average rate of within-individual telomere attrition with age. Our findings lend support to the view that age-related declines in the telomere lengths of immune cells may provide one potentially general mechanism underpinning age-related declines in immunocompetence in natural populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher Beirne
- Centre for Ecology and Conservation, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Exeter, Penryn Campus, Cornwall, United Kingdom
| | - Richard Delahay
- National Wildlife Management Centre, Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency, Woodchester Park, Nympsfield, Gloucestershire, United Kingdom
| | - Michelle Hares
- Centre for Ecology and Conservation, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Exeter, Penryn Campus, Cornwall, United Kingdom
| | - Andrew Young
- Centre for Ecology and Conservation, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Exeter, Penryn Campus, Cornwall, United Kingdom
- * E-mail:
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