1
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Yudin NS, Igoshin AV, Romashov GA, Martynov AA, Larkin DM. Influence of breed and environment on leukocyte telomere length in cattle. Vavilovskii Zhurnal Genet Selektsii 2024; 28:190-197. [PMID: 38680187 PMCID: PMC11043504 DOI: 10.18699/vjgb-24-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2023] [Revised: 12/25/2023] [Accepted: 12/25/2023] [Indexed: 05/01/2024] Open
Abstract
High milk yield is associated with reduced longevity in high-producing dairy cattle breeds. Pre-term culling leads to high replacement heifer demand and economic losses for the dairy industry. Selection for this trait is limited because of low heritability and difficulties in phenotype measurement. Telomeres are elements found at the ends of chromosomes, consisting of repetitive DNA sequences, several thousand base pairs in length, coupled with nucleoprotein complexes. Eventually, in humans and most other animals, telomere length reduces with age. When telomeric DNA is truncated to a critical length, cell ageing, cell cycle arrest, and apoptosis are induced. As a result, telomere length can be considered as a predictor of health risks and an individual's lifespan. The leukocyte telomere length may be used as a proxy phenotype of productive lifespan to improve cattle selection. Our objectives were to assess the effects of breed and breed group (dairy vs. beef) on the leukocyte telomere length and to estimate the effect of cold climate on this trait in Kalmyk cattle populations from the South (Rostov Oblast) and Far North (Republic of Sakha) regions of Russia. The leukocyte telomere lengths were estimated computationally from whole-genome resequencing data. We leveraged data on leukocyte telomere length, sex, and age of 239 animals from 17 cattle breeds. The breed factor had a significant effect on leukocyte telomere length across our sample. There was no difference in leukocyte telomere length between dairy and beef groups. The population factor had a significant effect on leukocyte telomere length in Kalmyk animals. In conclusion, we found that breed, but not breed group (dairy vs. beef), was significantly associated with leukocyte telomere length in cattle. Residence in colder climates was associated with longer leukocyte telomere length in Kalmyk breed cattle.
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Affiliation(s)
- N S Yudin
- Institute of Cytology and Genetics of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk, Russia
| | - A V Igoshin
- Institute of Cytology and Genetics of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk, Russia
| | - G A Romashov
- Institute of Cytology and Genetics of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk, Russia
| | - A A Martynov
- Arctic State Agrotechnological University, Yakutsk, Republic of Sakha (Yakutia), Russia
| | - D M Larkin
- Royal Veterinary College, University of London, London United Kingdom
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2
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Rodseth E, Sumasgutner P, Tate G, Nilsson JF, Watson H, Maritz MF, Ingle RA, Amar A. Pleiotropic effects of melanin pigmentation: haemoparasite infection intensity but not telomere length is associated with plumage morph in black sparrowhawks. ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE 2024; 11:230370. [PMID: 38577209 PMCID: PMC10987988 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.230370] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2023] [Revised: 09/21/2023] [Accepted: 02/13/2024] [Indexed: 04/06/2024]
Abstract
There is increasing recognition of the potential pleiotropic effects of melanin pigmentation, particularly on immunity, with reports of variation in haemoparasite infection intensity and immune responses between the morphs of colour-polymorphic bird species. In a population of the black sparrowhawk (Accipiter melanoleucus) in western South Africa, light morphs have a higher haemoparasite infection intensity, but no physiological effects of this are apparent. Here, we investigate the possible effects of haemoparasite infection on telomere length in this species and explore whether relative telomere length is associated with either plumage morph or sex. Using quantitative polymerase chain reaction analysis, we confirmed that dark morphs had a lower haemoparasite infection intensity than light morphs. However, we found no differences in telomere length associated with either the haemoparasite infection status or morph in adults, although males have longer telomeres than females. While differences in haemoparasite intensity between morphs are consistent with pleiotropic effects of melanin pigmentation in the black sparrowhawk, we found no evidence that telomere length was associated with haemoparasite infection. Further work is needed to investigate the implications of possible pleiotropic effects of plumage morph and their potential role in the maintenance of colour polymorphism in this species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edmund Rodseth
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Petra Sumasgutner
- FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- Konrad Lorenz Research Centre, Department of Behavioural and Cognitive Biology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Gareth Tate
- FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- Birds of Prey Programme, Endangered Wildlife Trust, Midrand, South Africa
| | - Johan F. Nilsson
- Evolutionary Ecology, Department of Biology, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Hannah Watson
- Evolutionary Ecology, Department of Biology, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Michelle F. Maritz
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Robert A. Ingle
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Arjun Amar
- FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
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3
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Ton R, Boner W, Raveh S, Monaghan P, Griffith SC. Effects of heat waves on telomere dynamics and parental brooding effort in nestlings of the zebra finch (Taeniopygia castanotis) transitioning from ectothermy to endothermy. Mol Ecol 2023; 32:4911-4920. [PMID: 37395529 DOI: 10.1111/mec.17064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2023] [Revised: 06/16/2023] [Accepted: 06/20/2023] [Indexed: 07/04/2023]
Abstract
Heat waves are predicted to be detrimental for organismal physiology with costs for survival that could be reflected in markers of biological state such as telomeres. Changes in early life telomere dynamics driven by thermal stress are of particular interest during the early post-natal stages of altricial birds because nestlings quickly shift from being ectothermic to endothermic after hatching. Telomeres of ectothermic and endothermic organisms respond differently to environmental temperature, but few investigations within species that transition from ectothermy to endothermy are available. Also, ambient temperature influences parental brooding behaviour, which will alter the temperature experienced by offspring and thereby, potentially, their telomeres. We exposed zebra finch nestlings to experimental heat waves and compared their telomere dynamics to that of a control group at 5, 12 and 80 days of age that encapsulate the transition from the ectothermic to the endothermic thermoregulatory stage; we also recorded parental brooding, offspring sex, mass, growth rates, brood size and hatch order. Nestling mass showed an inverse relationship with telomere length, and nestlings exposed to heat waves showed lower telomere attrition during their first 12 days of life (ectothermic stage) compared to controls. Additionally, parents of heated broods reduced the time they spent brooding offspring (at 5 days old) compared to controls. Our results indicate that the effect of heat waves on telomere dynamics likely varies depending on age and thermoregulatory stage of the offspring in combination with parental brooding behaviour during growth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Riccardo Ton
- School of Natural Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Winnie Boner
- School of Biodiversity, One Health and Veterinary Medicine, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | - Shirley Raveh
- School of Biodiversity, One Health and Veterinary Medicine, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | - Pat Monaghan
- School of Biodiversity, One Health and Veterinary Medicine, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | - Simon C Griffith
- School of Natural Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
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4
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McDermott MT, Madden SA, Laubach ZM, Ayala MJ, Safran RJ. Females with Increased Costs Maintain Reproductive Output: A Field Experiment in a Common Songbird. Integr Comp Biol 2023; 63:23-33. [PMID: 37253622 DOI: 10.1093/icb/icad042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2023] [Revised: 05/01/2023] [Accepted: 05/18/2023] [Indexed: 06/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Reproduction and self-maintenance are energetically costly activities involved in classic life history trade-offs. However, few studies have measured the responses of wild organisms to simultaneous changes in reproductive and self-maintenance costs, which may have interactive effects. In free-living female Barn Swallows (Hirundo rustica), we simultaneously manipulated reproductive costs (by adding or removing two nestlings) and self-maintenance costs (by attaching a ∼1 g weight in the form of a GPS tag to half of our study birds) and measured mass, immune status, blood glucose, feather growth, and reproductive output (likelihood of a second clutch, number of eggs, and time between clutches). GPS tags allowed us to analyze how movement range size affected response to brood size manipulation. Tagging altered females' immune function as evidenced by an elevated heterophil to lymphocyte (H:L) ratio, but all females were equally likely to lay more eggs. There was no evidence of interactive effects of the tagging and brood size treatment. Range size was highly variable, and birds with large ranges grew feathers more slowly, but analyzing the effect of brood size manipulation while accounting for variation in range size did not result in any physiological response. Our results support the theoretical prediction that short-lived vertebrates do face a trade-off between reproduction and self-maintenance and, when faced with increased costs, tend to preserve investment in reproduction at the expense of parental condition. This experiment also helps us to understand how movement patterns may be relevant to life history trade-offs in wild birds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Molly T McDermott
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Colorado at Boulder, Boulder 334 UCB, 1900 Pleasant Street, CO 80309, USA
| | - Sage A Madden
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Colorado at Boulder, Boulder 334 UCB, 1900 Pleasant Street, CO 80309, USA
- Graduate Group in Ecology, University of California, Davis, One Shields Avenue, Davis, CA 95616, USA
| | - Zachary M Laubach
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Colorado at Boulder, Boulder 334 UCB, 1900 Pleasant Street, CO 80309, USA
| | - Marina J Ayala
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Colorado at Boulder, Boulder 334 UCB, 1900 Pleasant Street, CO 80309, USA
| | - Rebecca J Safran
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Colorado at Boulder, Boulder 334 UCB, 1900 Pleasant Street, CO 80309, USA
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O'Daniel SE, Kochan KJ, Long CR, Riley DG, Randel RD, Welsh TH. Comparison of Telomere Length in Age-Matched Primiparous and Multiparous Brahman Cows. Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:2325. [PMID: 37508101 PMCID: PMC10376255 DOI: 10.3390/ani13142325] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2023] [Revised: 07/10/2023] [Accepted: 07/11/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Physiological and psychological stressors have been associated with the attrition of telomeres, which are the protective caps of chromosomes. This study compares the telomere length (TL) in 4-year-old Brahman cows grouped by the first parity (n = 8) and the second parity (n = 11). The cows were bled via jugular venipuncture, weighed, and had their body condition scores recorded at Day -28 prior to calving and at Day + 7 and Day + 28 post-calving. The duration of labor (Dlabor) and parturition ease were recorded. The peripheral leukocytes were isolated, the leukocyte blood count with differential was recorded, and the genomic DNA was extracted. The relative quantity of telomere products, which is proportional to the average TL, was determined via multiplex quantitative PCR using the ratio (T/S ratio) of bovine telomere and β-globulin DNA. Standards of the bovine telomere (1012-107 dilution series) and β-globulin (109-104 dilution series) genes were utilized to produce relative copy numbers. The samples were assayed in triplicate and were included if the triplicate Cq difference was less than 0.25 cycles. The parity was the fixed effect, and the random effects included the sire and day repeated with the cow as the subject. Statistical significance was not observed in the leukocyte number or type (p > 0.1). A reduction in the TL of approximately 9225 telomeric copies was found between Parity 1 and Parity 2 (p = 0.02). A trend was found between the TL and Dlabor (p = 0.06). The stress of parturition and raising the first calf of a cow's life may be responsible for TL attenuation. Parity may be considered a stressor of cow longevity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sydney E O'Daniel
- Department of Animal Science, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA
- Texas A&M AgriLife Research Center, Overton, TX 75684, USA
| | - Kelli J Kochan
- Texas A&M Institute for Genome Sciences and Society, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA
| | - Charles R Long
- Texas A&M AgriLife Research Center, Overton, TX 75684, USA
| | - David G Riley
- Department of Animal Science, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA
| | | | - Thomas H Welsh
- Department of Animal Science, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA
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6
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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: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 30.0] [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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7
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Brown TJ, Spurgin LG, Dugdale HL, Komdeur J, Burke T, Richardson DS. Causes and consequences of telomere lengthening in a wild vertebrate population. Mol Ecol 2022; 31:5933-5945. [PMID: 34219315 DOI: 10.1111/mec.16059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2021] [Revised: 05/24/2021] [Accepted: 06/21/2021] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
Telomeres have been advocated to be important markers of biological age in evolutionary and ecological studies. Telomeres usually shorten with age and shortening is frequently associated with environmental stressors and increased subsequent mortality. Telomere lengthening - an apparent increase in telomere length between repeated samples from the same individual - also occurs. However, the exact circumstances, and consequences, of telomere lengthening are poorly understood. Using longitudinal data from the Seychelles warbler (Acrocephalus sechellensis), we tested whether telomere lengthening - which occurs in adults of this species - is associated with specific stressors (reproductive effort, food availability, malarial infection and cooperative breeding) and predicts subsequent survival. In females, telomere shortening was observed under greater stress (i.e., low food availability, malaria infection), while telomere lengthening was observed in females experiencing lower stress (i.e., high food availability, assisted by helpers, without malaria). The telomere dynamics of males were not associated with the key stressors tested. These results indicate that, at least for females, telomere lengthening occurs in circumstances more conducive to self-maintenance. Importantly, both females and males with lengthened telomeres had improved subsequent survival relative to individuals that displayed unchanged, or shortened, telomeres - indicating that telomere lengthening is associated with individual fitness. These results demonstrate that telomere dynamics are bidirectionally responsive to the level of stress that an individual faces, but may poorly reflect the accumulation of stress over an individuals lifetime.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas J Brown
- School of Biological Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK
| | - Lewis G Spurgin
- School of Biological Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK
| | - Hannah L Dugdale
- Behavioural and Physiological Ecology, Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Jan Komdeur
- Behavioural and Physiological Ecology, Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Terry Burke
- Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
| | - David S Richardson
- School of Biological Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK.,Nature Seychelles, Victoria, Mahé, Seychelles
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8
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Ravindran S, Froy H, Underwood SL, Dorrens J, Seeker LA, Watt K, Wilbourn RV, Pilkington JG, Harrington L, Pemberton JM, Nussey DH. The association between female reproductive performance and leukocyte telomere length in wild Soay sheep. Mol Ecol 2022; 31:6184-6196. [PMID: 34514660 DOI: 10.1111/mec.16175] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2021] [Accepted: 08/03/2021] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
Telomere length (TL), typically measured across a sample of blood cells, has emerged as an exciting potential marker of physiological state and of the costs of investment in growth and reproduction within evolutionary ecology. While there is mounting evidence from studies of wild vertebrates that short TL predicts raised subsequent mortality risk, the relationship between reproductive investment and TL is less clear cut, and previous studies report both negative and positive associations. In this study, we examined the relationship between TL and different aspects of maternal reproductive performance in a free-living population of Soay sheep. We find evidence for shorter TL in females that bred, and thus paid any costs of gestation, compared to females that did not breed. However, we found no evidence for any association between TL and litter size. Furthermore, females that invested in gestation and lactation actually had longer TL than females who only invested in gestation because their offspring died shortly after birth. We used multivariate models to decompose these associations into among- and within-individual effects, and discovered that within-individual effects were driving both the negative association between TL and gestation, and the positive association between TL and lactation. This suggests that telomere dynamics may reflect recent physiologically costly investment or variation in physiological condition, depending on the aspect of reproduction being investigated. Our results highlight the physiological complexity of vertebrate reproduction, and the need to better understand how and why different aspects of physiological variation underpinning life histories impact blood cell TL.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sanjana Ravindran
- Institute of Evolutionary Biology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Hannah Froy
- Institute of Evolutionary Biology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.,Centre for Biodiversity Dynamics, Institute for Biology, Norwegian University for Science and Technology (NTNU), Trondheim, Norway
| | - Sarah L Underwood
- Institute of Evolutionary Biology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Jennifer Dorrens
- Institute of Evolutionary Biology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Luise A Seeker
- Institute of Evolutionary Biology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Kathryn Watt
- Institute of Evolutionary Biology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Rachael V Wilbourn
- Institute of Evolutionary Biology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Jill G Pilkington
- Institute of Evolutionary Biology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Lea Harrington
- Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Canada
| | - Josephine M Pemberton
- Institute of Evolutionary Biology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Daniel H Nussey
- Institute of Evolutionary Biology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
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9
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Wood EM, Capilla-Lasheras P, Cram DL, Walker LA, York JE, Lange A, Hamilton PB, Tyler CR, Young AJ. Social dominance and rainfall predict telomere dynamics in a cooperative arid-zone bird. Mol Ecol 2022; 31:6141-6154. [PMID: 33657651 DOI: 10.1111/mec.15868] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2020] [Accepted: 02/17/2021] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
In many vertebrate societies dominant individuals breed at substantially higher rates than subordinates, but whether this hastens ageing remains poorly understood. While frequent reproduction may trade off against somatic maintenance, the extraordinary fecundity and longevity of some social insect queens highlight that breeders need not always suffer more rapid somatic deterioration than their nonbreeding subordinates. Here, we used extensive longitudinal assessments of telomere dynamics to investigate the impact of dominance status on within-individual age-related changes in somatic integrity in a wild social bird, the white-browed sparrow-weaver (Plocepasser mahali). Dominant birds, who monopolise reproduction, had neither shorter telomeres nor faster telomere attrition rates over the long-term (1-5 years) than their subordinates. However, over shorter (half-year) time intervals dominants with shorter telomeres showed lower rates of telomere attrition (and evidence suggestive of telomere lengthening), while the same was not true among subordinates. Dominants may therefore invest more heavily in telomere length regulation (and/or somatic maintenance more broadly); a strategy that could mitigate the long-term costs of reproductive effort, leaving their long-term telomere dynamics comparable to those of subordinates. Consistent with the expectation that reproduction entails short-term costs to somatic integrity, telomere attrition rates were most severe for all birds during the breeding seasons of wetter years (rainfall is the key driver of reproductive activity in this arid-zone species). Our findings suggest that, even in vertebrate societies in which dominants monopolise reproduction, dominants may experience long-term somatic integrity trajectories indistinguishable from those of their nonreproductive subordinates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emma M Wood
- Centre for Ecology & Conservation, University of Exeter, Penryn, UK
| | - Pablo Capilla-Lasheras
- Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative Medicine, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | - Dominic L Cram
- Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Lindsay A Walker
- Geoffrey Pope, Biosciences, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK
| | - Jenny E York
- Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.,Department of Zoology and Entomology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa.,Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA
| | - Anke Lange
- Geoffrey Pope, Biosciences, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK
| | - Patrick B Hamilton
- Geoffrey Pope, Biosciences, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK
| | - Charles R Tyler
- Geoffrey Pope, Biosciences, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK
| | - Andrew J Young
- Centre for Ecology & Conservation, University of Exeter, Penryn, UK
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10
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Kärkkäinen T, Briga M, Laaksonen T, Stier A. Within-individual repeatability in telomere length: A meta-analysis in nonmammalian vertebrates. Mol Ecol 2022; 31:6339-6359. [PMID: 34455645 DOI: 10.1111/mec.16155] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2021] [Revised: 07/27/2021] [Accepted: 08/23/2021] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
Telomere length is increasingly used as a biomarker of long-term somatic state and future survival prospects. While most studies have overlooked this aspect, biological interpretations based on a given telomere length will benefit from considering the level of within-individual repeatability of telomere length through time. Therefore, we conducted a meta-analysis on 74 longitudinal studies in nonmammalian vertebrates, with the aim to establish the current pattern of within-individual repeatability in telomere length and to identify the methodological (e.g., qPCR/TRF) and biological factors (e.g., age class, phylogeny) that may affect it. While the median within-individual repeatability of telomere length was moderate to high (R = 0.55; 95% CI: 0.05-0.95; N = 82), marked heterogeneity between studies was evident. Measurement method affected the repeatability estimate strongly, with TRF-based studies exhibiting high repeatability (R = 0.80; 95% CI: 0.34-0.96; N = 25), while repeatability of qPCR-based studies was markedly lower and more variable (R = 0.46; 95% CI: 0.04-0.82; N = 57). While phylogeny explained some variance in repeatability, phylogenetic signal was not significant (λ = 0.32; 95% CI: 0.00-0.83). None of the biological factors investigated here significantly explained variation in the repeatability of telomere length, being potentially obscured by methodological differences. Our meta-analysis highlights the high variability in within-individual repeatability estimates between studies and the need to put more effort into separating technical and biological explanations. This is important to better understand to what extent biological factors can affect the repeatability of telomere length and thus the interpretation of telomere length data.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Michael Briga
- Department of Biology, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
| | - Toni Laaksonen
- Department of Biology, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
| | - Antoine Stier
- Department of Biology, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
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11
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Telomere dynamics in female Columbian ground squirrels: recovery after emergence and loss after reproduction. Oecologia 2022; 199:301-312. [PMID: 35713713 DOI: 10.1007/s00442-022-05194-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2021] [Accepted: 05/20/2022] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
Telomeres are specialized non-coding DNA sequences located at the end of chromosomes and that protect genetic information. Telomere loss over lifespan is generally viewed as a phenomenon associated with aging in animals. Recently, telomere elongation after hibernation has been described in several mammals. Whether this pattern is an adaptation to repair DNA damage caused during rewarming from torpor or if it coevolved as a mechanism to promote somatic maintenance in preparation for the upcoming reproductive effort remains unclear. In a longitudinal study measuring telomere length using buccal swabs, we tested if telomere elongation was related to reproductive success in wild adult female Columbian ground squirrels (Urocitellus columbianus) that were monitored from emergence from hibernation to the end of the reproductive season. We found three key results. First, female telomere length increased at the start of the breeding season, both in breeding and non-breeding individuals. Second, post-emergence telomere lengthening was unrelated to female future reproductive output. Third, telomere length decreased in breeding females during lactation, but remained stable in non-breeding females over a similar period. Within breeders, telomeres shortened more in females producing larger and heavier litters. We concluded that telomere lengthening after hibernation did not constrain immediate female reproductive capacities. It was more likely to be part of the body recovery process that takes place after hibernation. Telomere erosion that occurs after birth may constitute a physiological cost of female reproduction.
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12
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Romero-Haro AÁ, Morger J, Haussmann MF, Tschirren B. Reproductive strategies affect telomere dynamics across the life course. Am Nat 2022; 200:373-382. [DOI: 10.1086/720440] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
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13
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Gómez J, Morrissey CA, Cabezas S, Marchant TA, Clark RG. Phenotypic differences among wild passerine nestlings in relation to early-life rearing environment. CAN J ZOOL 2021. [DOI: 10.1139/cjz-2021-0058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
Subtle changes in stress physiology during critical developmental stages have been linked to long-term fitness; however, the biological processes and phenotypic responses to early-life rearing environments, such as anthropogenic land use conditions, have not been fully evaluated in insectivorous birds. We manipulated Tree Swallow (Tachycineta bicolor (Vieillot, 1808)) brood sizes at sites with contrasting agricultural land use to assess phenotypic changes in body condition and genetic and physiological biomarkers of stress during the sensitive nestling growth phase. We predicted that nestling swallows raised on cropland-dominated sites, especially those in enlarged broods, would have lower body condition, shorter telomeres, and higher feather corticosterone than nestlings raised in smaller broods at grassland sites. Body condition was highest among nestlings raised in reduced broods but was unrelated to land use. Telomere lengths tended to be shorter in nestlings from enlarged broods and at cropland sites. Corticosterone was not related to any factor. Locally abundant insect populations associated with wetlands may have dampened the effects and (or) parent swallows assumed higher costs of reproduction rather than passing these costs to nestlings. Results suggest that food or other environmental stressors could reduce fledgling survival via telomere shortening; a hypothesis that requires further investigation due to its potential importance to population viability in multiple declining aerial insectivore species.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Christy A. Morrissey
- Department of Biology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5C8, Canada
- School of Environment and Sustainability, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5C8, Canada
| | - Sonia Cabezas
- Department of Biology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5C8, Canada
| | - Tracy A. Marchant
- Department of Biology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5C8, Canada
| | - Robert G. Clark
- Department of Biology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5C8, Canada
- Environment and Climate Change Canada, Prairie and Northern Wildlife Research Centre, Saskatoon, SK S7N 0X4, Canada
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14
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Heidinger BJ, Kucera AC, Kittilson JD, Westneat DF. Longer telomeres during early life predict higher lifetime reproductive success in females but not males. Proc Biol Sci 2021; 288:20210560. [PMID: 34034512 PMCID: PMC8150037 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2021.0560] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2021] [Accepted: 05/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The mechanisms that contribute to variation in lifetime reproductive success are not well understood. One possibility is that telomeres, conserved DNA sequences at chromosome ends that often shorten with age and stress exposures, may reflect differences in vital processes or influence fitness. Telomere length often predicts longevity, but longevity is only one component of fitness and little is known about how lifetime reproductive success is related to telomere dynamics in wild populations. We examined the relationships between telomere length beginning in early life, telomere loss into adulthood and lifetime reproductive success in free-living house sparrows (Passer domesticus). We found that females, but not males, with longer telomeres during early life had higher lifetime reproductive success, owing to associations with longevity and not reproduction per year or attempt. Telomeres decreased with age in both sexes, but telomere loss was not associated with lifetime reproductive success. In this species, telomeres may reflect differences in quality or condition rather than the pace of life, but only in females. Sexually discordant selection on telomeres is expected to influence the stability and maintenance of within population variation in telomere dynamics and suggests that any role telomeres play in mediating life-history trade-offs may be sex specific.
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Affiliation(s)
- Britt J. Heidinger
- Department of Biological Sciences, North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND, USA
| | - Aurelia C. Kucera
- Department of Biological Sciences, North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND, USA
| | - Jeff D. Kittilson
- Department of Biological Sciences, North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND, USA
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15
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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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16
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Seeker LA, Underwood SL, Wilbourn RV, Dorrens J, Froy H, Holland R, Ilska JJ, Psifidi A, Bagnall A, Whitelaw B, Coffey M, Banos G, Nussey DH. Telomere attrition rates are associated with weather conditions and predict productive lifespan in dairy cattle. Sci Rep 2021; 11:5589. [PMID: 33692400 PMCID: PMC7970942 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-84984-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2020] [Accepted: 02/18/2021] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Telomere length is predictive of adult health and survival across vertebrate species. However, we currently do not know whether such associations result from among-individual differences in telomere length determined genetically or by early-life environmental conditions, or from differences in the rate of telomere attrition over the course of life that might be affected by environmental conditions. Here, we measured relative leukocyte telomere length (RLTL) multiple times across the entire lifespan of dairy cattle in a research population that is closely monitored for health and milk production and where individuals are predominantly culled in response to health issues. Animals varied in their change in RLTL between subsequent measurements and RLTL shortened more during early life and following hotter summers which are known to cause heat stress in dairy cows. The average amount of telomere attrition calculated over multiple repeat samples of individuals predicted a shorter productive lifespan, suggesting a link between telomere loss and health. TL attrition was a better predictor of when an animal was culled than their average TL or the previously for this population reported significant TL at the age of 1 year. Our present results support the hypothesis that TL is a flexible trait that is affected by environmental factors and that telomere attrition is linked to animal health and survival traits. Change in telomere length may represent a useful biomarker in animal welfare studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luise A Seeker
- Animal & Veterinary Sciences, SRUC, Roslin Institute Building, Easter Bush, Midlothian, UK.
- Centre for Regenerative Medicine, Institute for Regeneration and Repair, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh BioQuarter, Edinburgh, UK.
| | - Sarah L Underwood
- Institute of Evolutionary Biology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Rachael V Wilbourn
- Institute of Evolutionary Biology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Jennifer Dorrens
- Institute of Evolutionary Biology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Hannah Froy
- Institute of Evolutionary Biology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
- Centre for Biodiversity Dynamics, NTNU Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Rebecca Holland
- Institute of Evolutionary Biology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Joanna J Ilska
- Animal & Veterinary Sciences, SRUC, Roslin Institute Building, Easter Bush, Midlothian, UK
- The Roslin Institute and Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, University of Edinburgh, Easter Bush, Midlothian, UK
| | - Androniki Psifidi
- The Roslin Institute and Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, University of Edinburgh, Easter Bush, Midlothian, UK
- Royal Veterinary College, University of London, Hatfield, UK
| | | | - Bruce Whitelaw
- The Roslin Institute and Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, University of Edinburgh, Easter Bush, Midlothian, UK
| | - Mike Coffey
- Animal & Veterinary Sciences, SRUC, Roslin Institute Building, Easter Bush, Midlothian, UK
| | - Georgios Banos
- Animal & Veterinary Sciences, SRUC, Roslin Institute Building, Easter Bush, Midlothian, UK
- The Roslin Institute and Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, University of Edinburgh, Easter Bush, Midlothian, UK
| | - Daniel H Nussey
- Institute of Evolutionary Biology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
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17
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Criscuolo F, Torres R, Zahn S, Williams TD. Telomere dynamics from hatching to sexual maturity and maternal effects in the 'multivariate egg'. J Exp Biol 2020; 223:jeb232496. [PMID: 33139395 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.232496] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2020] [Accepted: 10/26/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Avian eggs contain a large number of molecules deposited by the mother that provide the embryo with energy but also potentially influence its development via the effects of maternally derived hormones and antibodies: the avian egg is thus 'multivariate'. Multivariate effects on offspring phenotype were evaluated in a study on captive zebra finches, by simultaneously manipulating maternally derived antibodies (MAb) by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) treatment of mothers and injection of testosterone into the egg yolk. LPS treatment had a positive effect on body mass growth at 30 days after hatching and immune response at sexual maturity, while egg testosterone treatment positively influenced immune response at fledging and courtship behaviour in sexually mature male offspring. Maternal effects are known to modulate offspring telomere length (TL). However, the multivariate effects of egg-derived maternal components on offspring telomere dynamics from hatching to sexual maturity are undefined. Here, we tested: (1) the effects of LPS and testosterone treatments on TL from hatching to sexual maturity (day 82); (2) how LPS treatment modulated TL over reproduction in adult females; and (3) the relationship between maternal and offspring TL. We predicted that TL would be shorter in LPS fledglings (as a cost of faster growth) and that TL would be longer in sexually mature adults after yolk testosterone treatment (as a proxy of individual quality). In adult females, there was an overall negative relationship between laying and rearing investments and TL, this relationship was weaker in LPS-treated females. In chicks, there was an overall negative effect of LPS treatment on TL measured at fledging and sexual maturity (day 25-82). In addition, at fledging, there was a Sex×LPS×Testosterone interaction, suggesting the existence of antagonistic effects of our treatments. Our data partially support the hypothesis that telomeres are proxies of individual quality and that individual differences in TL are established very early in life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francois Criscuolo
- University of Strasbourg, CNRS, Institut Pluridisciplinaire Hubert Curien, UMR 7178, 67000 Strasbourg, France
| | - Roxanna Torres
- Instituto de Ecologia, Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico, A.P. 70-275, Mexico D.F. 04510, Mexico
| | - Sandrine Zahn
- University of Strasbourg, CNRS, Institut Pluridisciplinaire Hubert Curien, UMR 7178, 67000 Strasbourg, France
| | - Tony D Williams
- Department of Biological Sciences, Simon Fraser University, 8888 University Drive, Burnaby, Canada V5A 1S6
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18
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Vernasco BJ, Dakin R, Majer AD, Haussmann MF, Brandt Ryder T, Moore IT. Longitudinal dynamics and behavioural correlates of telomeres in male wire‐tailed manakins. Funct Ecol 2020. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2435.13715] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Ben J. Vernasco
- Department of Biological Sciences Virginia Tech Blacksburg VA USA
| | - Roslyn Dakin
- Migratory Bird Center Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute Washington DC USA
| | | | | | - T. Brandt Ryder
- Migratory Bird Center Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute Washington DC USA
| | - Ignacio T. Moore
- Department of Biological Sciences Virginia Tech Blacksburg VA USA
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19
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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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20
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Bauch C, Gatt MC, Granadeiro JP, Verhulst S, Catry P. Sex-specific telomere length and dynamics in relation to age and reproductive success in Cory's shearwaters. Mol Ecol 2020; 29:1344-1357. [PMID: 32141666 PMCID: PMC7216837 DOI: 10.1111/mec.15399] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2019] [Revised: 02/28/2020] [Accepted: 03/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Individuals in free‐living animal populations generally differ substantially in reproductive success, lifespan and other fitness‐related traits, but the molecular mechanisms underlying this variation are poorly understood. Telomere length and dynamics are candidate traits explaining this variation, as long telomeres predict a higher survival probability and telomere loss has been shown to reflect experienced “life stress.” However, telomere dynamics among very long‐lived species are unresolved. Additionally, it is generally not well understood how telomeres relate to reproductive success or sex. We measured telomere length and dynamics in erythrocytes to assess their relationship to age, sex and reproduction in Cory's shearwaters (Calonectris borealis), a long‐lived seabird, in the context of a long‐term study. Adult males had on average 231 bp longer telomeres than females, independent of age. In females, telomere length changed relatively little with age, whereas male telomere length declined significantly. Telomere shortening within males from one year to the next was three times higher than the interannual shortening rate based on cross‐sectional data of males. Past long‐term reproductive success was sex‐specifically reflected in age‐corrected telomere length: males with on average high fledgling production were characterized by shorter telomeres, whereas successful females had longer telomeres, and we discuss hypotheses that may explain this contrast. In conclusion, telomere length and dynamics in relation to age and reproduction are sex‐dependent in Cory's shearwaters and these findings contribute to our understanding of what characterises individual variation in fitness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christina Bauch
- MARE-Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre, ISPA-Instituto Universitário, Lisbon, Portugal.,Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Marie Claire Gatt
- CESAM-Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies, Faculty of Science, University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - José Pedro Granadeiro
- CESAM-Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies, Faculty of Science, University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Simon Verhulst
- Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Paulo Catry
- MARE-Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre, ISPA-Instituto Universitário, Lisbon, Portugal
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21
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Bichet C, Bouwhuis S, Bauch C, Verhulst S, Becker PH, Vedder O. Telomere length is repeatable, shortens with age and reproductive success, and predicts remaining lifespan in a long‐lived seabird. Mol Ecol 2020; 29:429-441. [DOI: 10.1111/mec.15331] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2019] [Revised: 11/13/2019] [Accepted: 12/02/2019] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Christina Bauch
- Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences University of Groningen Groningen The Netherlands
| | - Simon Verhulst
- Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences University of Groningen Groningen The Netherlands
| | | | - Oscar Vedder
- Institute of Avian Research Wilhelmshaven Germany
- Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences University of Groningen Groningen The Netherlands
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22
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Grunst AS, Grunst ML, Bervoets L, Pinxten R, Eens M. Proximity to roads, but not exposure to metal pollution, is associated with accelerated developmental telomere shortening in nestling great tits. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2020; 256:113373. [PMID: 31672366 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2019.113373] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2019] [Revised: 10/08/2019] [Accepted: 10/09/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Comprehensively understanding the factors affecting physiology and fitness in urban wildlife requires concurrently considering multiple stressors. To this end, we simultaneously assessed how metal pollution and proximity to roads affect body condition and telomere shortening between days 8 and 15 of age in nestling great tits (Parus major), a common urban bird. We employed a repeated-measures sampling design to compare telomere shortening and body condition between nestlings from four urban study sites south of Antwerp, Belgium, which are located at different distances from a metal pollution point source. In addition, we explored associations between metal exposure and telomere dynamics on the individual level by measuring blood concentrations of five metals/metalloids, of which lead, copper and zinc were present at concentrations above the limit of detection. To assess whether roadway-associated stressors (e.g. noise and air pollution) might affect nestling condition and telomere shortening, we measured the proximity of nest boxes to roads. Metal exposure was not associated with nestling telomere length or body condition, despite elevated blood lead concentrations close to the metal pollution source (mean ± SE = 0.270 ± 0.095 μg/g wet weight at the most polluted study site), suggesting that nestlings may have some capacity to detoxify metals. However, nestlings from nest boxes near roads exhibited more telomere shortening between days 8 and 15 of age, and shorter telomeres at day 15. Nestlings in poorer condition also had shorter telomeres, but proximity to the road was unrelated to body condition. Thus, nutritional stress is unlikely to mediate the relationship between proximity to roads and telomere length. Rather, proximity to roads could have affected telomere shortening by exposing nestlings to air or noise pollution. Our study highlights that traffic-related pollution, which is implicated in human health problems, might also affect urban wildlife.
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Affiliation(s)
- A S Grunst
- Department of Biology, Behavioural Ecology and Ecophysiology Group, University of Antwerp, 2610, Wilrijk, Belgium.
| | - M L Grunst
- Department of Biology, Behavioural Ecology and Ecophysiology Group, University of Antwerp, 2610, Wilrijk, Belgium
| | - L Bervoets
- Department of Biology, Systemic Physiological and Ecotoxicological Research Group, University of Antwerp, 2020, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - R Pinxten
- Department of Biology, Behavioural Ecology and Ecophysiology Group, University of Antwerp, 2610, Wilrijk, Belgium; Faculty of Social Sciences, Antwerp School of Education, University of Antwerp, 2000, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - M Eens
- Department of Biology, Behavioural Ecology and Ecophysiology Group, University of Antwerp, 2610, Wilrijk, Belgium
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23
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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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24
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Sudyka J. Does Reproduction Shorten Telomeres? Towards Integrating Individual Quality with Life‐History Strategies in Telomere Biology. Bioessays 2019; 41:e1900095. [DOI: 10.1002/bies.201900095] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2019] [Revised: 09/03/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Joanna Sudyka
- Wild Urban Evolution and Ecology LabCentre of New Technologies (CeNT)University of Warsaw 02‐097 Warsaw Poland
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25
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Antioxidant capacity is repeatable across years but does not consistently correlate with a marker of peroxidation in a free-living passerine bird. J Comp Physiol B 2019; 189:283-298. [DOI: 10.1007/s00360-019-01211-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2018] [Revised: 01/22/2019] [Accepted: 03/01/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
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26
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Angelier F, Weimerskirch H, Barbraud C, Chastel O. Is telomere length a molecular marker of individual quality? Insights from a long-lived bird. Funct Ecol 2019. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2435.13307] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Frédéric Angelier
- Centre d'Etudes Biologiques de Chizé; CNRS-Université de La Rochelle, UMR-7372; Villiers-en-Bois France
| | - Henri Weimerskirch
- Centre d'Etudes Biologiques de Chizé; CNRS-Université de La Rochelle, UMR-7372; Villiers-en-Bois France
| | - Christophe Barbraud
- Centre d'Etudes Biologiques de Chizé; CNRS-Université de La Rochelle, UMR-7372; Villiers-en-Bois France
| | - Olivier Chastel
- Centre d'Etudes Biologiques de Chizé; CNRS-Université de La Rochelle, UMR-7372; Villiers-en-Bois France
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27
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The cascading effects of human food on hibernation and cellular aging in free-ranging black bears. Sci Rep 2019; 9:2197. [PMID: 30792484 PMCID: PMC6385323 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-38937-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2018] [Accepted: 01/15/2019] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Human foods have become a pervasive subsidy in many landscapes, and can dramatically alter wildlife behavior, physiology, and demography. While such subsidies can enhance wildlife condition, they can also result in unintended negative consequences on individuals and populations. Seasonal hibernators possess a remarkable suite of adaptations that increase survival and longevity in the face of resource and energetic limitations. Recent work has suggested hibernation may also slow the process of senescence, or cellular aging. We investigated how use of human foods influences hibernation, and subsequently cellular aging, in a large-bodied hibernator, black bears (Ursus americanus). We quantified relative telomere length, a molecular marker for cellular age, and compared lengths in adult female bears longitudinally sampled over multiple seasons. We found that bears that foraged more on human foods hibernated for shorter periods of time. Furthermore, bears that hibernated for shorter periods of time experienced accelerated telomere attrition. Together these results suggest that although hibernation may ameliorate cellular aging, foraging on human food subsidies could counteract this process by shortening hibernation. Our findings highlight how human food subsidies can indirectly influence changes in aging at the molecular level.
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28
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Sudyka J, Arct A, Drobniak SM, Gustafsson L, Cichoń M. Birds with high lifetime reproductive success experience increased telomere loss. Biol Lett 2019; 15:20180637. [PMID: 30958221 PMCID: PMC6371901 DOI: 10.1098/rsbl.2018.0637] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2018] [Accepted: 01/10/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Lifetime reproductive success (LRS) is what counts in terms of evolution, but investments in reproduction entail costs for an organism. The idea that telomere dynamics may be shaped in response to such costs is already established; however, we still lack information on whether this relation translates to overall fitness. Here, we quantified LRS (number of fledged young) and longitudinal telomere dynamics of small passerine birds-the blue tits ( Cyanistes caeruleus). We found that individual telomere erosion rate was positively associated with lifetime fledgling number. Birds with more fledged young experienced increased telomere attrition. We show that telomere attrition rate, but not telomere length, is related to individual fitness and suggest that telomere dynamics may underlie reproductive costs experienced by animals as a consequence of prioritizing their lifetime fitness. This is the first study, to our knowledge, to provide evidence that more pronounced telomere erosion is associated with higher fitness gain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joanna Sudyka
- Centre of New Technologies, University of Warsaw, Banacha 2c, 02-097 Warszawa, Poland
- Institute of Environmental Sciences, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 7, 30-387 Kraków, Poland
| | - Aneta Arct
- Institute of Environmental Sciences, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 7, 30-387 Kraków, Poland
| | - Szymon M. Drobniak
- Institute of Environmental Sciences, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 7, 30-387 Kraków, Poland
| | - Lars Gustafsson
- Department of Ecology and Genetics, Evolutionary Biology Centre, Uppsala University, Norbyvägen 18 D, 752 36 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Mariusz Cichoń
- Institute of Environmental Sciences, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 7, 30-387 Kraków, Poland
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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: 160] [Impact Index Per Article: 32.0] [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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Apfelbeck B, Haussmann MF, Boner W, Flinks H, Griffiths K, Illera JC, Mortega KG, Sisson Z, Smiddy P, Helm B. Divergent patterns of telomere shortening in tropical compared to temperate stonechats. Ecol Evol 2019; 9:511-521. [PMID: 30680132 PMCID: PMC6342124 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.4769] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2018] [Revised: 11/04/2018] [Accepted: 11/12/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Telomeres have emerged as important biomarkers of health and senescence as they predict chances of survival in various species. Tropical birds live in more benign environments with lower extrinsic mortality and higher juvenile and adult survival than temperate birds. Therefore, telomere biology may play a more important role in tropical compared to temperate birds. We measured mean telomere length of male stonechats (Saxicola spp.) at four age classes from tropical African and temperate European breeding regions. Tropical and temperate stonechats had similarly long telomeres as nestlings. However, while in tropical stonechats pre-breeding first-years had longer telomeres than nestlings, in temperate stonechats pre-breeding first-years had shorter telomeres than nestlings. During their first breeding season, telomere length was again similar between tropical and temperate stonechats. These patterns may indicate differential survival of high-quality juveniles in tropical environments. Alternatively, more favorable environmental conditions, that is, extended parental care, may enable tropical juveniles to minimize telomere shortening. As suggested by previous studies, our results imply that variation in life history and life span may be reflected in different patterns of telomere shortening rather than telomere length. Our data provide first evidence that distinct selective pressures in tropical and temperate environments may be reflected in diverging patterns of telomere loss in birds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beate Apfelbeck
- Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative MedicineUniversity of GlasgowGlasgowUK
- Terrestrial Ecology Research Group, Department of Ecology and Ecosystem Management, School of Life Sciences WeihenstephanTechnische Universität MünchenFreisingGermany
| | | | - Winnie Boner
- Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative MedicineUniversity of GlasgowGlasgowUK
| | | | - Kate Griffiths
- Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative MedicineUniversity of GlasgowGlasgowUK
| | - Juan Carlos Illera
- Research Unit of Biodiversity (UO‐CSIC‐PA), Oviedo UniversityMieresSpain
| | - Kim G. Mortega
- Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative MedicineUniversity of GlasgowGlasgowUK
- Department of Migration and Immunoecology, Max‐Planck‐Institut für OrnithologieRadolfzellGermany
- Museum für Naturkunde—Leibniz‐Institut für Evolutions‐und BiodiversitätsforschungBerlinGermany
| | - Zachary Sisson
- Department of BiologyBucknell UniversityLewisburgPennsylvania
| | - Patrick Smiddy
- School of Biological, Earth and Environmental SciencesUniversity College CorkCorkIreland
| | - Barbara Helm
- Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative MedicineUniversity of GlasgowGlasgowUK
- Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences (GELIFES)University of GroningenGroningenThe Netherlands
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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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López-Arrabé J, Monaghan P, Cantarero A, Boner W, Pérez-Rodríguez L, Moreno J. Sex-Specific Associations between Telomere Dynamics and Oxidative Status in Adult and Nestling Pied Flycatchers. Physiol Biochem Zool 2018; 91:868-877. [PMID: 29547348 DOI: 10.1086/697294] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
Oxidative stress can contribute to an acceleration of telomere erosion, leading to cellular senescence and aging. Increased investment in reproduction is known to accelerate senescence, generally resulting in reduced future reproductive potential and survival. To better understand the role played by oxidative status and telomere dynamics in the conflict between maintenance and reproduction, it is important to determine how these factors are related in parents and their offspring. We investigated the relationship between oxidative status and telomere measurements in pied flycatchers (Ficedula hypoleuca). Total antioxidant status (TAS) in plasma, total levels of glutathione in red blood cells (RBCs), and oxidative damage in plasma lipids (malondialdehyde [MDA]) were assessed in both parents and nestlings. Telomeres were measured in RBCs in adults. Our results showed sex differences in oxidative variables in adults that are likely to be mediated by sex steroids, with testosterone and estrogens increasing and reducing, respectively, the production of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species. We found a negative association between telomere length (TL) and MDA in adults in the previous season. Moreover, TL was positively associated with TAS in females, while telomere shortening (ΔTL) correlated positively with MDA in males in the current year. These associations could be reflecting differences between sexes in reproductive physiology. We found a positive correlation between parental ΔTL and nestling MDA, an example of how parental physiological aging could affect offspring quality in terms of oxidative stress that highlights the constraints imposed by higher rates of ΔTL during reproduction and rearing.
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Cram DL, Monaghan P, Gillespie R, Dantzer B, Duncan C, Spence-Jones H, Clutton-Brock T. Rank-Related Contrasts in Longevity Arise from Extra-Group Excursions Not Delayed Senescence in a Cooperative Mammal. Curr Biol 2018; 28:2934-2939.e4. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2018.07.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2018] [Revised: 05/14/2018] [Accepted: 07/08/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
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Johns ME, Warzybok P, Bradley RW, Jahncke J, Lindberg M, Breed GA. Increased reproductive investment associated with greater survival and longevity in Cassin's auklets. Proc Biol Sci 2018; 285:rspb.2018.1464. [PMID: 30158312 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2018.1464] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2018] [Accepted: 08/03/2018] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Individuals increase lifetime reproductive output through a trade-off between investment in future survival and immediate reproductive success. This pattern may be obscured in certain higher quality individuals that possess greater reproductive potential. The Cassin's auklet (Ptychoramphus aleuticus) is a long-lived species where some individuals exhibit greater reproductive ability through a behaviour called double brooding. Here, we analyse 32 years of breeding histories from marked known-age auklets to test whether double brooding increases lifetime fitness despite the increased mortality and reduced lifespan higher reproductive effort would be expected to incur. Multistate mark-recapture modelling revealed that double brooding was strongly positively associated with higher annual survival and longevity. The mean (95% confidence interval) apparent survival was 0.69 (0.21, 0.91) for individuals that executed a single brood and 0.96 (0.84, 0.99) for those that double-brooded. Generalized linear mixed models indicated individuals that attempted multiple double broods over their lifetime were able to produce on average seven times as many chicks and live nearly 6 years longer than birds that never attempted a double brood. We found that high-quality individuals exhibited both increased reproductive effort and longevity, where heterogeneity in individual quality masked expected life-history trade-offs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael E Johns
- Department of Biology and Wildlife and Institute of Arctic Biology, University of Alaska Fairbanks, PO Box 756100, Fairbanks, AK 99775, USA .,Point Blue Conservation Science, 3820 Cypress Drive, Suite 11, Petaluma, CA 94954, USA
| | - Pete Warzybok
- Point Blue Conservation Science, 3820 Cypress Drive, Suite 11, Petaluma, CA 94954, USA
| | - Russell W Bradley
- Point Blue Conservation Science, 3820 Cypress Drive, Suite 11, Petaluma, CA 94954, USA
| | - Jaime Jahncke
- Point Blue Conservation Science, 3820 Cypress Drive, Suite 11, Petaluma, CA 94954, USA
| | - Mark Lindberg
- Department of Biology and Wildlife and Institute of Arctic Biology, University of Alaska Fairbanks, PO Box 756100, Fairbanks, AK 99775, USA
| | - Greg A Breed
- Department of Biology and Wildlife and Institute of Arctic Biology, University of Alaska Fairbanks, PO Box 756100, Fairbanks, AK 99775, USA
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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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Grunst AS, Grunst ML, Formica VA, Korody ML, Betuel AM, Barcelo-Serra M, Ford S, Gonser RA, Tuttle EM. Morph-Specific Patterns of Reproductive Senescence: Connections to Discrete Reproductive Strategies. Am Nat 2018; 191:744-755. [PMID: 29750559 DOI: 10.1086/697377] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
How reproductive strategies contribute to patterns of senescence in natural populations remains contentious. We studied reproductive senescence in the dimorphic white-throated sparrow, an excellent species for exploring this issue. Within both sexes the morphs use distinct reproductive strategies, and disassortative pairing by morph results in pair types with distinct parental systems. White morph birds are more colorful and aggressive than tan counterparts, and white males compete for extrapair matings, whereas tan males are more parental. Tan males and white females share parental care equally, whereas white males provide little parental support to tan females. We found morph-specific patterns of reproductive senescence in both sexes. White males exhibited greater reproductive senescence than tan males. This result likely reflects the difficulty of sustaining a highly competitive reproductive strategy as aging progresses rather than high physiological costs of competitiveness, since white males were also long-lived. Moreover, morph was not consistently related to reproductive senescence across the sexes, arguing against especially high costs of the traits associated with white morph identity. Rather, tan females exhibited earlier reproductive senescence than white females and were short-lived, perhaps reflecting the challenges of unsupported motherhood. Results underscore the importance of social dynamics in determining patterns of reproductive senescence.
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Costantini D. Meta-analysis reveals that reproductive strategies are associated with sexual differences in oxidative balance across vertebrates. Curr Zool 2018; 64:1-11. [PMID: 29492033 PMCID: PMC5809033 DOI: 10.1093/cz/zox002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2016] [Accepted: 01/16/2017] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Oxidative stress is a key physiological mechanism underlying life-history tradeoffs. Here, I use meta-analytic techniques to test whether sexual differences in oxidative balance are common in vertebrates and to identify which factors are associated with such differences. The dataset included 732 effect size estimates from 100 articles (82 species). Larger unsigned effect size (meaning larger sexual differences in a given marker) occurred in: reptiles and fish; those species that do not provide parental care; and oviparous species. Estimates of signed effect size (positive values meaning higher oxidative stress in males) indicated that females were less resistant to oxidative stress than males in: reptiles while males and females were similar in fish, birds, and mammals; those species that do not provide parental care; and oviparous species. There was no evidence for a significant sexual differentiation in oxidative balance in fish, birds, and mammals. Effect size was not associated with: the number of offspring; whether the experimental animals were reproducing or not; biomarker (oxidative damage, non-enzymatic, or enzymatic antioxidant), the species body mass; the strain (wild vs. domestic); or the study environment (wild vs. captivity). Oxidative stress tended to be higher in females than males across most of the tissues analyzed. Levels of residual heterogeneity were high in all models tested. The findings of this meta-analysis indicate that diversification of reproductive strategies might be associated with sexual differences in oxidative balance. This explorative meta-analysis offers a starting platform for future research to investigate the relationship between sex and oxidative balance further.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Costantini
- UMR 7221, Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, 7 rue Cuvier 75231 Paris Cedex 05, France
- Department of Evolutionary Ecology, Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Alfred-Kowalke-Str. 17, Berlin 10315, Germany
- Behavioural Ecology & Ecophysiology Group, Department of Biology, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, Wilrijk 2610, Belgium
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Viblanc VA, Schull Q, Roth JD, Rabdeau J, Saraux C, Uhlrich P, Criscuolo F, Dobson FS. Maternal oxidative stress and reproduction: Testing the constraint, cost and shielding hypotheses in a wild mammal. Funct Ecol 2018. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2435.13032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Quentin Schull
- Université de Strasbourg CNRS IPHC UMR 7178 Strasbourg France
| | - Jeffrey D. Roth
- Department of Biological Sciences Auburn University Auburn AL USA
| | | | - Claire Saraux
- UMR MARBEC IFREMER (Institut Français de Recherche pour l'Exploitation de la Mer) Sète France
| | - Pierre Uhlrich
- Université de Strasbourg CNRS IPHC UMR 7178 Strasbourg France
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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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Boonekamp JJ, Bauch C, Mulder E, Verhulst S. Does oxidative stress shorten telomeres? Biol Lett 2017; 13:rsbl.2017.0164. [PMID: 28468913 DOI: 10.1098/rsbl.2017.0164] [Citation(s) in RCA: 81] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2017] [Accepted: 04/06/2017] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Oxidative stress shortens telomeres in cell culture, but whether oxidative stress explains variation in telomere shortening in vivo at physiological oxidative stress levels is not well known. We therefore tested for correlations between six oxidative stress markers and telomere attrition in nestling birds (jackdaws Corvus monedula) that show a high rate of telomere attrition in early life. Telomere attrition was measured between ages 5 and 30 days, and was highly variable (average telomere loss: 323 bp, CV = 45%). Oxidative stress markers were measured in blood at age 20 days and included markers of oxidative damage (TBARS, dROMs and GSSG) and markers of antioxidant protection (GSH, redox state, uric acid). Variation in telomere attrition was not significantly related to these oxidative stress markers (|r| ≤ 0.08, n = 87). This finding raises the question whether oxidative stress accelerates telomere attrition in vivo The accumulation of telomere attrition over time depends both on the number of cell divisions and on the number of base pairs lost per DNA replication and, based on our findings, we suggest that in a growing animal cell proliferation, dynamics may be more important for explaining variation in telomere attrition than oxidative stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jelle J Boonekamp
- Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen, PO Box 11103, 9700 CC Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Christina Bauch
- Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen, PO Box 11103, 9700 CC Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Ellis Mulder
- Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen, PO Box 11103, 9700 CC Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Simon Verhulst
- Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen, PO Box 11103, 9700 CC Groningen, The Netherlands
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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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43
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Noreikiene K, Öst M, Seltmann M, Boner W, Monaghan P, Jaatinen K. Nest cover and faecal glucocorticoid metabolites are linked to hatching success and telomere length in breeding Common Eiders (Somateria mollissima). CAN J ZOOL 2017. [DOI: 10.1139/cjz-2016-0242] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Habitat-associated crypsis may affect perceived predation vulnerability, selecting for different predator avoidance strategies. Glucocorticoids could mediate the adjustment of escape responses to the extent of crypsis, introducing an overlooked source of variation in glucocorticoid–fitness relationships. However, prolonged exposure to elevated glucocorticoids may be costly, leading to accelerated telomere loss and, consequently, senescence. Here, we examined how nest cover and immunoreactive faecal glucocorticoid metabolite (fGCM) levels are linked to hatching success and telomere length in breeding female Common Eiders (Somateria mollissima (L., 1758)). We hypothesized that the degree of nest crypsis, reflecting differences in perceived predation risk, would moderate the relationship between reproductive success and fGCM levels. We also expected that telomere length would be shorter in birds with higher glucocorticoid concentration. Results showed that individuals with high fGCM levels had higher hatching success in nests with low cover, while low fGCM levels were more successful in well-concealed nests. We found that shorter telomeres were associated with high fGCM in nesting sites offering little cover and with low fGCM in well-concealed ones. This study provides the first evidence of habitat-dependent moderation of the relationships between stress physiology, telomere length and hatching success.
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Affiliation(s)
- K. Noreikiene
- Ecological Genetics Research Unit, Department of Biosciences, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 65, FI-00014 Helsinki, Finland
| | - M. Öst
- Environmental and Marine Biology, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Åbo Akademi University, Artillerigatan 6, FI-20520 Turku, Finland; Novia University of Applied Sciences, Raseborgsvägen 9, FI-10600 Ekenäs, Finland
| | - M.W. Seltmann
- Department of Biology, University of Turku, FI-20014 Turku, Finland
| | - W. Boner
- Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative Medicine, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, Graham Kerr Building, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ, United Kingdom
| | - P. Monaghan
- Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative Medicine, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, Graham Kerr Building, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ, United Kingdom
| | - K. Jaatinen
- Tvärminne Zoological Station, University of Helsinki, J.A. Palménin tie 260, 10900 Hanko, Finland
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Cerchiara JA, Risques RA, Prunkard D, Smith JR, Kane OJ, Boersma PD. Magellanic penguin telomeres do not shorten with age with increased reproductive effort, investment, and basal corticosterone. Ecol Evol 2017; 7:5682-5691. [PMID: 28811878 PMCID: PMC5552965 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.3128] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2017] [Revised: 05/11/2017] [Accepted: 05/13/2017] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
All species should invest in systems that enhance longevity; however, a fundamental adult life‐history trade‐off exists between the metabolic resources allocated to maintenance and those allocated to reproduction. Long‐lived species will invest more in reproduction than in somatic maintenance as they age. We investigated this trade‐off by analyzing correlations among telomere length, reproductive effort and output, and basal corticosterone in Magellanic penguins (Spheniscus magellanicus). Telomeres shorten with age in most species studied to date, and may affect adult survival. High basal corticosterone is indicative of stressful conditions. Corticosterone, and stress, has been linked to telomere shortening in other species. Magellanic penguins are a particularly good model organism for this question as they are an unusually long‐lived species, exceeding their mass‐adjusted predicted lifespan by 26%. Contrary to our hypothesis, we found adults aged 5 years to over 24 years of age had similar telomere lengths. Telomeres of adults did not shorten over a 3‐year period, regardless of the age of the individual. Neither telomere length, nor the rate at which the telomeres changed over these 3 years, correlated with breeding frequency or investment. Older females also produced larger volume clutches until approximately 15 years old and larger eggs produced heavier fledglings. Furthermore, reproductive success (chicks fledged/eggs laid) is maintained as females aged. Basal corticosterone, however, was not correlated with telomere length in adults and suggests that low basal corticosterone may play a role in the telomere maintenance we observed. Basal corticosterone also declined during the breeding season and was positively correlated with the age of adult penguins. This higher basal corticosterone in older individuals, and consistent reproductive success, supports the prediction that Magellanic penguins invest more in reproduction as they age. Our results demonstrate that telomere maintenance may be a component of longevity even with increased reproductive effort, investment, and basal corticosterone.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jack A Cerchiara
- Center for Ecosystem Sentinals Department of BiologyUniversity of Washington Seattle WA USA
| | | | - Donna Prunkard
- Department of Pathology University of Washington Seattle WA USA
| | - Jeffrey R Smith
- Center for Ecosystem Sentinals Department of BiologyUniversity of Washington Seattle WA USA.,School of Environmental and Forest Sciences University of Washington Seattle WA USA
| | - Olivia J Kane
- Center for Ecosystem Sentinals Department of BiologyUniversity of Washington Seattle WA USA
| | - P Dee Boersma
- Center for Ecosystem Sentinals Department of BiologyUniversity of Washington Seattle WA USA.,Wildlife Conservation Society The Bronx Zoo New York City, NY USA
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45
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Soler JJ, Ruiz-Castellano C, Figuerola J, Martín-Vivaldi M, Martínez-de la Puente J, Ruiz-Rodríguez M, Tomás G. Telomere length and dynamics of spotless starling nestlings depend on nest-building materials used by parents. Anim Behav 2017. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2017.01.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
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46
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Noguera JC. Interacting effects of early dietary conditions and reproductive effort on the oxidative costs of reproduction. PeerJ 2017; 5:e3094. [PMID: 28316895 PMCID: PMC5354074 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.3094] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2016] [Accepted: 02/15/2017] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The hypothesis that oxidative damage accumulation can mediate the trade-off between reproduction and lifespan has recently been questioned. However, in captive conditions, studies reporting no evidence in support of this hypothesis have usually provided easy access to food which may have mitigated the cost of reproduction. Here, I test the hypothesis that greater investment in reproduction should lead to oxidative damage accumulation and telomere loss in domestic zebra finches Taeniopygia guttata. Moreover, since the change or fluctuation in diet composition between early and late postnatal period can impair the ability to produce antioxidant defences in zebra finches, I also tested if early nutritional conditions (constant vs fluctuating early diet) influenced the magnitude of any subsequent costs of reproduction (e.g., oxidative damage and/or telomere shortening). In comparison to pairs with reduced broods, the birds that had to feed enlarged broods showed a higher level of oxidative DNA damage (8-OHdG), but brood size had no effect on telomeres. Fluctuating early diet composition reduced the capacity to maintain the activity of endogenous antioxidants (GPx), particularly when reproductive costs were increased (enlarged brood). The decline in GPx in birds feeding enlarged broods was accompanied by a change in bill colouration. This suggests that birds with lower endogenous antioxidant defences might have strategically increased the mobilization of antioxidants previously stored in other tissues (i.e., bill and liver) and thus, preventing an excessive accumulation of damage during reproduction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jose Carlos Noguera
- Departamento de Ecología y Biología Animal, Universidad de Vigo , Vigo , Galicia , Spain
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47
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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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48
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Watson RL, Bird EJ, Underwood S, Wilbourn RV, Fairlie J, Watt K, Salvo-Chirnside E, Pilkington JG, Pemberton JM, McNeilly TN, Froy H, Nussey DH. Sex differences in leucocyte telomere length in a free-living mammal. Mol Ecol 2017; 26:3230-3240. [PMID: 28027420 PMCID: PMC5484296 DOI: 10.1111/mec.13992] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2016] [Revised: 11/30/2016] [Accepted: 12/05/2016] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Mounting evidence suggests that average telomere length reflects previous stress and predicts subsequent survival across vertebrate species. In humans, leucocyte telomere length (LTL) is consistently shorter during adulthood in males than in females, although the causes of this sex difference and its generality to other mammals remain unknown. Here, we measured LTL in a cross‐sectional sample of free‐living Soay sheep and found shorter telomeres in males than in females in later adulthood (>3 years of age), but not in early life. This observation was not related to sex differences in growth or parasite burden, but we did find evidence for reduced LTL associated with increased horn growth in early life in males. Variation in LTL was independent of variation in the proportions of different leucocyte cell types, which are known to differ in telomere length. Our results provide the first evidence of sex differences in LTL from a wild mammal, but longitudinal studies are now required to determine whether telomere attrition rates or selective disappearance are responsible for these observed differences. see also the Perspective by Dantzer and Garratt
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca L Watson
- Institute of Evolutionary Biology, Ashworth Laboratories, University of Edinburgh, The King's Buildings, Charlotte Auerbach Road, Edinburgh, EH9 3FL, UK
| | - Ellen J Bird
- Institute of Evolutionary Biology, Ashworth Laboratories, University of Edinburgh, The King's Buildings, Charlotte Auerbach Road, Edinburgh, EH9 3FL, UK
| | - Sarah Underwood
- Institute of Evolutionary Biology, Ashworth Laboratories, University of Edinburgh, The King's Buildings, Charlotte Auerbach Road, Edinburgh, EH9 3FL, UK
| | - Rachael V Wilbourn
- Institute of Evolutionary Biology, Ashworth Laboratories, University of Edinburgh, The King's Buildings, Charlotte Auerbach Road, Edinburgh, EH9 3FL, UK
| | - Jennifer Fairlie
- Institute of Evolutionary Biology, Ashworth Laboratories, University of Edinburgh, The King's Buildings, Charlotte Auerbach Road, Edinburgh, EH9 3FL, UK
| | - Kathryn Watt
- Institute of Evolutionary Biology, Ashworth Laboratories, University of Edinburgh, The King's Buildings, Charlotte Auerbach Road, Edinburgh, EH9 3FL, UK
| | - Eliane Salvo-Chirnside
- SynthSys, University of Edinburgh, The King's Buildings, Waddington Building, Max Bourne Crescent, Edinburgh, EH9 3BF, UK
| | - Jill G Pilkington
- Institute of Evolutionary Biology, Ashworth Laboratories, University of Edinburgh, The King's Buildings, Charlotte Auerbach Road, Edinburgh, EH9 3FL, UK
| | - Josephine M Pemberton
- Institute of Evolutionary Biology, Ashworth Laboratories, University of Edinburgh, The King's Buildings, Charlotte Auerbach Road, Edinburgh, EH9 3FL, UK
| | - Tom N McNeilly
- Moredun Research Institute, Pentlands Science Park, Bush Loan, Midlothian, EH26 0PZ, UK
| | - Hannah Froy
- Institute of Evolutionary Biology, Ashworth Laboratories, University of Edinburgh, The King's Buildings, Charlotte Auerbach Road, Edinburgh, EH9 3FL, UK
| | - Daniel H Nussey
- Institute of Evolutionary Biology, Ashworth Laboratories, University of Edinburgh, The King's Buildings, Charlotte Auerbach Road, Edinburgh, EH9 3FL, UK
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49
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Gangoso L, Lambertucci SA, Cabezas S, Alarcón PAE, Wiemeyer GM, Sanchez‐Zapata JA, Blanco G, Hiraldo F, Donázar JA. Sex‐dependent spatial structure of telomere length in a wild long‐lived scavenger. Ecosphere 2016. [DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.1544] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Laura Gangoso
- Estación Biológica de Doñana CSIC C/Américo Vespucio s/n E‐41092 Sevilla Spain
| | - Sergio A. Lambertucci
- Grupo de Biología de la Conservación Laboratorio Ecotono INIBIOMA (CONICET‐National University of Comahue) Quintral 1250, Centro Regional Universitario Bariloche 8400 Bariloche Argentina
| | - Sonia Cabezas
- Estación Biológica de Doñana CSIC C/Américo Vespucio s/n E‐41092 Sevilla Spain
- University of Saskatchewan 72 Campus Drive SK S7N 5E2 Saskatoon Canada
| | - Pablo A. E. Alarcón
- Grupo de Biología de la Conservación Laboratorio Ecotono INIBIOMA (CONICET‐National University of Comahue) Quintral 1250, Centro Regional Universitario Bariloche 8400 Bariloche Argentina
- The Peregrine Fund 5668 West Flying Hawk Lane Boise Idaho 83709 USA
| | - Guillermo M. Wiemeyer
- The Peregrine Fund 5668 West Flying Hawk Lane Boise Idaho 83709 USA
- Jardín Zoológico de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires (CABA) Avenida Sarmiento and Avenida Las Heras CP1425 Buenos Aires Argentina
| | - José A. Sanchez‐Zapata
- University Miguel Hernández Avinguda de la Universitat d'Elx, s/n E‐03202 Alicante Spain
| | - Guillermo Blanco
- National Museum of Natural Sciences CSIC C/José Gutiérrez Abascal 2 E‐28006 Madrid Spain
| | - Fernando Hiraldo
- Estación Biológica de Doñana CSIC C/Américo Vespucio s/n E‐41092 Sevilla Spain
| | - José A. Donázar
- Estación Biológica de Doñana CSIC C/Américo Vespucio s/n E‐41092 Sevilla Spain
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50
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Bauch C, Riechert J, Verhulst S, Becker PH. Telomere length reflects reproductive effort indicated by corticosterone levels in a long-lived seabird. Mol Ecol 2016; 25:5785-5794. [PMID: 27696588 DOI: 10.1111/mec.13874] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2015] [Revised: 09/13/2016] [Accepted: 09/16/2016] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Telomere length (TL) is a candidate biomarker of ageing and phenotypic quality, but little is known of the (physiological) causes of TL variation. We previously showed that individual common terns Sterna hirundo with high reproductive success had short telomeres independent of age, and this pattern was particularly strong in the longer telomeres of the within-individual TL distribution. To test whether this relation can be attributed to effects of reproductive effort, we investigated baseline corticosterone in relation to reproductive success (number of fledglings) and TL. In this context, we assume that variation in baseline corticosterone can be interpreted as index of energy expenditure and allostatic load. Males with higher corticosterone levels during incubation, compared between and within individuals, achieved higher reproductive success and had shorter telomeres. The effect on telomeres was more pronounced in corticosterone measured later in incubation and in the longer telomeres of the within-individual TL distribution. Female corticosterone level during incubation was neither related to reproductive success nor to TL. That we observed these effects only in males mirrors different parental roles during reproduction in the common tern, where males do most of the chick provisioning. The negative association between reproductive success and TL suggests individual differences in reproductive effort as reflected in, or mediated by, baseline corticosterone. We see this result as a promising step towards unravelling the physiological causes of variation in TL and the costs of reproduction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christina Bauch
- Behavioural and Physiological Ecology, Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 7, 9747AG, Groningen, The Netherlands.,Institute of Avian Research "Vogelwarte Helgoland", An der Vogelwarte 21, 26386, Wilhelmshaven, Germany
| | - Juliane Riechert
- Institute of Avian Research "Vogelwarte Helgoland", An der Vogelwarte 21, 26386, Wilhelmshaven, Germany
| | - Simon Verhulst
- Behavioural and Physiological Ecology, Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 7, 9747AG, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Peter H Becker
- Institute of Avian Research "Vogelwarte Helgoland", An der Vogelwarte 21, 26386, Wilhelmshaven, Germany
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