Frank Beach Award Winner: The centrality of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis in dealing with environmental change across temporal scales

Hormones and Behavior, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 150, P. 105311 - 105311

Published: Jan. 25, 2023

Language: Английский

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Longitudinal telomere dynamics within natural lifespans of a wild bird

Scientific Reports, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 13(1)

Published: March 15, 2023

Abstract Telomeres, the nucleotide sequences that protect ends of eukaryotic chromosomes, shorten with each cell division and telomere loss may be influenced by environmental factors. Telomere length (TL) decreases age in several species, but little is known about sources genetic variation change TL (∆TL) wild animals. In this study, we tracked changes throughout natural lifespan (from a few months to almost 9 years) free-living house sparrows ( Passer domesticus ) two different island populations. was measured nestlings subsequently up four times during their lifetime. generally decreased (senescence), also observed instances lengthening within individuals. We found some evidence for selective disappearance individuals shorter telomeres through life. Early-life positively predicted later-life TL, within-individual repeatability low (9.2%). Using pedigrees, moderate heritability ∆TL h 2 = 0.21), which higher than heritabilities early-life 0.14) measurements 0.15). Cohort effects explained considerable proportions (60%), (53%), (37%), suggests persistent impacts environment on lifelong dynamics. Individual were independent TL. Finally, there weak population differences linked ecological habitat types. Combined, our results show individual biology highly dynamic both conditions.

Language: Английский

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Sibling similarity in telomere length in Adélie penguin chicks

Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology Part A Molecular & Integrative Physiology, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown, P. 111818 - 111818

Published: Jan. 1, 2025

Language: Английский

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Sex and early-life conditions shape telomere dynamics in an ectotherm

Journal of Experimental Biology, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 227(3)

Published: Jan. 17, 2024

ABSTRACT Telomeres, the repetitive DNA regions that protect ends of chromosomes, and their shortening have been linked to key life history trade-offs among growth, reproduction lifespan. In contrast most endotherms, many ectotherms can compensate for telomere throughout by upregulation telomerase in somatic tissues. However, during development, marked rapid growth an increased sensitivity extrinsic factors, may be overwhelmed, resulting long-term impacts on dynamics. ectotherms, one factor play a particularly important role development is temperature. Here, we investigated influence developmental temperature sex early-life dynamics oviparous ectotherm, Lacerta agilis. While there was no effect length at hatching, were subsequent effects maintenance capacity, with individuals incubated warm temperatures exhibiting less compared cool-incubated individuals. Telomere also sexually dimorphic, females having longer telomeres greater males. We suggest selection drives this sexual dimorphism maintenance, which maximise lifetime reproductive success investing traits promoting longevity such as while males invest short-term gains through polygynous mating behaviour. These effects, therefore, potential mediate life-long changes histories.

Language: Английский

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Fear of predators reduces body and physiological condition affecting offspring survival and the ‘quality’ of the survivors

Functional Ecology, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 38(5), P. 1061 - 1074

Published: March 31, 2024

Abstract Predators affect the survival of developing young by eating them. More recently, fear being eaten has been uncovered as a powerful driver offspring reducing recruited numbers 53%, but mechanisms driving these effects are not well understood. We exposed song sparrows to predator or non‐predator playbacks throughout three breeding seasons. followed eggs through development and into maturity. quantified repercussions reared in fearful environment on body (fat, mass, size) physiological condition using 12 different measures categorized six systems (oxygen carrying capacity, energy reserves, immune function, antioxidant protection, oxidative stress/damage, glucocorticoids). further tracked nest maturity determined which significantly predicted survival. report that predators affected at all stages life, with consequences. Predator‐playback hatched from heavier (8%) quickly lost this advantage never regained it. Nestlings ‘frightened’ parents were heavy much leaner than playback nestlings. This pattern extended where frightened up 31% 5% lighter. nestlings also evidently poorer condition, having shorter telomeres, while late dependency stage fledglings carried relatively less uric acid more haptoglobin perhaps indicative chronic susceptibility infection. Only (mass fat) during peak mortality periods (nestling early fledging), leanest lightest predator‐playback treatment least likely survive. Thereafter, mass irrespective treatment. Similarly, later stage, telomere loss high levels survived best regardless group. Our findings reveal is potent form life adversity persistently alters affecting ‘quality’ survivors their life. Development fuelled food fear‐induced reductions parental provisioning earliest instigated effects, consequences population growth rate. Read free Plain Language Summary for article Journal blog.

Language: Английский

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Conceptual and analytical approaches for modelling the developmental origins of inequality

Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 378(1883)

Published: June 26, 2023

In many species, individuals that experience harsh conditions during development have poor health and fitness outcomes in adulthood, compared with peers do not. These early-life contributions to inequality are often attributed two classes of evolutionary hypotheses: Developmental Constraints (DC) models, which focus on the deleterious effects low-quality environments, Predictive Adaptive Response (PAR) hypotheses, emphasize costs incur when they make incorrect predictions about adulthood. Testing these hypotheses empirically is difficult for conceptual analytical reasons. Here, we help resolve some difficulties by providing mathematical definitions DC, PAR (particularly focusing 'external' PAR) related concepts. We propose a novel, quadratic regression-based statistical test derived from definitions. Our simulations show this approach markedly improves ability discriminate between DC relative status quo approach, uses interaction effects. Simulated data indicate conflates while regression yields high sensitivity specificity detecting PAR. results highlight value linking verbal visual models formal treatment understanding developmental origins inequitable adult outcomes. This article part theme issue 'Evolutionary ecology inequality'.

Language: Английский

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Why and when should organisms elongate their telomeres? Elaborations on the ‘excess resources elongation’ and ‘last resort elongation’ hypotheses

Ecology and Evolution, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 13(12)

Published: Dec. 1, 2023

Telomere length and telomere shortening are thought to be critical cellular attributes processes that related an individual's life span fitness. The general pattern across most taxa is after birth gradually decreases with age. protection restoration mechanisms usually assumed reduce the rate of or at keep constant. However, here we have compiled a list 26 articles showing there increasing number studies reporting apparent elongation telomeres (i.e., net increase in TL from time

Language: Английский

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Early Life Programming of Adipose Tissue Remodeling and Browning Capacity by Micronutrients and Bioactive Compounds as a Potential Anti-Obesity Strategy

Cells, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 13(10), P. 870 - 870

Published: May 18, 2024

The early stages of life, especially the period from conception to two years, are crucial for shaping metabolic health and risk obesity in adulthood. Adipose tissue (AT) plays a role regulating energy homeostasis metabolism, brown AT (BAT) browning white (WAT) promising targets combating weight gain. Nutritional factors during prenatal postnatal can influence development AT, affecting likelihood later on. This narrative review focuses on nutritional programming features. Research conducted across various animal models with diverse interventions has provided insights into effects specific compounds function, influencing structures neuroendocrine circuits responsible balance. hormone leptin been identified as an essential nutrient lactation healthy against adults. Studies have also highlighted that maternal supplementation polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), vitamin A, nicotinamide riboside, polyphenols pregnancy lactation, well offspring myo-inositol, resveratrol suckling period, impact features long-term outcomes help understand predisposition life.

Language: Английский

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Dietary nucleotides can prevent glucocorticoid‐induced telomere attrition in a fast‐growing wild vertebrate

Molecular Ecology, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 32(19), P. 5429 - 5447

Published: Sept. 2, 2023

Telomeres are chromosome protectors that shorten during eukaryotic cell replication and in stressful conditions. Developing individuals susceptible to telomere erosion when their growth is fast resources limited. This critical because the rate of attrition early life linked health span adults. The metabolic hypothesis (MeTA) suggests dynamics can respond biochemical signals conveying information about organism's energetic state. Among these glucocorticoids, hormones promote catabolic processes, potentially impairing costly maintenance, nucleotides, which activate anabolic pathways through cellular enzyme target rapamycin (TOR), thus preventing attrition. During energetically demanding phase, regulation telomeres response two contrasting - one promoting maintenance other provides an ideal experimental setting test MeTA. We studied nestlings a rapidly developing free-living passerine, great tit (Parus major), either received glucocorticoids (Cort-chicks), nucleotides (Nuc-chicks) or combination both (NucCort-chicks), comparing with controls (Cnt-chicks). As expected, Cort-chicks showed attrition, while NucCort- Nuc-chicks did not. NucCort-chicks was only group showing increased expression proxy for TOR activation (the gene TELO2), mitochondrial enzymes ATP production (cytochrome oxidase ATP-synthase) higher efficiency aerobically producing ATP. had also genes (shelterin protein TERF2 telomerase TERT) enzymatic antioxidant (glutathione peroxidase superoxide dismutase). findings show nucleotide availability crucial environments.

Language: Английский

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How does maternal age influence reproductive performance and offspring phenotype in the snow petrel (Pagodroma nivea)?

Oecologia, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 203(1-2), P. 63 - 78

Published: Oct. 1, 2023

Language: Английский

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