The untapped potential of reptile biodiversity for understanding how and why animals age

Functional Ecology, Journal Year: 2019, Volume and Issue: 34(1), P. 38 - 54

Published: Sept. 9, 2019

1. The field of comparative aging biology has greatly expanded in the past 20 years. Longitudinal studies populations reptiles with a range maximum lifespans have accumulated and been analyzed for evidence mortality senescence reproductive decline. While not as well represented amniote senescence, subjects many recent demographic mechanistic aging. 2. We review literature on reptile mechanisms identify unanswered questions. Given ecophysiological diversity reptiles, what is expected rates? Are known consistent canonical hallmarks model systems? What are knowledge gaps our understanding aging? 3. find ample increasing advancing age reptiles. Testudines stand out slower than other orders, but data crocodilians tuatara sparse. Sex-specific analyses generally available. Studies female reproduction suggest that less likely to decline mammals. 4. Reptiles share physiological molecular pathways mammals, birds, laboratory organisms. Adaptations related stress physiology coupled reptilian ectothermy novel comparisons contrasts can be made phenotypes These include stem cell regeneration biology, homeostatic mechanisms, IIS/TOR signaling, DNA repair. 5. To overcome challenges study aging, we recommend extending expanding long-term monitoring populations, developing lines aid cellular conducting more morphology sampled along relevant life-history axes, sequencing genomes genomics. life histories adaptations, achieving these directives will benefit all biology.

Language: Английский

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Linking energy availability, movement and sociality in a wild primate ( Papio ursinus )

Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 379(1916)

Published: Oct. 28, 2024

Proximate mechanisms of ‘social ageing’, i.e. shifts in social activity and narrowing networks, are understudied. It is proposed that energetic deficiencies (which often seen older individuals) may restrict movement and, turn, sociality, but empirical tests these intermediary lacking. Here, we study wild chacma baboons ( Papio ursinus ), combining measures faecal triiodothyronine (fT3), a non-invasive proxy for energy availability, high-resolution GPS data (movement proximity) accelerometry (social grooming durations). Higher (individual mean-centred) fT3 was associated with increased residency time (i.e. remaining the same area longer), which, positively related to opportunities close physical proximity). Individuals more frequent received grooming, whereas given, moderated this effect, suggesting an cost giving grooming. While our results support spirit hypothesis, directionality relationship between availability unexpected suggests lower-energy individuals use strategies reduce costs intermittent locomotion. Thus, future work should consider whether age-related declines sociality be by-product strategy conserve energy. This article part discussion meeting issue ‘Understanding age society using natural populations’.

Language: Английский

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Future Directions for Personality Research: Contributing New Insights to the Understanding of Animal Behavior

Animals, Journal Year: 2019, Volume and Issue: 9(5), P. 240 - 240

Published: May 15, 2019

As part of the European Conference on Behavioral Biology 2018, we organized a symposium entitled, “Animal personality: providing new insights into behavior?” The aims this were to address current research in personality field, spanning both behavioral ecology and psychology, highlight future directions for research, consider whether differential approaches studying behavior contribute something understanding animal behavior. In paper, discuss study endocrinology ontogeny how variation is generated maintained, despite selection pressures assumed reduce variation. We potential mechanisms that could link certain traits fitness outcomes through longevity cognition. also role individual differences stress coping, mortality, health risk, these relationships be applied improve welfare. From provided by topics, assert lens has encourage further directions, across interdisciplinary field.

Language: Английский

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Anthropogenic interferences lead to gut microbiome dysbiosis in Asian elephants and may alter adaptation processes to surrounding environments

Scientific Reports, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 11(1)

Published: Jan. 12, 2021

Abstract Human activities interfere with wild animals and lead to the loss of many animal populations. Therefore, efforts have been made understand how wildlife can rebound from anthropogenic disturbances. An essential mechanism adapt environmental social changes is fluctuations in host gut microbiome. Here we give a comprehensive description anthropogenically induced microbiome alterations Asian elephants (n = 30). We detected microbial due overseas translocation, captivity deworming. found that microbes belonging Planococcaceae had highest contribution after while Clostridiaceae , Spirochaetaceae Bacteroidia were most affected captivity. However, deworming significantly changed abundance Flavobacteriaceae Sphingobacteriaceae Xanthomonadaceae Weeksellaceae Burkholderiaceae . These findings may provide fundamental ideas help guide preservation tactics probiotic replacement therapies dysbiosed elephants. More generally, these results show severity at level microbiome, altering adaptation processes new environments subsequent capability maintain normal physiological animals.

Language: Английский

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Long-term trends in wild-capture and population dynamics point to an uncertain future for captive elephants

Proceedings of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences, Journal Year: 2019, Volume and Issue: 286(1899), P. 20182810 - 20182810

Published: March 22, 2019

Maintaining sustainable populations in captivity without supplementation through wild-capture is a major challenge conservation that zoos and aquaria are working towards. However, the capture of wild animals continues for many purposes where not primary focus. Wild-capture hinders long-term goals by reducing remaining populations, but direct indirect consequences captive population viability rarely addressed using longitudinal data. We explored implications changes on dynamics over 54 years multi-generational studbook Asian elephants ( Elephas maximus) from Myanmar, largest elephant population. Here we show growth birth rates declined between 1960 2014 with declines wild-capture. Importantly, wild-caught females had reduced higher mortality risk. despite disadvantages wild-capture, may be it, immediate owing to an unstable age-structure last 50 years. Our results highlight need assess demographic ensure sustainability as species increasingly managed conserved altered or novel environments.

Language: Английский

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Current and Future Approaches to Mitigate Conflict between Humans and Asian Elephants: The Potential Use of Aversive Geofencing Devices

Animals, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 12(21), P. 2965 - 2965

Published: Oct. 28, 2022

Asian elephants are a principal cause of human-wildlife conflict. This results in the death/injury and humans large-scale crop property damage. Most current human-elephant conflict (HEC) mitigation tools lack flexibility to accommodate ecological needs ineffective at reducing HEC long-term. Here we review common used Asia potential Aversive Geofencing Devices (AGDs) manage problem elephants. AGDs can be configured monitor animal movements real-time deliver auditory warnings followed by electric stimuli whenever animals attempt move across user-specified virtual boundaries. Thus, expected condition avoid receiving shocks keep them away from virtually fenced areas, while providing alternative routes that modified if required. Studies conducted using with other species provide an overview their conditioning wild animals. We recommend efficacy welfare impact evaluated captive along public perception on as means addressing inherent deficiencies tools. If could successfully conditioned fences, then resolve many incidents throughout Asia.

Language: Английский

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Chains of Commerce: A Comprehensive Review of Animal Welfare Impacts in the International Wildlife Trade

Animals, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 15(7), P. 971 - 971

Published: March 27, 2025

The commercial wildlife trade involves billions of animals each year, consumed for various purposes, including food, fashion, entertainment, traditional medicine, and pets. experiences the involved vary widely, with negative welfare states being commonplace. To highlight broad scope animal impacts across trade, we present ten case studies featuring a range species traded globally different purposes: (1) Ball pythons captured farmed to serve as pets; (2) Zebrafish captive bred (3) African Grey Parrots taken from wild pet industry; (4) Sharks de-finned medicine; (5) Pangolins hunted (6) Crickets food feed; (7) Frogs wild-caught frog-leg trade; (8) Crocodilians killed their skins; (9) Lions tourism; (10) Elephants held tourism. demonstrate that commercially can suffer ranging chronic stress depression frustration extreme hunger. individuals hundreds billions, suffering last lifetime. Given issues identified growing recognition scientific evidence sentience, propose reducing redirecting consumer demand these consumptive practices negatively impact animals.

Language: Английский

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Maternal age at birth shapes offspring life‐history trajectory across generations in long‐lived Asian elephants

Journal of Animal Ecology, Journal Year: 2019, Volume and Issue: 89(4), P. 996 - 1007

Published: June 21, 2019

Advanced maternal age at birth can have pronounced consequences for offspring health, survival and reproduction. If carried over to the next generation, such fitness effects could important implications population dynamics evolution of ageing, but these remain poorly understood. While many laboratory studies investigated effects, relatively few been conducted in natural populations, they usually only present a "snapshot" an offspring's lifetime. In study, we focus on how influences life-history trajectories performance long-lived mammal. We use multigenerational demographic dataset semi-captive Asian elephants investigate several traits: condition, reproductive success overall survival. show that born older mothers display reduced higher success, their own progeny. Our results evidence persistent effect across generations By highlighting transgenerational generation associated with age, study helps increase our understanding factors contributing individual variation ageing rates fitness.

Language: Английский

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Asian elephants exhibit post-reproductive lifespans

BMC Evolutionary Biology, Journal Year: 2019, Volume and Issue: 19(1)

Published: Oct. 21, 2019

The existence of extended post-reproductive lifespan is an evolutionary puzzle, and its taxonomic prevalence debated. One way measuring life with representation, the proportion adult years lived by females after cessation reproduction. Analyses representation in mammals have claimed that only humans some toothed whale species exhibit life, but there are suggestions a stage for false killer whales Asian elephants. Here, we investigate presence elephants using demographic dataset collected from semi-captive timber Myanmar. Furthermore, sensitivity values to availability long-term data over 50 years.We find support elephants, underlying rates depend on length study period long-lived animal.The unlikely due physiological reproductive cessation, may instead be driven mating preferences or condition-dependent fertility. Our results also show it crucial revisit such population measures as more collected, if typical exceeds initial period.

Language: Английский

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Taming age mortality in semi-captive Asian elephants

Scientific Reports, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: 10(1)

Published: Feb. 5, 2020

Understanding factors preventing populations of endangered species from being self-sustaining is vital for successful conservation, but we often lack sufficient data to understand dynamics. The global Asian elephant population has halved since the 1950s, however >25% currently live in captivity and effective management essential maintain viable populations. Here, study largest semi-captive population, those Myanma timber industry (~20% captive population), whose growth heavily limited by juvenile mortality. We assess associated with increased mortality calves aged 4.0-5.5 years, taming age Myanmar, a process affecting ~15,000 elephants varying degrees worldwide. Using longitudinal survival 1,947 taming-aged spanning 43 showed that calf risk >50% at four, peak not seen previous studies on wild African elephants. Calves tamed younger ages experienced higher risk, as did less mothers. Taming-age greatly improved after 2000, tripling 1970's. Management should focus reducing risks faced vulnerable individuals such young first-born further improve survival. Changes reduced here are important targets improving sustainability

Language: Английский

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