A simulated heat wave shortens the telomere length and lifespan of a desert lizard

Journal of Thermal Biology
Qiong ZhangWei-Guo Du

Abstract

Understanding how organisms respond to warming contributes important information to the conservation of biodiversity that is threatened by climate warming. Here, we conducted experiments on a desert agama (Phrynocephalus przewalskii) to test the hypothesis that climate warming (an increase in both mean temperature and heat waves) would induce oxidative stress, shortening telomere length, and thereby decreasing survival. Our results demonstrated that one week of exposure to a simulated heat wave significantly shortened telomere length, and decreased the overwinter survival of lizards, but mean temperature increase did not affect the survival of lizards. However, the antioxidant capacity (anti-oxidative enzyme) was not affected by the warming treatments. Therefore, heat waves might have negative impacts on the desert agama, with shortened telomeres likely causing the lifespan of lizards to decrease under climate warming.

Citations

Nov 28, 2019·Ecology Letters·Marion ChatelainMarta Szulkin
Aug 25, 2020·Global Change Biology·Pablo BurracoNeil B Metcalfe
May 27, 2021·Proceedings. Biological Sciences·L J FitzpatrickE Wapstra
Aug 28, 2021·Molecular Ecology·Christopher R FriesenMats Olsson
Oct 24, 2021·Journal of Evolutionary Biology·Magdalena SpießbergerJulia Nowack

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