Chronological and Biological Age Predict Seasonal Reproductive Timing: An Investigation of Clutch Initiation and Telomeres in Birds of Known Age

The American Naturalist
Carolyn M BauerTimothy J Greives

Abstract

Female vertebrates that breed earlier in the season generally have greater reproductive success. However, evidence suggests that breeding early may be costly, thus leading to the prediction that females with fewer future reproductive events will breed earlier in the season. While chronological age is a good indicator of remaining life span, telomere lengths may also be good biomarkers of longevity as they potentially reflect lifetime wear and tear (i.e., biological age). We examined whether variation in the timing of the first seasonal clutch was related to age and telomere length in female dark-eyed juncos (Junco hyemalis), predicting that older females and those with shorter telomeres would breed earlier. Both predictions held true and were independent of each other, as telomere length did not significantly vary with age. These results suggest that females may adjust their reproductive effort based on both chronological and biological age.

Citations

Dec 20, 2018·Molecular Ecology·Jessica L GrahamTimothy J Greives
Feb 23, 2019·BioEssays : News and Reviews in Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology·Mathieu GiraudeauTuul Sepp
Oct 3, 2019·BioEssays : News and Reviews in Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology·Joanna Sudyka
Dec 24, 2018·Molecular Ecology Resources·Ricardo De Paoli-IseppiSimon N Jarman
Sep 17, 2020·Diagnostics·Polina GiannelouKonstantinos Sfakianoudis
May 29, 2021·Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences·Agni PantouKonstantinos Sfakianoudis
Aug 27, 2021·Molecular Ecology·Florentin RemotJean-François Lemaitre

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