Sexual signals reflect telomere dynamics in a wild bird

Ecology and Evolution
C C Taff, Corey R Freeman-Gallant

Abstract

Telomere dynamics in natural populations have been linked to survival, reproduction, and energetic investment. Given their putative role in mediating life-history trade-offs, telomeres are also a likely candidate for maintaining honesty in sexually selected signals; few studies to date, however, have demonstrated a correlation between sexual signals and telomere dynamics. Here, we show that plumage coloration in male common yellowthroats (Geothlypis trichas) is correlated with both relative telomere length and with the rate of telomere loss between years. Elevated antioxidant capacity is also associated with reduced telomere loss, but only among older males. Previous work in this population has demonstrated that males with brighter plumage are in better condition, have higher reproductive success, and are more likely to survive over winter. Thus, the signal attribute associated with mate choice in this system also conveys reliable information about telomere dynamics. At present, it is unclear whether telomere maintenance plays a causal role in maintaining signal honesty or whether the correlation arises due to underlying variation in individual resources or genotypes. We suggest that subsequent work should consider the possibil...Continue Reading

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Citations

Feb 23, 2019·BioEssays : News and Reviews in Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology·Mathieu GiraudeauTuul Sepp
Jan 18, 2018·Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological Sciences·Rachael V WilbournJelle J Boonekamp
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Jan 16, 2020·Proceedings. Biological Sciences·Javier Pineda-PampliegaSimon Verhulst
Dec 8, 2017·Biology Letters·Sophie Reichert, Antoine Stier
Mar 7, 2020·Molecular Ecology Resources·Francisco MorinhaGuillermo Blanco
Oct 7, 2018·Oecologia·Corey R Freeman-Gallant, Conor C Taff
Jan 28, 2021·Molecular Ecology·Britt J HeidingerEllen D Ketterson
Jan 5, 2021·Royal Society Open Science·Florentin RemotJean-François Lemaître
Oct 14, 2021·Evolution; International Journal of Organic Evolution·B Fernández-EslavaC Alonso-Alvarez
Aug 27, 2021·Molecular Ecology·Florentin RemotJean-François Lemaitre
Dec 6, 2021·Molecular Ecology·Michael ToblerDennis Hasselquist

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Methods Mentioned

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