When carapace governs size: variation among age classes and individuals in a free-ranging ectotherm with delayed maturity

Oecologia
Dragan ArsovskiXavier Bonnet

Abstract

Juvenile growth strongly impacts life-history traits during adulthood. Yet, in juveniles with delayed maturity, elusiveness has hindered age-specific studies of growth, precluding any detailed research on its consequences later in life. Different complex growth patterns have been extracted from captive animals, suggesting species-specific trajectories occur in free-ranging animals. How pronounced are growth and body size variation (VBS) throughout a long-lived ectotherm's life? Is VBS constant among age classes prior to maturity, or do compensatory and/or cumulative effects driven by long-lived-animal-specific strategies create distinct VBS cohorts, to ensure survival? To tackle the issue, we modelled growth data from continuous and dense annual capture-mark-recapture sampling (5096 body measurements of 1134 free-ranging individuals) of both immature and mature, long-lived Hermann's tortoises. We analysed population, cohort, and individual-based growth and VBS. Growth ring inferred ages were cross validated with annual recaptures in 289 juveniles. Analyses unravelled an S-shaped growth curve and identified three age cohorts across which VBS increases in a step-wise manner. Neonate-specific constraints and compensatory effects s...Continue Reading

References

Dec 1, 1996·American Journal of Physical Anthropology·S R Leigh
Apr 13, 2001·Trends in Ecology & Evolution·N B. Metcalfe, P Monaghan
Jul 27, 2001·American Journal of Physical Anthropology·J M SetchellA F Dixson
Jun 6, 2002·Mathematical Biosciences·A Tsoularis, J Wallace
May 25, 2004·Evolution; International Journal of Organic Evolution·M Julian Caley, Lin Schwarzkopf
Apr 13, 2006·Proceedings. Biological Sciences·Barbara Taborsky
Nov 20, 2008·Ecology Letters·Shripad TuljapurkarSteven Hecht Orzack
Nov 20, 1926·The Journal of General Physiology·C B Davenport
Mar 29, 2011·Endocrine Reviews·Julian C Lui, Jeffrey Baron
May 19, 2012·Theoretical Biology & Medical Modelling·Antonio S GliozziDan A Iordache
Apr 18, 2015·The Journal of Animal Ecology·Floriane PlardJean-Michel Gaillard
Oct 21, 2015·Endocrine Reviews·Alberto Roselló-Díez, Alexandra L Joyner
Sep 1, 1986·Evolution; International Journal of Organic Evolution·Stephen C Stearns, Jacob C Koella

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations

Feb 15, 2020·Animals : an Open Access Journal From MDPI·Sasha J TetzlaffJinelle H Sperry
Aug 9, 2020·Zoology : Analysis of Complex Systems, ZACS·Ljiljana TomovićXavier Bonnet

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Software Mentioned

R

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.