Nestling telomere length does not predict longevity, but covaries with adult body size in wild barn swallows

Caprioli, Manuela; Romano, Maria; Romanò, Andrea; Rubolini, Diego; Motta, Rosita; Folini, Marco; Saino, Nicola

doi:10.1098/rsbl.2013.0340

Cited by 33 publications

(46 citation statements)

References 21 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…This confirms that specific components of body size and TL are correlated in young birds (Caprioli et al 2013), and supports the idea that the determinants of some components of body size are also important determinants of TL. This correlation probably results from developmental conditions that affect simultaneously growth and developmental telomere dynamics (Boonekamp et al 2014;Herborn et al 2014), but it might also result from genetic factors that might concomitantly govern bill size and telomere length.…”

Section: Bill Size and Telomere Length In Hy Malessupporting

confidence: 86%

“…Telomeres appear to shorten throughout the life of individuals (Pauliny et al 2006;Bize et al 2009;Salomons et al 2009;Heidinger et al 2012;Angelier et al 2013;Barrett et al 2013;Bauch et al 2013;Boonekamp et al 2014) and, importantly, telomere length (TL) has been shown to be a reliable predictor of survival under some circumstances (Haussmann et al 2005;Pauliny et al 2006;Bize et al 2009;Salomons et al 2009;Heidinger et al 2012;Angelier et al 2013;Barrett et al 2013) but not others (Pauliny et al 2006;Beaulieu et al 2011;Caprioli et al 2013;Boonekamp et al 2014). Therefore, specific attention has been paid to the determinants of TL in wild vertebrates.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, adult TL is not only determined by events occurring during adult life but also by the initial TL at the time when individuals enter the adult life stage. TL is at least partly heritable (Olsson et al 2011;Horn et al 2011;Reichert et al 2014) and most of the telomere shortening occurs during development (Foote et al 2011;Pauliny et al 2012;Caprioli et al 2013), suggesting that variation in conditions during the period leading up to adulthood determines variation in telomere length in wild birds (Geiger et al 2012;Boonekamp et al 2014;Herborn et al 2014). Interestingly, poor developmental conditions are associated with impaired growth and, under some circumstances, with reduced adult size (Merïla 1997).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Therefore, TL should be strongly correlated with body size in young individuals, whereas such correlation should attenuate in old individuals. Surprisingly, the relationship between body size and TL has rarely been examined in birds, appears inconsistent (Pauliny et al 2006;Foote et al 2011;Caprioli et al 2013), and therefore deserves further examination. Pauliny et al (2006) found a negative relationship between tarsus length and telomere length in adult Dunlins (Calidris alpina), whereas Foote et al (2011) found that telomere length was not correlated with head length in Lesser Black-backed Gull chicks (Larus fuscus).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Pauliny et al (2006) found a negative relationship between tarsus length and telomere length in adult Dunlins (Calidris alpina), whereas Foote et al (2011) found that telomere length was not correlated with head length in Lesser Black-backed Gull chicks (Larus fuscus). Highlighting this inconsistency a bit more, Caprioli et al (2013) found that telomere length was positively correlated with keel length in male Barn Swallows (Hirunda rustica) but not in females. In this study, we tested whether TL is related to body size in known-aged male American Redstarts (Setophaga ruticilla) (from less than 1 year old, i.e.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 4 more Smart Citations

Bill size correlates with telomere length in male American Redstarts

et al. 2015

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Telomere length (TL) has been shown to be a potential predictor of survival in wild vertebrates, and, as a consequence, there is growing interest in understanding the causes of inter-individual variability in TL. In that context, developmental conditions deserve a specific attention because they are thought to be a major driver of telomere shortening. Because poor developmental conditions can accelerate telomere shortening and impair growth (resulting in a small adult size), a positive correlation between TL and body size is expected. However, and surprisingly, the relationship between body size and telomere length has rarely been described in wild vertebrates. Here, we specifically examined this question in hatch-year (HY) and after hatch-year (AHY) male wintering American Redstarts (Setophaga ruticilla). Although tarsus size was not related to TL, we found a significant positive correlation between bill size and TL in HY male Redstarts, therefore supporting the idea that determinants of some components of individual size are also important determinants of TL in young birds. Moreover, this positive relationship between bill size and TL was also found for AHY birds, suggesting that adult TL may be, at least partly, explained by the telomere dynamics that occurred during the developmental phase. Abstract Telomere length (TL) has been shown to be a potential predictor of survival in wild vertebrates, and, as a consequence, there is growing interest in understanding the causes of inter-individual variability in TL. In that context, developmental conditions deserve a specific attention because they are thought to be a major driver of telomere shortening. Because poor developmental conditions can accelerate telomere shortening and impair growth (resulting in a small adult size), a positive correlation between TL and body size is expected. However, and surprisingly, the relationship between body size and telomere length has rarely been described in wild vertebrates. Here, we specifically examined this question in hatch-year (HY) and after hatch-year (AHY) male wintering American Redstarts (Setophaga ruticilla). Although tarsus size was not related to TL, we found a significant positive correlation between bill size and TL in HY male Redstarts, therefore supporting the idea that determinants of some components of individual size are also important determinants of TL in young birds. Moreover, this positive relationship between bill size and TL was also found for AHY birds, suggesting that adult TL may be, at least partly, explained by the telomere dynamics that occurred during the developmental phase.

show abstract

Section: Bill Size and Telomere Length In Hy Malessupporting

confidence: 86%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 3 more Smart Citations

Bill size correlates with telomere length in male American Redstarts

et al. 2015

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

Experimental ectoparasite removal has a sex‐specific effect on nestling telomere length

Wolf

Zhang

Clotfelter

2023

Ecology and Evolution

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Parasites are a strong selective force that can influence fitness-related traits. The length of chromosome-capping telomeres can be used to assess the long-term costs of parasitism, as telomere loss accelerates in response to environmental stressors and often precedes poorer survival prospects. Here, we explored the sex-specific effects of ectoparasite removal on morphology and telomere length in nestling tree swallows (Tachycineta bicolor). To do so, we experimentally removed blow fly (Protocalliphora spp.) larvae from nests using Permethrin, a broad-spectrum insecticide. Compared to water-treated controls, insecticide treatment of nests had a sex-biased effect on blood telomere length: ectoparasite removal resulted in significantly longer telomeres in males but not females. While this treatment did not influence nestling body mass, it was associated with reduced feather development regardless of sex. This may reflect a relaxed pressure to fledge quickly in the absence of parasites, or alternatively, could be a negative side effect of permethrin on morphology. Exploring robust sex-specific telomere dynamics in response to early-life environmental pressures such as parasitism will shed light on sexual dimorphism in adult life histories and aging.

show abstract