McLennan, D., Recknagel, H. , Elmer, K.R. and Monaghan, P. (2019) Distinct telomere differences within a reproductively bimodal common lizard population. Functional Ecology, 33(10), pp. 1917-1927. (doi: 10.1111/1365-2435.13408) (PMID:31762528) (PMCID:PMC6853248)
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Abstract
1. Different strategies of reproductive mode, either oviparity (egg‐laying) or viviparity (live‐bearing), will be associated with a range of other life‐history differences that are expected to affect patterns of ageing and longevity. It is usually difficult to compare the effects of alternative reproductive modes because of evolutionary and ecological divergence. However, the very rare exemplars of reproductive bimodality, in which different modes exist within a single species, offer an opportunity for robust and controlled comparisons. 2. One trait of interest that could be associated with life history, ageing and longevity is the length of the telomeres, which form protective caps at the chromosome ends and are generally considered a good indicator of cellular health. The shortening of these telomeres has been linked to stressful conditions; therefore, it is possible that differing reproductive costs will influence patterns of telomere loss. This is important because a number of studies have linked a shorter telomere length to reduced survival. 3. Here, we have studied maternal and offspring telomere dynamics in the common lizard (Zootoca vivipara). Our study has focused on a population where oviparous and viviparous individuals co‐occur in the same habitat and occasionally interbreed to form admixed individuals. 4. While viviparity confers many advantages for offspring, it might also incur substantial costs for the mother, for example require more energy. Therefore, we predicted that viviparous mothers would have relatively shorter telomeres than oviparous mothers, with admixed mothers having intermediate telomere lengths. There is thought to be a heritable component to telomere length; therefore, we also hypothesized that offspring would follow the same pattern as the mothers. 5. Contrary to our predictions, the viviparous mothers and offspring had the longest telomeres, and the oviparous mothers and offspring had the shortest telomeres. The differing telomere lengths may have evolved as an effect of the life‐history divergence between the reproductive modes, for example due to the increased growth rate that viviparous individuals may undergo to reach a similar size at reproduction.
| Item Type: | Articles |
|---|---|
| Additional Information: | Natural Environment Research Council, Grant/Award Number: NE/N003942/1; H2020 European Research Council, Grant/ Award Number: 322784 |
| Status: | Published |
| Refereed: | Yes |
| Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: | Monaghan, Professor Pat and McLennan, Dr Darryl and Elmer, Professor Kathryn and Recknagel, Mr Hans |
| Authors: | McLennan, D., Recknagel, H., Elmer, K.R., and Monaghan, P. |
| College/School: | College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Biodiversity, One Health & Veterinary Medicine |
| Journal Name: | Functional Ecology |
| Publisher: | Wiley |
| ISSN: | 0269-8463 |
| ISSN (Online): | 1365-2435 |
| Published Online: | 15 July 2019 |
| Copyright Holders: | Copyright © 2019 The Authors |
| First Published: | First published in Functional Ecology 33(10):1917-1927 |
| Publisher Policy: | Reproduced under a Creative Commons License |
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