Effects of heat waves on telomere dynamics and parental brooding effort in nestlings of the zebra finch (Taeniopygia castanotis) transitioning from ectothermy to endothermy

Ton, R., Boner, W. , Raveh, S., Monaghan, P. and Griffith, S. C. (2023) Effects of heat waves on telomere dynamics and parental brooding effort in nestlings of the zebra finch (Taeniopygia castanotis) transitioning from ectothermy to endothermy. Molecular Ecology, 32(17), pp. 4911-4920. (doi: 10.1111/mec.17064) (PMID:37395529)

Abstract

Heat waves are predicted to be detrimental for organismal physiology with costs for survival that could be reflected in markers of biological state such as telomeres. Changes in early life telomere dynamics driven by thermal stress are of particular interest during the early post-natal stages of altricial birds because nestlings quickly shift from being ectothermic to endothermic after hatching. Telomeres of ectothermic and endothermic organisms respond differently to environmental temperature, but few investigations within species that transition from ectothermy to endothermy are available. Also, ambient temperature influences parental brooding behaviour, which will alter the temperature experienced by offspring and thereby, potentially, their telomeres. We exposed zebra finch nestlings to experimental heat waves and compared their telomere dynamics to that of a control group at 5, 12 and 80 days of age that encapsulate the transition from the ectothermic to the endothermic thermoregulatory stage; we also recorded parental brooding, offspring sex, mass, growth rates, brood size and hatch order. Nestling mass showed an inverse relationship with telomere length, and nestlings exposed to heat waves showed lower telomere attrition during their first 12 days of life (ectothermic stage) compared to controls. Additionally, parents of heated broods reduced the time they spent brooding offspring (at 5 days old) compared to controls. Our results indicate that the effect of heat waves on telomere dynamics likely varies depending on age and thermoregulatory stage of the offspring in combination with parental brooding behaviour during growth.

• Item Type: Articles
• Additional Information: This research was funded by an Australian Research Council grant (DP170103619) and by an Endeavour Australian Fellowship.
• Keywords: Ectotherms, birds, thermoregulation, temperature, brooding, parental care.
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Boner, Dr Winnie and Raveh, Dr Shirley and Monaghan, Professor Pat
• Authors: Ton, R., Boner, W., Raveh, S., Monaghan, P., and Griffith, S. C.
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Biodiversity, One Health & Veterinary Medicine
• Journal Name: Molecular Ecology
• Publisher: Wiley
• ISSN: 0962-1083
• ISSN (Online): 1365-294X
• Published Online: 03 July 2023
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2023 The Authors
• First Published: First published in Molecular Ecology 32(17):4911-4920
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced under a Creative Commons License
• Data DOI: 10.17605/OSF.IO/WMNH6