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Adult telomere length is positively correlated with survival and lifetime reproductive success in a wild passerine
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  • Heung Ying Janet Chik,
  • Maria-Elena Mannarelli,
  • Natalie dos Remedios,
  • Mirre Simons,
  • Terry Burke,
  • Julia Schroeder,
  • Hannah Dugdale
Heung Ying Janet Chik
University of Groningen

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

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Maria-Elena Mannarelli
The University of Sheffield
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Natalie dos Remedios
The University of Sheffield
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Mirre Simons
The University of Sheffield
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Terry Burke
The University of Sheffield
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Julia Schroeder
Imperial College London
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Hannah Dugdale
University of Groningen
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Abstract

Explaining variation in individual fitness is a key goal in evolutionary biology. Recently, telomeres, repeating DNA sequences capping the ends of chromosomes, have gained attention as a biomarker for body state, individual quality, and ageing. However, existing research has provided mixed evidence for whether telomere length correlates with fitness components, including survival and reproductive output. Moreover, few studies have examined how telomere shortening correlates with fitness in wild populations. Here, we intensively monitored an insular population of house sparrows on Lundy Island, UK, and collected longitudinal telomere and life history data spanning 16 years from 1,225 individuals. We tested whether telomere length and/or shortening predict fitness measures, namely survival, lifespan, as well as annual and lifetime reproductive success. Telomere length positively predicted immediate survival up to one year after measurement, independent of age, but did not predict lifespan, suggesting either a diminishing telomere length – survival correlation with age, or other extrinsic factors of mortality. The positive effect of telomere length on survival translated to reproductive benefits, as birds with longer telomeres produced more genetic recruits over their lifetime, but not annually, suggesting variation in individual quality. The rate of telomere shortening, however, correlated with neither lifespan nor lifetime reproductive success. Our results provided further evidence that telomere length correlates with fitness, and they contributed to our understanding of how telomere dynamics link with individual quality.
Submitted to Molecular Ecology
09 Mar 2024Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
12 Mar 2024Editorial Decision: Revise Minor
12 May 2024Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
12 May 2024Reviewer(s) Assigned