Hibernation telomere dynamics in a shifting climate: insights from wild greater horseshoe bats

Abstract

Hibernation is linked with various hypotheses to explain the extended lifespan of hibernating mammals compared with their non-hibernating counterparts. Studies on telomeres, markers of ageing and somatic maintenance, suggest telomere shortening slows during hibernation, and lengthening may reflect self-maintenance with favourable conditions. Bats in temperate zones adjust body temperatures during winter torpor to conserve energy and exploit mild conditions for foraging. Climate change may impact the hibernation cycle of bats, but more research is needed regarding the role of telomeres in understanding their response to a changing climate. Here, relative telomere length (rTL) was measured in the long-lived greater horseshoe bat Rhinolophus ferrumequinum ( n = 223 individuals) over three winters, considering climatic conditions. Cross-sectional analyses revealed between-individual variation in rTL with a strong year effect, likely linked to varying weather conditions and foraging success. Additionally, within-individual increases of rTL occurred in 51% of consecutive measurements, with evidence of increasing telomerase expression during hibernation in this species. These findings highlight the beneficial effects of hibernation on telomeres and potential consequences of changing climatic conditions for long-lived temperate bats. Understanding the interplay between hibernation, telomeres, and climate can provide insights into the adaptive capacity and survival of bat populations facing environmental challenges.

Linking telomere dynamics to evolution, life history and environmental change: perspectives, predictions and problems

“…Such effects may be stage specific, as seen in zebra finch chicks transitioning during development from ectothermy to endothermy (Ton et al 2023 ). In long-lived bats, yearly fluctuation in individual telomere lengths were found to be related to weather factors, suggesting that such changes might provide an index of the level of stress to which individuals are exposed (Foley et al 2018 ; Power et al 2023 ). It is more likely that telomere dynamics will be adversely affected by exposure to new environmental challenges.…”