Population differences in the length and early-life dynamics of telomeres among European pied flycatchers

Kärkkäinen, Tiia; Laaksonen, Toni; Burgess, Malcolm D.; Cantarero, Alejandro; Martínez‐Padilla, Jesús; Potti, Jaime; Moreno, Juan C.; Thomson, Robert L.; Tilgar, Vallo; Stier, Antoine

doi:10.1101/2021.03.16.435615

Cited by 6 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 100 publications

(169 reference statements)

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“…Due to known genetic differences between moose in southern and northern Sweden [ 51 – 53 ], we cannot rule out potential population effects that might contribute to differing telomere length between northern and southern ecoregions. Our finding that differences in RTL were not consistent over a latitudinal gradient is in line with Kärkkäinen et al [ 16 ], suggesting that regional variation of telomere length may mirror local environmental conditions and/or genetic differences. By measuring heritability and including more (known) populations in their analysis, future studies should account for the effects of population pedigree [ 15 , 17 ] and between-population differences on RTL [ 54 ], thereby enabling the disentanglement of potential genetic differences from environmental conditions.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 92%

“…Angelier et al [ 13 ] reviewed studies determining the relationships between how different stressors can influence telomere associations in wild vertebrates. Specifically, environmental factors such as water temperature [ 14 ], weather [ 15 ], habitat quality [ 16 – 18 ] as well as infectious diseases [ 19 ] were linked to altered telomere length in wildlife.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Large mammal telomere length variation across ecoregions

et al. 2022

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Background Telomere length provides a physiological proxy for accumulated stress in animals. While there is a growing consensus over how telomere dynamics and their patterns are linked to life history variation and individual experience, knowledge on the impact of exposure to different stressors at a large spatial scale on telomere length is still lacking. How exposure to different stressors at a regional scale interacts with individual differences in life history is also poorly understood. To better understand large-scale regional influences, we investigated telomere length variation in moose (Alces alces) distributed across three ecoregions. We analyzed 153 samples of 106 moose representing moose of both sexes and range of ages to measure relative telomere lengths (RTL) in white blood cells. Results We found that average RTL was significantly shorter in a northern (montane) and southern (sarmatic) ecoregion where moose experience chronic stress related to severe summer and winter temperatures as well as high anthropogenic land-use compared to the boreal region. Our study suggests that animals in the northern boreal forests, with relatively homogenous land use, are less disturbed by environmental and anthropogenic stressors. In contrast, animals in areas experiencing a higher rate of anthropogenic and environmental change experience increased stress. Conclusion Although animals can often adapt to predictable stressors, our data suggest that some environmental conditions, even though predictable and ubiquitous, can generate population level differences of long-term stress. By measuring RTL in moose for the first time, we provide valuable insights towards our current understanding of telomere biology in free-ranging wildlife in human-modified ecosystems.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 92%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Large mammal telomere length variation across ecoregions

et al. 2022

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“…Habitat quality may be an important driver of differences in TL dynamics across populations (Kärkkäinen, Laaksonen, et al, 2021; McLennan et al, 2021; Wilbourn et al, 2018). We found evidence for an interaction effect between habitat type (island) and population density (Table 2), suggesting that pre‐breeding population density was negatively related to TL on the non‐farm island (Træna), but not on the farm‐island (Hestmannøy).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Causes and consequences of variation in early‐life telomere length in a bird metapopulation

Pepke

Kvalnes

Ranke

et al. 2022

Ecology and Evolution

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Environmental conditions during early‐life development can have lasting effects shaping individual heterogeneity in fitness and fitness‐related traits. The length of telomeres, the DNA sequences protecting chromosome ends, may be affected by early‐life conditions, and telomere length (TL) has been associated with individual performance within some wild animal populations. Thus, knowledge of the mechanisms that generate variation in TL, and the relationship between TL and fitness, is important in understanding the role of telomeres in ecology and life‐history evolution. Here, we investigate how environmental conditions and morphological traits are associated with early‐life blood TL and if TL predicts natal dispersal probability or components of fitness in 2746 wild house sparrow ( Passer domesticus ) nestlings from two populations sampled across 20 years (1994–2013). We retrieved weather data and we monitored population fluctuations, individual survival, and reproductive output using field observations and genetic pedigrees. We found a negative effect of population density on TL, but only in one of the populations. There was a curvilinear association between TL and the maximum daily North Atlantic Oscillation index during incubation, suggesting that there are optimal weather conditions that result in the longest TL. Dispersers tended to have shorter telomeres than non‐dispersers. TL did not predict survival, but we found a tendency for individuals with short telomeres to have higher annual reproductive success. Our study showed how early‐life TL is shaped by effects of growth, weather conditions, and population density, supporting that environmental stressors negatively affect TL in wild populations. In addition, shorter telomeres may be associated with a faster pace‐of‐life, as individuals with higher dispersal rates and annual reproduction tended to have shorter early‐life TL.

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“…A follow‐up study conducted on the same colonies emphasises that telomere length varies in complex ways with spatial habitat use, foraging efficiency, sex and prey selection (Young et al 2015). Recently, a study on telomere dynamics of six different pied flycatchers Ficedula hypoleuca populations across Europe indicates between‐population variation in telomere length, which seems linked to early life conditions (Kärkkäinen et al 2021).…”

Section: Telomere Dynamics Across Spatial Scalesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Telomeres in a spatial context: a tool for understanding ageing pattern variation in wild populations

2021

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Ageing refers to the loss of organismal functionality with age, a process that is characterised by decreased reproduction and survival probability. In natural populations, it is expected that environmental conditions influence an individual's ageing trajectory. Understanding the role of environmental heterogeneity on ageing variation could provide critical insights into population resilience and species distribution but remains overlooked. Telomeres, the end cap of chromosomes, are a promising integrative physiological marker of an individual's health and a possible proxy to aid the understanding of variation in ageing trajectories. Here, we review the existing information on telomere length and its dynamics in wild populations distributed across spatial scales. Despite a relative scarcity of information, there is evidence for divergence in telomere length between populations facing contrasting environments. Nonetheless, a higher spatial resolution and temporal replication are needed to fully understand the role that environmental conditions play on telomere length variation. Since most of the existing studies are correlational, future field and laboratory experiments are required. For the first time, we demonstrate the use of population telomere data to predict species habitat suitability through species distribution models (SDMs). This represents a promising new research area in the study of ageing pattern variation in wild populations. Furthermore, the inclusion of telomere data in future physiological SDMs may improve our understanding of species distribution and population resilience. However, the use of telomeres within this context could be limited if no previous knowledge on the relevance of telomeres as markers of health and survival at the species level is available. Finally, we suggest some key practical and theoretical considerations that, ideally, future studies combining biogeographic and telomere data should pay attention.

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Population differences in the length and early-life dynamics of telomeres among European pied flycatchers

Cited by 6 publications

References 100 publications

Large mammal telomere length variation across ecoregions

Large mammal telomere length variation across ecoregions

Causes and consequences of variation in early‐life telomere length in a bird metapopulation

Telomeres in a spatial context: a tool for understanding ageing pattern variation in wild populations

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