Jones, O.R., Gaillard, J.M., Tuljapurkar, S., Alho, J.S., Armitage, K.B.,
Becker, P.H., Bize, P., Brommer, J., Charmantier, A., Charpentier, M.,
Clutton-Brock, T., Dobson, F.S., Festa-Bianchet, M., Gustafsson, L.,
Jensen, H., Jones, C.J., Lillandt, G., McCleery, R., Merila, J., Neuhaus, P.,
Nicoll, M.A.C., Norris, K., Oli, M.K., Pemberton, J., Pietiainen, H.,
Ringsby, T.H., Roulin, A., Saether, B.E., Setchell, J.M., Sheldon, B.C.,
Thompson, P.M., Weimerskirch, H., Wickings, E.J. & Coulson, T. 2008.
Senescence rates are determined by ranking on the fast-slow life-history continuum.
Ecology Letters.
Abstract:
Comparative analyses of survival senescence by using life tables have identified generalizations including the observation that mammals senesce faster than similar-sized birds. These generalizations have been challenged because of limitations of life-table approaches and the growing appreciation that senescence is more than an increasing probability of death. Without using life tables, we examine senescence rates in annual individual fitness using 20 individual-based data sets of terrestrial vertebrates with contrasting life histories and body size. We find that senescence is widespread in the wild and equally likely to occur in survival and reproduction. Additionally, mammals senesce faster than birds because they have a faster life history for a given body size. By allowing us to disentangle the effects of two major fitness components our methods allow an assessment of the robustness of the prevalent life-table approach. Focusing on one aspect of life history - survival or recruitment - can provide reliable information on overall senescence.
Keywords: Aging; comparative analysis; demography; generation time; metabolic rate; senescence
Comments: One of the authors is applying for a position here in the next few days.
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1 comment:
Dan, can you explain some of that abstract please?
"because of limitations of life-table approaches"
>> what are life-table approaches and what are their limitations?
"the growing appreciation that senescence is more than an increasing probability of death."
>> so what then is senescence?
"senescence is widespread in the wild and equally likely to occur in survival and reproduction."
>> maybe your answer to the above will nullify this confusion, but in case not: how does senescence differ between survival senescence and reproduction senescence? Is it something like "mortality patterns" vs. "menopause patterns"?
"mammals senesce faster than birds because they have a faster life history for a given body size."
>> how does a life history go faster? quicker to reach each and all developmental stages, and so also to senesce?
"Focusing on one aspect of life history - survival or recruitment"
>> what is recruitment? is that like convincing a stranger to undergo gene therapy so that they become genetically identical to you, and thus function to "extend" or "expand" your life from a selfish gene perspective?
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