Telomere length and dynamics predict mortality in a wild longitudinal study

• DOI: 10.1111/mec.12110
• Publication Date: 2012-11-21T11:12:43Z
• Authors: Emma L. B. Barrett; Terry A. Burke; Martijn Hammers; Jan Komdeur; David S. Richardson
• Keywords: Senescence

Abstract Explaining variation in life expectancy between individuals of the same age is fundamental to our understanding population ecology and history evolution. Variation length rate loss protective telomere chromosome caps has been linked cellular lifespan. Yet, extent which dynamics predict organismal lifespan nature still contentious. Using longitudinal samples taken from a closed Acrocephalus sechellensis (Seychelles warblers) studied for over 20 years, we describe first study into life‐long adult (1–17 years) their relationship mortality under natural conditions ( n = 204 individuals). We show that telomeres shorten with increasing body mass, shorter greater rates shortening predicted future mortality. Our results provide clear unambiguous evidence wild, substantiate prediction can act as an indicator biological further chronological when exploring questions conditions.