TY - JOUR
T1 - Diverse aging rates in ectothermic tetrapods provide insights for the evolution of aging and longevity
AU - Reinke, Beth A.
AU - Cayuela, Hugo
AU - Janzen, Fredric J.
AU - Lemaître, Jean-François
AU - Gaillard, Jean-Michel
AU - Famelli, Shirley
AU - et al,
PY - 2022/6/24
Y1 - 2022/6/24
N2 - Comparative studies of mortality in the wild are necessary to understand the evolution of aging; yet, ectothermic tetrapods are underrepresented in this comparative landscape, despite their suitability for testing evolutionary hypotheses. We present a study of aging rates and longevity across wild tetrapod ectotherms, using data from 107 populations (77 species) of nonavian reptiles and amphibians. We test hypotheses of how thermoregulatory mode, environmental temperature, protective phenotypes, and pace of life history contribute to demographic aging. Controlling for phylogeny and body size, ectotherms display a higher diversity of aging rates compared with endotherms and include phylogenetically widespread evidence of negligible aging. Protective phenotypes and life-history strategies further explain macroevolutionary patterns of aging. Analyzing ectothermic tetrapods in a comparative context enhances our understanding of the evolution of aging.
AB - Comparative studies of mortality in the wild are necessary to understand the evolution of aging; yet, ectothermic tetrapods are underrepresented in this comparative landscape, despite their suitability for testing evolutionary hypotheses. We present a study of aging rates and longevity across wild tetrapod ectotherms, using data from 107 populations (77 species) of nonavian reptiles and amphibians. We test hypotheses of how thermoregulatory mode, environmental temperature, protective phenotypes, and pace of life history contribute to demographic aging. Controlling for phylogeny and body size, ectotherms display a higher diversity of aging rates compared with endotherms and include phylogenetically widespread evidence of negligible aging. Protective phenotypes and life-history strategies further explain macroevolutionary patterns of aging. Analyzing ectothermic tetrapods in a comparative context enhances our understanding of the evolution of aging.
UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1126/science.abm0151
U2 - 10.1126/science.abm0151
DO - 10.1126/science.abm0151
M3 - Article (Academic Journal)
C2 - 35737773
SN - 0036-8075
VL - 376
SP - 1459
EP - 1466
JO - Science
JF - Science
IS - 6600
ER -