Meeting Abstract
Understanding the mechanisms that contribute to variation in lifespan is of central importance to diverse fields including life history theory. Mechanistically, lifespan may be influenced by telomere dynamics (length and loss rate). Telomeres are highly conserved, repetitive, non-coding sequences of DNA that enhance genome stability, but shorten during cell division and in response to stress. Telomere dynamics predict longevity within diverse species including humans and birds. Individuals with longer telomeres and/or slower telomere attrition tend to live longer. However, longevity is only one part of biological fitness; how telomere length and loss rate might influence reproductive performance is currently unknown. We used archived data and blood samples collected from 230 free-living house sparrows (Passer domesticus) to relate telomere length and loss rate to several fitness components, including longevity and measures of reproductive success. This longitudinal approach is both novel and necessary for understanding how telomere dynamics influences fitness in wild populations. The results will be discussed in the context of life history theory.
