Sex-related differences in aging rate are associated with sex chromosome system in amphibians

Sex-related differences in mortality are widespread in the animal kingdom. Although studies have shown that sex determination systems might drive lifespan evolution, sex chromosome influence on aging rates have not been investigated so far, likely due to an apparent lack of demographic data from clades including both XY (with heterogametic males) and ZW (heterogametic females) systems. Taking advantage of a unique collection of capture-recapture datasets in amphibians, a vertebrate group where XY and ZW systems have repeatedly evolved over the past 200 million years, we examined whether sex heterogamy can predict sex differences in aging rates and lifespans. We showed that the strength and direction of sex differences in aging rates (and not lifespan) differ between XY and ZW systems. Sex-specific variation in aging rates was moderate within each system, but aging rates tended to be consistently higher in the heterogametic sex. This led to small but detectable effects of sex chromosome system on sex differences in aging rates in our models. Although preliminary, our results suggest that exposed recessive deleterious mutations on the X/Z chromosome (the "unguarded X/Z effect") or repeat-rich Y/W chromosome (the "toxic Y/W effect") could accelerate aging in the heterogametic sex in some vertebrate clades.Peer reviewe

Diverse aging rates in ectothermic tetrapods provide insights for the evolution of aging and longevity

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.Animal science

Causes and consequences of variation in offspring body mass: meta-analyses in birds and mammals

Early survival is highly variable and strongly influences observed population growth rates in most vertebrate populations. One of the major potential drivers of survival variation among juveniles is body mass. Heavy juveniles are better fed and have greater body reserves, and are thus assumed to survive better than light individuals. In spite of this, some studies have failed to detect an influence of body mass on offspring survival, questioning whether offspring body mass does indeed consistently influence juvenile survival, or whether this occurs in particular species/environments. Furthermore, the causes for variation in offspring mass are poorly understood, although maternal mass has often been reported to play a crucial role. To understand why offspring differ in body mass, and how this influences juvenile survival, we performed phylogenetically corrected meta-analyses of both the relationship between offspring body mass and offspring survival in birds and mammals and the relationship between maternal mass and offspring mass in mammals. We found strong support for an overall positive effect of offspring body mass on survival, with a more pronounced influence in mammals than in birds. An increase of one standard deviation of body mass increased the odds of offspring survival by 71% in mammals and by 44% in birds. A cost of being too fat in birds in terms of flight performance might explain why body mass is a less reliable predictor of offspring survival in birds. We then looked for moderators explaining the among-study differences reported in the intensity of this relationship. Surprisingly, sex did not influence the intensity of the offspring mass–survival relationship and phylogeny only accounted for a small proportion of observed variation in the intensity of that relationship. Among the potential factors that might affect the relationship between mass and survival in juveniles, only environmental conditions was influential in mammals. Offspring survival was most strongly influenced by body mass in captive populations and wild populations in the absence of predation. We also found support for the expected positive effect of maternal mass on offspring mass in mammals (rpearson = 0.387). As body mass is a strong predictor of early survival, we expected heavier mothers to allocate more to their offspring, leading them to be heavier and so to have a higher survival. However, none of the potential factors we tested for variation in the maternal mass–offspring mass relationship had a detectable influence. Further studies should focus on linking these two relationships to determine whether a strong effect of offspring size on early survival is associated with a high correlation coefficient between maternal mass and offspring mass

Potentiels et leviers pour développer la production et l’utilisation des protéagineux dans le cadre d’une agriculture durable en Bourgogne

A multi-partners strategy is engaged at level of Burgundy-France territory, to evaluate potentials and identify levers for the development of a chain from production to uses of grain legumes. The analysis of genotype x environment interaction and climatic factors is supported by a second year of field trials of grain legumes varieties (pea and faba bean of spring or winter sowing types. The statistical analysis of climatic data over the 1961-2009 period, has allowed to build Burgundy maps of freezing risk and late spring heat stress risk and we are able to suggest pea or faba bean genotypes, better adapted to the region. The sustainability of cropping systems involving or not grain legumes was evaluated according several criteria (agronomy, energy and other input, work organisation). It has confirmed the positive effect of inserting grain legumes, on the reduction (i) of N fertiliser, energy and pesticide uses, (ii) for easier weed control (iii) on the economic bilan assessed over whole cropping system. On 2 sites, « in situ » most measurement of N2Oemissions by soils containing grain legume crop residues were higher than those containing cereal residues. Offering to farmers varieties with good level of stress resistance and good productivity will be a key point for the development of grain legume crops. The economic analysis has identified the potential value of developing contracts between produces and collectors which will secure prices and market. The technical development of a high quality “chain” and its promotion may be valuable provided efforts on traceabilty and on labelling.Une démarche multi-partenaires est engagée sur le territoire de la région Bourgogne, pour évaluer les potentiels et identifier des leviers au développement d’une filière protéagineuse. L’analyse des interactions génotype x environnement et des facteurs climatiques est appuyée par une deuxième année d’expérimentation variétale de protéagineux (pois et féveroles d’hiver et de printemps). Une étude fréquentielle sur la période 1961-2009 a permis de cartographier les risques de gel hivernal et de fortes chaleurs en fin de cycle cultural en Bourgogne et nous pouvons proposer des variétés de pois et de féveroles mieux adaptées à la région. Le volet d’évaluation multicritères de la durabilité des systèmes de culture bourguignons, comparant des systèmes avec et sans protéagineux, a permis de confirmer et de quantifier l’intérêt de l’insertion de protéagineux, qui passe notamment par une diminution de l’IFT moyen et des doses d’azote, une augmentation de la robustesse économique (économie d’engrais azotés et énergie fossile sur l’ensemble de la rotation), la diversification des rotations en offrant de nouvelles possibilités de gestion des adventices. Sur 2 sites, le volet « environnemental » a montré en conditions « in situ », que les émissions de N2O par les sols contenant des résidus de pois ne sont en général pas supérieures à celles des sols contenant des résidus de céréales. La proposition de variétés tolérantes aux principaux stress en culture et de bonne productivité sera une clef essentielle du développement des cultures protéagineuses. L’analyse économique a identifié un intérêt du développement de la contractualisation dans la filière et de la mise en place et de la promotion d’une filière de qualité, en accentuant les exigences en matière de traçabilité et d’étiquetage

Sex‐related differences in aging rate are associated with sex chromosome system in amphibians

Sex-related differences in mortality are widespread in the animal kingdom. Although studies have shown that sex determination systems might drive lifespan evolution, sex chromosome influences on aging rates have not been investigated so far, likely due to an apparent lack of demographic data from clades including both XY (with heterogametic males) and ZW (heterogametic females) systems. Taking advantage of a unique collection of capture-recapture datasets in amphibians, a vertebrate group where XY and ZW systems have repeatedly evolved over the past 200 million years, we examined whether sex heterogamy can predict sex differences in aging rates and lifespans. We showed that the strength and direction of sex differences in aging rates (and not lifespan) differ between XY and ZW systems. Sex-specific variation in aging rates were moderate within each system, but aging rates tended to be consistently higher in the heterogametic sex. This led to small but detectable effects of sex chromosome system on sex differences in aging rates in our models. Although preliminary, our results suggest that exposed recessive deleterious mutations on the X/Z chromosome (the ‘unguarded X/Z effect’) or repeat-rich Y/W chromosome (the ‘toxic Y/W effect’) could accelerate aging in the heterogametic sex in some vertebrate clades