Abstract
Hormonal pathways have been proposed to be key at modulating how fast individuals grow and reproduce and how long they live (i.e. life history trajectory). Research in model species living under controlled environment is suggesting that insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1), which is an evolutionarily conserved polypeptide hormone, has an important role in modulating animal life histories. Much remains however to be done to test the role played by IGF-1 in shaping the phenotype and life history of animals in the wild.
Using a wild long-lived bird, the Alpine swift (Tachymarptis melba), we show that adults with higher levels of IGF-1 had longer wings and shorter telomeres. Hence, telomeres being a proxy of lifespan in this species, our results support a potential role of IGF-1 at shaping the life-history of wild birds and suggest that IGF-1 may influence the growth-lifespan trade-off.
Using a wild long-lived bird, the Alpine swift (Tachymarptis melba), we show that adults with higher levels of IGF-1 had longer wings and shorter telomeres. Hence, telomeres being a proxy of lifespan in this species, our results support a potential role of IGF-1 at shaping the life-history of wild birds and suggest that IGF-1 may influence the growth-lifespan trade-off.
Original language | English |
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Article number | 10:853674 |
Number of pages | 6 |
Journal | Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution |
Volume | 10 |
Early online date | 18 Mar 2022 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 18 Mar 2022 |
Bibliographical note
Funding. PB, FC and AS were supported by a Carnegie Research Incentive Grant (RIG007773). BM was supported by a Godfrey Hewitt Mobility Award from the European Society for Evolutionary Biology. ÁZL was supported by a grant from the National Research and Development Office (K139021).Data Availability Statement
The raw data supporting the conclusions of this article will be made available by the authors, without undue reservation.Keywords
- Ageing
- IGF-1
- life-history
- lifespan
- pace-of-life syndrome
- telomeres
- trade-off