Senescence rates are determined by ranking on the fast-slow life-history continuum.
Comparative analyses of survival senescence by using life tables have identified generalizations including the observation that mammals senesce faster than similar-sized birds. These generalizations have been challenged because of limitations of life-table approaches and the growing appreciation that senescence is more than an increasing probability of death. Without using life tables, we examine senescence rates in annual individual fitness using 20 individual-based data sets of terrestrial vertebrates with contrasting life histories and body size. We find that senescence is widespread in the wild and equally likely to occur in survival and reproduction. Additionally, mammals senesce faster than birds because they have a faster life history for a given body size. By allowing us to disentangle the effects of two major fitness components our methods allow an assessment of the robustness of the prevalent life-table approach. Focusing on one aspect of life history - survival or recruitment - can provide reliable information on overall senescence.
Jones
Owen R
OR
Division of Biology and Centre for Population Biology, Imperial College London, Silwood Park Campus, Ascot, Berks SL5 7PY, UK. owen.jones@imperial.ac.uk
Gaillard
Jean-Michel
JM
Tuljapurkar
Shripad
S
Alho
Jussi S
JS
Armitage
Kenneth B
KB
Becker
Peter H
PH
Bize
Pierre
P
Brommer
Jon
J
Charmantier
Anne
A
Charpentier
Marie
M
Clutton-Brock
Tim
T
Dobson
F Stephen
FS
Festa-Bianchet
Marco
M
Gustafsson
Lars
L
Jensen
Henrik
H
Jones
Carl G
CG
Lillandt
Bo-Göran
BG
McCleery
Robin
R
Merilä
Juha
J
Neuhaus
Peter
P
Nicoll
Malcolm A C
MA
Norris
Ken
K
Oli
Madan K
MK
Pemberton
Josephine
J
Pietiäinen
Hannu
H
Ringsby
Thor Harald
TH
Roulin
Alexandre
A
Saether
Bernt-Erik
BE
Setchell
Joanna M
JM
Sheldon
Ben C
BC
Thompson
Paul M
PM
Weimerskirch
Henri
H
Jean Wickings
E
E
Coulson
Tim
T
D000375:Aging; D000818:Animals; D001717:Birds / Q000502:physiology*; D049628:Body Size; D005260:Female; D008322:Mammals / Q000502:physiology*; D012098:Reproduction