title: Senescence rates are determined by ranking on the fast-slow life-history continuum.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Division of Biology and Centre for Population Biology, Imperial College London, Silwood Park Campus, Ascot, Berks SL5 7PY, UK. owen.jones@imperial.ac.uk
authors.forename: Owen R
authors.initials: OR
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.forename: Jean-Michel
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Gaillard
authors.forename: Shripad
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tuljapurkar
authors.forename: Jussi S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Alho
authors.forename: Kenneth B
authors.initials: KB
authors.lastname: Armitage
authors.forename: Peter H
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Becker
authors.forename: Pierre
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bize
authors.forename: Jon
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Brommer
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Charmantier
authors.forename: Marie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Charpentier
authors.forename: Tim
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Clutton-Brock
authors.forename: F Stephen
authors.initials: FS
authors.lastname: Dobson
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Festa-Bianchet
authors.forename: Lars
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gustafsson
authors.forename: Henrik
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Jensen
authors.forename: Carl G
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.forename: Bo-Göran
authors.initials: BG
authors.lastname: Lillandt
authors.forename: Robin
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: McCleery
authors.forename: Juha
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Merilä
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Neuhaus
authors.forename: Malcolm A C
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Nicoll
authors.forename: Ken
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Norris
authors.forename: Madan K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Oli
authors.forename: Josephine
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pemberton
authors.forename: Hannu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Pietiäinen
authors.forename: Thor Harald
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Ringsby
authors.forename: Alexandre
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Roulin
authors.forename: Bernt-Erik
authors.initials: BE
authors.lastname: Saether
authors.forename: Joanna M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Setchell
authors.forename: Ben C
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Sheldon
authors.forename: Paul M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Thompson
authors.forename: Henri
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Weimerskirch
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Jean Wickings
authors.forename: Tim
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Coulson
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging; D000818:Animals; D001717:Birds / Q000502:physiology*; D049628:Body Size; D005260:Female; D008322:Mammals / Q000502:physiology*; D012098:Reproduction