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Effects of heat waves on telomere dynamics and parental brooding effort in nestlings of the zebra finch (Taeniopygia castanotis)
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  • Riccardo Ton,
  • Winnie Boner,
  • Shirley Raveh,
  • Pat Monaghan,
  • Simon Griffith
Riccardo Ton
Macquarie University

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

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Winnie Boner
Glasgow University
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Shirley Raveh
Glasgow University
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Pat Monaghan
Glasgow University
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Simon Griffith
Macquarie University
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Abstract

Heat waves are predicted to be detrimental for organismal physiology with costs for survival that could be reflected in markers of biological state such as telomeres. Changes in early life telomere dynamics driven by thermal stress are of particular interest during the early post-natal stages of altricial birds because nestlings quickly shift from being ectothermic to poikilothermic to endothermic after hatching. Telomeres of ectothermic and endothermic organisms respond differently to environmental temperature, but investigations within species that transition from ectothermy to endothermy are lacking. Also, ambient temperature influences parental brooding behavior, which will alter the temperature experienced by offspring and thereby, potentially, their telomeres. We exposed zebra finch nestlings to experimental heat waves, and compared their telomere dynamics to that of a control group at 5, 12 and 80 days of age that correspond to three different thermoregulatory stages (ectothermic, poikilothermic and endothermic respectively); we also recorded parental brooding, offspring sex, mass, growth rates, brood size and hatch order. Nestling mass showed an inverse relationship with telomere length, and nestlings exposed to heat waves showed lower telomere attrition during their first 12 days of life (poikilothermic stage) compared to controls. Additionally, parents of heated broods reduced the time they spent brooding offspring (at five days old) compared to controls. Lower brooding effort was associated with shorter telomeres in 12 day old nestlings. Our results indicate that the effect of heat waves on telomere dynamics likely varies depending on age and thermoregulatory stage of the offspring in combination with parental brooding behavior during growth.
27 Jan 2023Submitted to Molecular Ecology
08 Feb 2023Submission Checks Completed
08 Feb 2023Assigned to Editor
08 Feb 2023Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
28 Feb 2023Reviewer(s) Assigned
26 Apr 2023Editorial Decision: Revise Minor
12 May 20231st Revision Received
12 May 2023Assigned to Editor
12 May 2023Submission Checks Completed
12 May 2023Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
07 Jun 2023Editorial Decision: Revise Minor
09 Jun 20232nd Revision Received
19 Jun 2023Submission Checks Completed
19 Jun 2023Assigned to Editor
19 Jun 2023Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
20 Jun 2023Editorial Decision: Accept