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Altitudinal variation for senescence in Melanoplus grasshoppers
Marc Tatar1, Dennis W Gray1, James R Carey1
1Department of Entomology, University of California, Davis, CA, USA, , , , , , US.
Oecologia
|March 18, 2017
Summary
Grasshopper populations at higher altitudes in the Sierra Nevada exhibit faster aging (senescence) compared to lower-altitude populations. This accelerated senescence in high-elevation grasshoppers may be an adaptation to harsh winter conditions.
Area of Science:
- Ecology
- Evolutionary Biology
- Gerontology
Background:
- Senescence, the process of aging, can vary significantly across populations.
- Understanding the drivers of senescence variation is crucial for evolutionary and ecological studies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate differences in senescence rates among grasshopper populations along an altitudinal gradient.
- To determine if genetic factors contribute to observed senescence variations.
Main Methods:
- Grasshopper males (Melanoplus sanguinipes/devastator complex) from five altitudinal populations were reared under two controlled thermal conditions.
- Adult cohort survival was monitored to assess senescence rates.
- Maternal effects on offspring aging were controlled for.
Main Results:
- Senescence was observed in laboratory conditions, with mortality increasing with age.
- Grasshopper cohorts from low-elevation populations showed higher survival rates than those from high-elevation populations.
- Body size variation did not explain the observed differences in survival.
Conclusions:
- High-elevation grasshopper populations exhibit accelerated senescence.
- This accelerated aging is likely a result of evolutionary adaptations related to reproductive schedules under severe winter conditions.
- Genetic differences in senescence rates are indicated, independent of maternal effects.
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