A long post-reproductive lifespan is a shared trait among genetically distinct killer whale populations
dc.contributor.author | Nielsen, MLK | |
dc.contributor.author | Ellis, S | |
dc.contributor.author | Towers, JR | |
dc.contributor.author | Doniol-Valcroze, T | |
dc.contributor.author | Franks, DW | |
dc.contributor.author | Cant, MA | |
dc.contributor.author | Weiss, MN | |
dc.contributor.author | Johnstone, RA | |
dc.contributor.author | Balcomb, KC, III | |
dc.contributor.author | Ellifrit, DK | |
dc.contributor.author | Croft, DP | |
dc.date.accessioned | 2021-05-19T13:15:22Z | |
dc.date.issued | 2021-06-16 | |
dc.description.abstract | The extended female post-reproductive lifespan found in humans and some toothed whales remains an evolutionary puzzle. Theory predicts demographic patterns resulting in increased female relatedness with age (kinship dynamics) can select for a prolonged post reproductive lifespan due to the combined costs of inter-generational reproductive conflict and benefits of late-life helping. Here we test this prediction using >40 years of longitudinal demographic data from the sympatric yet genetically distinct killer whale ecotypes: resident and Bigg’s killer whales. The female relatedness with age is predicted to increase in both ecotypes, but with a less steep increase in Bigg’s due to their different social structure. Here, we show that there is a significant post-reproductive lifespan in both ecotypes with >30% of adult female years being lived as post-reproductive, supporting the general prediction that an increase in local relatedness with age predisposes the evolution of a post reproductive lifespan. Differences in the magnitude of kinship dynamics however, did not influence the timing or duration of the post-reproductive lifespan with females in both ecotypes terminating reproduction before their mid-40s followed by an expected post reproductive period of ~20 years. Our results highlight the important role of kinship dynamics in the evolution of a long post-reproductive lifespan in long-lived mammals, while further implying that the timing of menopause may be a robust trait that is persistent despite substantial variation in demographic patterns among populations. | en_GB |
dc.description.sponsorship | Nuffield Foundation | en_GB |
dc.description.sponsorship | Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) | en_GB |
dc.description.sponsorship | Leverhulme Trust | en_GB |
dc.description.sponsorship | Earthwatch Institute | en_GB |
dc.description.sponsorship | NOAA Fisheries | en_GB |
dc.description.sponsorship | Fisheries and Oceans Canada Species At Risk Program | en_GB |
dc.identifier.citation | Published online 16 June 2021 | en_GB |
dc.identifier.doi | 10.1002/ece3.7756 | |
dc.identifier.grantnumber | NAL/32740 | en_GB |
dc.identifier.grantnumber | NE/S010327/1 | en_GB |
dc.identifier.grantnumber | NE/L002434/1 | en_GB |
dc.identifier.uri | http://hdl.handle.net/10871/125756 | |
dc.language.iso | en | en_GB |
dc.publisher | Wiley / European Society for Evolutionary Biology / Society for the Study of Evolution | en_GB |
dc.relation.url | https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.6t1g1jwxx | |
dc.rights | © 2021 The Authors. Ecology and Evolution published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd. This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. | |
dc.subject | Kinship dynamics | en_GB |
dc.subject | post-reproductive lifespan | en_GB |
dc.subject | menopause | en_GB |
dc.subject | Orcinus orca | en_GB |
dc.title | A long post-reproductive lifespan is a shared trait among genetically distinct killer whale populations | en_GB |
dc.type | Article | en_GB |
dc.date.available | 2021-05-19T13:15:22Z | |
dc.identifier.issn | 2045-7758 | |
dc.description | This is the final version. Available on open access from Wiley via the DOI in this record | en_GB |
dc.description | Data availability: Data to replicate the analyses are available from the online repository: https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.6t1g1jwxx. Requests for access to raw data can be directed to the authors, the Center for Whale Research (www.whaleresearch.com) or Fisheries and Oceans Canada (www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca) | en_GB |
dc.identifier.journal | Ecology and Evolution | en_GB |
dc.rights.uri | https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ | en_GB |
dcterms.dateAccepted | 2021-05-18 | |
exeter.funder | ::Nuffield Foundation | en_GB |
exeter.funder | ::Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) | en_GB |
rioxxterms.version | VoR | en_GB |
rioxxterms.licenseref.startdate | 2021-05-18 | |
rioxxterms.type | Journal Article/Review | en_GB |
refterms.dateFCD | 2021-05-19T12:49:50Z | |
refterms.versionFCD | AM | |
refterms.dateFOA | 2021-06-30T14:09:03Z | |
refterms.panel | A | en_GB |
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Except where otherwise noted, this item's licence is described as © 2021 The Authors. Ecology and Evolution published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd. This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits use, distribution and reproduction in any medium,
provided the original work is properly cited.