Journals of Gerontology Series A: Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences Large Type Edition
HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced]


     

This Article
Right arrow Full Text
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Ricklefs, R. E.
Right arrow Articles by Cadena, C. D.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Ricklefs, R. E.
Right arrow Articles by Cadena, C. D.
The Journals of Gerontology Series A: Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences 63:435-446 (2008)
© 2008 The Gerontological Society of America

Heritability of Longevity in Captive Populations of Nondomesticated Mammals and Birds

Robert E. Ricklefs and Carlos Daniel Cadena

1 Department of Biology, University of Missouri, St. Louis.
2 Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad de los Andes, Bogotá, Colombia.

Address correspondence to Robert E. Ricklefs, PhD, Department of Biology, University of Missouri-St. Louis, 8001 Natural Bridge Rd., St. Louis, MO 63121-4499. E-mail: ricklefs{at}umsl.edu

We used variance components analysis and offspring–parent regression to estimate the heritability of age at death in zoo populations of several species of mammals and birds. A meta-analysis over 14 species of mammals indicated a variance–component heritability of 0.53. More conservative regression estimates of heritability for the same species averaged 0.17. Offspring–parent regressions were not significant for any of eight species of birds. Heritabilities for data simulated with frailty and age-at-death models showed that sources of variation in age at death cannot be distinguished from observed heritabilities. The CVA in age at death in six mammal species, based on parent–offspring regression, ranged from 0.20 to 0.54. The absence of substantial genetic variation for age at death in birds might be related to the stringency of flight, allowing for little variation in the optimization of life-history trade-offs.

Key Words: Additive genetic coefficient of variation • Aging • Heritability • Life span • Meta-analysis • Mortality • Offspring–parent regression • Variance components • Weibull function • Zoo populations






HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
All GSA journals The Gerontologist
Journals of Gerontology Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences
Copyright © 2008 by The Gerontological Society of America.