The diversity of maternal-age effects upon pre-adult survival across animal species.

ABSTRACT: Maternal senescence is the detrimental effect of increased maternal age on offspring performance. Despite much recent interest given to describing this phenomenon, its distribution across animal species is poorly understood. A review of the published literature finds that maternal age affects pre-adult survival in 252 of 272 populations (93%) representing 97 animal species. Age effects tended to be deleterious in invertebrates and mammals, including humans, confirming the presence of senescence. However, bird species were a conspicuous exception, as pre-adult survival tended to increase with maternal age in surveyed populations. In all groups, maternal-age effects became more negative in older mothers. Invertebrates senesced faster than vertebrates, and humans aged faster than non-human ma

SUBMITTER: Ivimey-Cook E 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7575525 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature