Telomeres and anthropogenic disturbances in wildlife: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

ABSTRACT: Human-driven environmental changes are affecting wildlife across the globe. These challenges do not influence species or populations to the same extent and therefore a comprehensive evaluation of organismal health is needed to determine their ultimate impact. Evidence suggests that telomeres (the terminal chromosomal regions) are sensitive to environmental conditions and have been posited as a surrogate for animal health and fitness. Evaluation of their use in an applied ecological context is still scarce. Here, using information from molecular and occupational biomedical studies, we aim to provide ecologists and evolutionary biologists with an accessible synthesis of the links between human disturbances and telomere length. In addition, we perform a systematic review and meta-analysis on

SUBMITTER: Salmon P 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9790527 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature