Leech, T orcid.org/0000-0002-9504-0739, Sait, SM orcid.org/0000-0002-7208-8617 and Bretman, A orcid.org/0000-0002-4421-3337 (2017) Sex-specific effects of social isolation on ageing in Drosophila melanogaster. Journal of Insect Physiology, 102. pp. 12-17. ISSN 0022-1910
Abstract
Social environments can have a major impact on ageing profiles in many animals. However, such patterns in variation in ageing and their underlying mechanisms are not well understood, particularly because both social contact and isolation can be stressful. Here, we use Drosophila melanogaster fruitflies to examine sex-specific effects of social contact. We kept flies in isolation versus same-sex pairing throughout life, and measured actuarial (lifespan) and functional senescence (declines in climbing ability). To investigate underlying mechanisms, we determined whether an immune stress (wounding) interacted with effects of social contact, and assessed behaviours that could contribute to differences in ageing rates. Pairing reduced lifespan for both sexes, but the effect was greater for males. In contrast, for females pairing reduced the rate of decline in climbing ability, whereas for males, pairing caused more rapid declines with age. Wounding reduced lifespan for both sexes, but doubled the negative effect of pairing on male lifespan. We found no evidence that these effects are driven by behavioural interactions. These findings suggest that males and females are differentially sensitive to social contact, that environmental stressors can impact actuarial and functional senescence differently, and that these effects can interact with environmental stressors, such as immune challenges.
Metadata
Item Type: | Article |
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Authors/Creators: |
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Copyright, Publisher and Additional Information: | © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. This is an author produced version of a paper published in Journal of Insect Physiology. Uploaded in accordance with the publisher's self-archiving policy. |
Keywords: | functional senescence; lifespan; wounding; stress; social environment |
Dates: |
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Institution: | The University of Leeds |
Academic Units: | The University of Leeds > Faculty of Biological Sciences (Leeds) > School of Biology (Leeds) |
Depositing User: | Symplectic Publications |
Date Deposited: | 22 Aug 2017 08:51 |
Last Modified: | 13 Dec 2024 15:54 |
Status: | Published |
Publisher: | Elsevier |
Identification Number: | 10.1016/j.jinsphys.2017.08.008 |
Related URLs: | |
Open Archives Initiative ID (OAI ID): | oai:eprints.whiterose.ac.uk:120441 |