Arguing the Primacy of Predation in Determining Species Longevity

Researchers here review a variety of species and conclude that defense against predation is the most important determinant of species longevity. Long-lived species tend to have shells, or fly, or live underground. Evolution will not favor longevity until other factors reduce extrinsic mortality at the hands of predators. After that, proximate biochemical causes of longevity can come into play in what looks to be a wide variety of ways. Various environmental morphological and behavioral factors can determine the longevity of representatives of various taxa. Long-lived species develop systems aimed at increasing organism stability, defense, and, ultimately, lifespan. Long-lived species to a different extent manifest the factors favoring longevity, such as body size, slow metabolism, activity of body's repair and antioxidant defense systems, resistance to toxic substances and tumorigenesis, and presence of neotenic features. In continuation of our studies of mammals, we investigated the characteristics that distinguish long-lived ectotherms (crocodiles and turtles) and compared them with those of other ectotherms (squamates and amphibians) and endotherms (birds and mammals). We also discussed mathematical indicators used to assess the predisposition to longevity in different species, including standard indicators (mortality rate, maximum lifespan, coefficient of variation of lifespan) and their derivatives. Evolutionary patterns of aging are further explained by ...
Source: Fight Aging! - Category: Research Authors: Tags: Daily News Source Type: blogs