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Sex‐specific body mass ageing trajectories in adult Asian elephants
Author(s) -
Lalande Lucas D.,
Lummaa Virpi,
Aung Htoo H.,
Htut Win,
Nyein U. Kyaw,
Berger Vérane,
Briga Michael
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
journal of evolutionary biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.289
H-Index - 128
eISSN - 1420-9101
pISSN - 1010-061X
DOI - 10.1111/jeb.14008
Subject(s) - sexual dimorphism , biology , elephas , ageing , sexual selection , population , sex characteristics , zoology , demography , ecology , endocrinology , genetics , sociology
In species with marked sexual dimorphism, the classic prediction is that the sex which undergoes stronger intrasexual competition ages earlier or quicker. However, more recently, alternative hypotheses have been put forward, showing that this association can be disrupted. Here, we utilize a unique, longitudinal data set of a semi‐captive population of Asian elephants ( Elephas maximus ), a species with marked male‐biased intrasexual competition, with males being larger and having shorter lifespans, and investigate whether males show earlier and/or faster body mass ageing than females. We found evidence of sex‐specific body mass ageing trajectories: adult males gained weight up to the age of 48 years old, followed by a decrease in body mass until natural death. In contrast, adult females gained body mass with age until a body mass decline in the last year of life. Our study shows sex‐specific ageing patterns, with an earlier onset of body mass declines in males than females, which is consistent with the predictions of the classical theory of ageing.