The evolutionary ecology of senescence
The evolutionary ecology of senescence
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DOI：
10.1111/j.1365-2435.2008.01418.x
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发表时间：
2008-06-01
影响因子：
5.2
通讯作者：
Ricklefs, R. E.
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Monaghan, P.;Charmantier, A.;Ricklefs, R. E.
1.关于衰老的研究主要集中在其根本原因上，并且集中在实验室条件下的人类和相对较少的模式生物上。为了理解衰老的进化生态学，需要对更广泛的分类范围进行研究，结合实地研究，并在可能的情况下进行纵向研究。衰老通常被认为涉及性能的进行性恶化，重要的是将其与其他年龄相关的表型变化区分开来。我们概述并讨论了为什么选择没有消除衰老的主要解释，并总结了被认为涉及的主要机制。衰老研究的主要重点是与年龄有关的死亡风险变化。然而，进化生物学家关注的是适应性，而生存只是适应性的一个组成部分。为了理解选择压力塑造衰老模式，需要更多的关注与年龄相关的生育力变化。遗传和环境因素都会影响衰老的速度。然而，需要更清楚地区分寿命和衰老率，以及改变死亡总体风险的因素和改变衰老率的因素。当考虑到衰老的潜在可逆性和可塑性以及环境影响（如生命早期的环境）时，这一点尤为重要。需要协调研究衰老的不同方法，并将解释衰老进化的理论与性选择和亲属选择等其他进化理论整合起来。
1. Research on senescence has largely focused on its underlying causes, and is concentrated on humans and relatively few model organisms in laboratory conditions. To understand the evolutionary ecology of senescence, research on a broader taxonomic range is needed, incorporating field, and, where possible, longitudinal studies.2. Senescence is generally considered to involve progressive deterioration in performance, and it is important to distinguish this from other age-related phenotypic changes. We outline and discuss the main explanations of why selection has not eliminated senescence, and summarise the principal mechanisms thought to be involved.3. The main focus of research on senescence is on age-related changes in mortality risk. However, evolutionary biologists focus on fitness, of which survival is only one component. To understand the selective pressures shaping senescence patterns, more attention needs to be devoted to age-related changes in fecundity.4. Both genetic and environmental factors influence the rate of senescence. However, a much clearer distinction needs to be drawn between life span and senescence rate, and between factors that alter the overall risk of death, and factors that alter the rate of senescence. This is particularly important when considering the potential reversibility and plasticity of senescence, and environmental effects, such as circumstances early in life.5. There is a need to reconcile the different approaches to studying senescence, and to integrate theories to explain the evolution of senescence with other evolutionary theories such as sexual and kin selection.