Aging in the natural world: comparative data reveal similar mortality patterns across primates.
Journal Article (Journal Article)
Human senescence patterns-late onset of mortality increase, slow mortality acceleration, and exceptional longevity-are often described as unique in the animal world. Using an individual-based data set from longitudinal studies of wild populations of seven primate species, we show that contrary to assumptions of human uniqueness, human senescence falls within the primate continuum of aging; the tendency for males to have shorter life spans and higher age-specific mortality than females throughout much of adulthood is a common feature in many, but not all, primates; and the aging profiles of primate species do not reflect phylogenetic position. These findings suggest that mortality patterns in primates are shaped by local selective forces rather than phylogenetic history.
Full Text
Duke Authors
Cited Authors
- Bronikowski, AM; Altmann, J; Brockman, DK; Cords, M; Fedigan, LM; Pusey, A; Stoinski, T; Morris, WF; Strier, KB; Alberts, SC
Published Date
- March 2011
Published In
Volume / Issue
- 331 / 6022
Start / End Page
- 1325 - 1328
PubMed ID
- 21393544
Pubmed Central ID
- PMC3396421
Electronic International Standard Serial Number (EISSN)
- 1095-9203
International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)
- 0036-8075
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
- 10.1126/science.1201571
Language
- eng