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A marker of biological ageing predicts adult risk preference in European starlings, Sturnus vulgaris

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Listed:
  • Clare Andrews
  • Daniel Nettle
  • Sophie Reichert
  • Tom Bedford
  • Pat Monaghan
  • Melissa Bateson

Abstract

Why do some individuals gamble more than others? Existing theories, based on how close animals are to starvation, have been only weakly supported by evidence. We found that faster ageing birds were less likely to gamble while foraging. We measured biological ageing in starlings from the shortening of DNA sequences called telomeres. Birds’ whose telomeres shortened more had stronger preferences for a foraging option yielding a consistent amount of food over a variable amount.

Suggested Citation

  • Clare Andrews & Daniel Nettle & Sophie Reichert & Tom Bedford & Pat Monaghan & Melissa Bateson, 2018. "A marker of biological ageing predicts adult risk preference in European starlings, Sturnus vulgaris," Behavioral Ecology, International Society for Behavioral Ecology, vol. 29(3), pages 589-597.
    • Handle: RePEc:oup:beheco:v:29:y:2018:i:3:p:589-597.
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    File URL: http://hdl.handle.net/10.1093/beheco/ary009
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    References listed on IDEAS

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