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Are urbanization and brood parasitism associated with differences in telomere lengths in song sparrows?
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  • Samuel Lane,
  • Ben Vernasco,
  • Taylor Fossett,
  • Isaac VanDiest,
  • Heather E. Watts,
  • Kendra Sewall
Samuel Lane
Virginia Tech

Corresponding Author:samuellane496@gmail.com

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Ben Vernasco
Washington State University
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Taylor Fossett
Virginia Tech
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Isaac VanDiest
Virginia Tech
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Heather E. Watts
Washington State University
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Kendra Sewall
Virginia Tech
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Abstract

Urbanization reflects a major form of environmental change impacting wild birds globally. Whereas urban habitats may provide increased availability of water, some food items, and reduced predation levels compared to rural, they can also present novel stressors including increased light at night, ambient noise, and reduced nutrient availability. Urbanization can also alter levels of brood parasitism, with some host species experiencing elevated levels of brood parasitism in urban areas compared to rural areas. Though the demographic and behavioral consequences of urbanization and brood parasitism have received considerable attention, their consequences for cellular-level processes are less understood. Telomeres provide an opportunity to understand the cellular consequences of different environments as they are a well-established metric of biological state that can be associated with residual lifespan, disease risk, and behaviour, and are known to be sensitive to environmental conditions. Here we examine the relationships between urbanization, brood parasitism, and blood telomere lengths in adult and nestling song sparrows (Melospiza melodia). Song sparrows are a North American songbird found in both urban and rural habitats that experience high rates of brood parasitism by brown-headed cowbirds (Molothrus ater) in the urban, but not the rural, sites in our study system. Among adults and nestlings from non-parasitized nests, we found no differences in relative telomere lengths between urban and rural habitats. However, among urban nestlings, the presence of a brood parasite in the nest was associated with significantly shorter relative telomere lengths compared to when a brood parasite was absent. Our results suggest a novel, indirect, impact of urbanization on nestling songbirds through the physiological impacts of brood parasitism.
12 Sep 2023Submitted to Journal of Avian Biology
13 Sep 2023Submission Checks Completed
13 Sep 2023Assigned to Editor
13 Sep 2023Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
13 Sep 2023Reviewer(s) Assigned
03 Feb 20241st Revision Received
04 Feb 2024Submission Checks Completed
04 Feb 2024Assigned to Editor
04 Feb 2024Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
11 Apr 2024Submission Checks Completed
11 Apr 2024Assigned to Editor
11 Apr 2024Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
16 Apr 2024Reviewer(s) Assigned