OOS 47 - Universal Senescence? New Theories and Experimental Approaches Across the Tree of Life

Thursday, August 9, 2012: 1:30 PM-5:00 PM
A105, Oregon Convention Center
Organizer:
Roberto Salguero-Gomez, The University of Queensland
Co-organizer:
Richard P. Shefferson, University of Tokyo
Moderator:
Richard P. Shefferson, University of Tokyo
All multicellular organisms experience physiological changes with age, a phenomenon known as ageing. However, do they all senesce? Following Hamilton’s work, senescence, or the decrease in survival and/or fecundity with age, has become a dogma of life history theory. Indeed, the “wear-and-tear” of life is considered something of a law of life by the non-scientific population. Still, field research has highlighted some species that seem not to age (e.g., alligators, hydra, bristlecone pine). Furthermore, new theories have refuted the inexorable nature of senescence, using key organisms as examples. This symposium will (i) introduce new theoretical frameworks for the evolution of senescence, (ii) incorporate the latest ecological and evolutionary experimental research on senescence across the tree of life (plants, fungi and animals), (iii) explore the role of proxies to fitness other than age (e.g., development and size) on the evolution of senescence, and (iv) provide a more mechanistic understanding of senescence by bridging the gap between physiology and demography.
1:30 PM
 When and why senescence evolves
Annette Baudisch, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research; Roberto Salguero-Gomez, The University of Queensland; Fernando Colchero, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research; Owen Jones, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research; Thomas Wrycza, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research; Oskar Burger, University of New Mexico; Dalia A. Conde Ovando, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research; Boris Kramer, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research; Maren Rebke, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research; Felix Ringelhan, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research; Ralf Schaible, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research; Alexander Scheuerlein, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research; James Vaupel, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research
1:50 PM
 Phenotypic dynamics, heterogeneity and the evolution of senescence
Shripad Tuljapurkar, Stanford University; Tim Coulson, University of Oxford
2:50 PM
 Looking for senescence in unorthodox organisms: A demographic life history analysis of an epiphytic lichen
Daniel F. Doak, University of Colorado; Robert K. Shriver, Duke University; Kelly Cutler, University of Wyoming
3:10 PM
3:40 PM
 On the variability of senescence trajectories
Owen R. Jones, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research; Roberto Salguero-Gómez, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research; Fernando Colchero, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research; Alexander Scheuerlein, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research
4:00 PM
 No senescence in a centenarian relict plant
Maria B. Garcia, Pyrenean Institute of Ecology - CSIC; Johan Dahlgren, Southern Denmark University; Johan Ehrlén, Stockholm University
4:20 PM
 Senescence in ectothermic vertebrates: Peaks and valleys in the landscape of reptilian aging
Anne M. Bronikowski, Iowa State University; Fredric J. Janzen, Iowa State University
4:40 PM
 If you want a long life, make sure to senesce
Maarten J. Wensink, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research; Annette Baudisch, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research
See more of: Organized Oral Session