The Distinct Lifestyles of Flamingoes
Though the flocks of pink flamingoes may appear uniform, the reality is that individual birds adopt markedly different lifestyles. In the Camargue region of France, some flamingoes choose to remain in the same location throughout their lives, while others embark on seasonal migrations along the Mediterranean coast. A recent study suggests these differing lifestyles might also influence the aging process.
Research Findings
A study released on August 25 in the journal PNAS reveals that migratory flamingoes, which leave the Camargue each year to winter in Italy, Spain, or North Africa, demonstrate slower aging compared to their non-migratory counterparts. This research introduces a fascinating correlation between migratory habits and the rate of aging, tackling fundamental questions in biology regarding the varying lifespan of different species.
“Understanding the causes of changes in the rate of aging is a problem that has obsessed researchers and polymath philosophers since ancient times,”
stated co-author Hugo Cayuela, a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Oxford. He added,
“For a long time, we thought that these variations occurred mainly between species. But recently, our perception of the problem has changed.”
Variations Within a Species
Emerging evidence indicates that individuals within the same species can age at different rates, influenced by factors such as genetics, behavior, and environmental conditions, according to Cayuela. The Camargue’s greater flamingoes, with their longevity and behavioral diversity, serve as an excellent model for studying aging.
The research team assessed over 40 years of data from the Tour du Valat research institute’s flamingo tagging and tracking program, analyzing mortality and reproductive behaviors among 1,840 greater flamingoes across the Mediterranean region. The findings reveal that resident flamingoes have lower mortality rates during early adulthood than migratory ones, resulting in an average life expectancy that exceeds that of migrants by 6.7 years.
Conversely, migratory flamingoes age approximately 40% slower and experience lower mortality rates later in life compared to their resident peers. Notably, aging appears to commence a year and a half earlier in resident flamingoes.
Differences in Reproductive Patterns
The research also identified distinct reproductive trends between the two groups. Although resident flamingoes had a higher likelihood of breeding early in life, they experienced a more pronounced decline in reproductive success as they aged compared to migratory flamingoes.
“While residents can reproduce more often early in life, this comes at a cost: higher mortality and reduced reproductive success later on,”
said co-author Jocelyn Champagnon, a research scientist at Tour du Valat. She added,
“Migrants, on the other hand, may trade off some early reproduction for better survival later in life.”
Behavior and Biology
The observed differences in aging and reproductive success are likely connected to a balance between early life performance and long-term health, according to co-author Sébastien Roques from the French National Center for Scientific Research. He noted,
“Residents live intensely at first, but pay for this pace later on. Migrants, on the other hand, seem to age more slowly.”
Collectively, these findings indicate that while migration may introduce certain disadvantages during the early stages of life, it may ultimately contribute to a decreased rate of aging and a slower decline in reproductive ability later on. The researchers emphasize the vital role migration plays in influencing survival and reproduction throughout a flamingo’s life.
“Our study shows that the shape and pace of aging can be shaped by individual decisions early in life, such as migration or early reproduction,”
Champagnon remarked. Although these conclusions cannot be directly extrapolated to humans, she expressed hope that future research will explore how human migration may impact aging rates.
