Can plankton teach us about longevity?
2024
Calbet, Albert
Animals like tortoises and elephants boast long lifespans. These animals often evolve defenses like thick shells or huge bodies, making them unappetizing or even dangerous to predators. This low risk allows them to invest energy in repairing cellular damage and resisting aging, leading to longer lives. Sparrow, on the other hand, lives in constant danger. Small, defenseless creatures are easy pickings for predators, making long lifespans less advantageous. Instead, they evolve to reproduce quickly, ensuring their genes survive even if individuals do not. It is a numbers game: the more offspring, the higher the chance some will reach adulthood. Therefore, predators play a crucial role in this lifespan equation. High predator pressure keeps short-lived prey populations in check, preventing them from overexploiting resources. Conversely, when predators decline, prey populations can boom, leading to more individuals reaching old age. Imagine a world without lions – gazelles everywhere! [...]
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