Telomere dynamics and reproductive success
From the bivariate model with RTL and LRS, we found a statistically significant and positive among-individual covariance between RTL and LRS, indicating that individuals with longer mean telomere lengths produce more genetic recruits over their lifetime (\(\sigma\) = 0.12, 95% CI = 0.04 – 0.22, Table 6). There was no among-individual covariation between the rate of RTL change and LRS (Table 6). In contrast, from the bivariate model with RTL and ARS, we did not find any association between RTL and ARS among individuals (\(\sigma\) = 0.002, 95% CI = -0.065 – 0.054, Table 7), meaning that individuals with longer telomeres on average did not produce more recruits from year to year. There was also no statistically significant covariance between RTL and ARS within an individual (residual \(\sigma\) = 0.04, 95% CI = -0.032 – 0.091, Table 7), meaning annual reproductive output did not change as telomere shortens within a bird.