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.