August
27, 2018, BioMed Central
Traffic
noise may be associated with an increased rate of telomere loss in Zebra
finches that have left the nest, according to a study published
in Frontiers in Zoology. Telomeres are caps on the ends of chromosomes
that protect genes from damage. Shortening of telomeres indicates accelerated
biological aging.
Researchers
at the Max Planck Institute for Ornithology, Germany and North Dakota State
University, USA, investigated the effect of traffic noise on
the telomere length
of offspring Zebra finches. The researchers found that zebra finches that
were exposed to traffic noise after they had
left the nest had
shorter telomeres at 120 days of age than Zebra finches that were exposed to
noise until 18 days post-hatch (before they had left the nest) and whose
parents were exposed to traffic noise during courtship, egg-laying, and
nesting. Finches exposed to noise after leaving the nest also had shorter
telomeres than those which had not been exposed to traffic noise at all.
Dr.
Adriana Dorado-Correa, corresponding author of the study, said: "Our study
suggests that urban noise alone, independent from the many other aspects of
city life, such as light pollution or chemical pollution, is associated with
increased telomere loss and may contribute to aging in Zebra finches. Our study
is a first step towards identifying the causal mechanisms that may account for
differences in life span observed between birds living in urban or
rural environments."
Dr. Sue
Anne Zollinger, co-author of the study added: "Cellular ageing as a result
of urban stressors is something that may not have a very visible impact, but
our study indicates that although birds may seem to be adapting to life in
noisy cities, they may actually be aging faster. It may be important to
consider developmental stages in birds when studying the effects of
urbanization, as the mechanisms by which these human-induced habitat changes
impact individuals may change throughout their lifetime."
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