Artificial selection for increased reproductive effort accelerates actuarial senescence and reduces lifespan in a precocial bird

Life history theory and evolutionary theories of ageing predict that trade-offs between reproduction and somatic maintenance shape the evolution of ageing and lifespan. However, the significance of these trade-offs remains debated, as previous correlational studies have produced inconsistent results. Here we used an experimental artificial selection approach in a precocial bird, the Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica), to directly test this fundamental tenet. We found that selection for divergent reproductive effort affected adult survival, with shorter lifespans in individuals selected for higher reproductive effort compared to individuals selected for lower reproductive effort at generations five and six. This difference in lifespan was driven by accelerated actuarial senescence rather than changes in baseline mortality. No differences in reproductive senescence were observed between the selection treatments. Our findings provide experimental evidence that vertebrate mortality trajecto..., , # Data from: Artificial selection for increased reproductive effort accelerates actuarial senescence and reduces lifespan in a precocial bird

Dataset DOI: [10.5061/dryad.2547d7x5d](https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.2547d7x5d)

## Description of the data and file structure

#### File: Survival_all.csv

**Description:** 

Survival data for all birds included in the study.

##### Variables

* ring: individual ID
* line: selection line: H - high investment, L - low investment
* sex: sex of the individual (male or female)
* replicate: biological replicate of selection lines (replicate 1 or 2)
* tarsus: tarsus length in mm (a measure of body size)
* cause.death: died naturally (natural death), was euthanised due to health or welfare reasons (Euthanised due to health reason) or still alive at the end of the study (NA)
* time: time from hatching to event (either death or end of study) in days
* status: 1 = dead, 0 = alive
* generation: generation of selection treatment (5 or 6)
* family: ring numb...,