Data from: Telomere attrition with age in a wild amphibian population

Telomere shortening with age has been documented in many organisms, but
few studies have reported telomere length measurements in amphibians, and
no information is available for growth after metamorphosis, nor in wild
populations. We provide both cross-sectional and longitudinal evidence of
net telomere attrition with age in a wild amphibian population of
natterjack toads (Epidalea calamita). Based on age-estimation by
skeletochronology and qPCR telomere length measurements in the framework
of an individual-based monitoring programme, we confirmed telomere
attrition in recaptured males. Our results support that toads experience
telomere attrition throughout their ontogeny, and that most attrition
occurs during the first 1–2 years.We did not find associations between
telomere length and inbreeding or body condition. Our results on telomere
length dynamics under natural conditions confirm telomere shortening with
age in amphibians and provide quantification of wide telomere length
variation within and among age-classes in a wild breeding population.