Maximum Longevity Research Articles

DNA repair and longevity in mice, other rodents and men

Large differences in maximum longevity exist between different rodent species. Determination of the spontaneous and mutagen-induced mutation rates in these species by single (somatic) cell sequencing suggests more efficient DNA repair in long-lived species (including humans), but the data is too noisy to prove a strong correlation between longevity and preservation of DNA integrity.

Phylogenetic signal and evolutionary relationships among traits of inland fishes along elevational and longitudinal gradients

AbstractUnderstanding the main drivers of species distributions is one of the main goals of ecology. However, the relationships between traits and elevational and longitudinal distributions in inland fishes, as well as their underlying evolutionary processes, have been less investigated. Thus, we aimed to quantify and assess the relationships among several types of traits resulting from species’ evolutionary histories by measuring their phylogenetic signal across inland fishes of the Iberian Peninsula. We also aimed to test for correlated evolution of these traits with elevation and stream size (i.e. stream order), to test whether a species’ suite of traits and their elevational and longitudinal niche tend to evolve together.We compiled data on 23 fish biological and ecological traits for 30 inland fish species present in the Iberian Peninsula. We quantified their phylogenetic signal using four complementary indices (Pagel’sλ, Blomberg’sK, and Abouheif’sCmeanfor continuous and −D + 1 for binary traits). We used both phylogenetic and non‐phylogenetic methods to evaluate the relationship among traits and their relationship with elevation and stream order.We found a significant phylogenetic signal for 65% of the studied traits. Phylogenetic signals were quite variable, but we did not detect clear differences between continuous and binary traits or among trait types (i.e. morphological, trophic, reproductive, and habitat use). Evolutionary models revealed that elevational and longitudinal distribution showed little evidence for directional trends of evolution. Hence, species elevational and longitudinal niches tend to resemble to those of the common ancestor.Many fish traits were inter‐correlated as revealed by phylogenetic methods, indicating correlated evolution of pairs of traits. For example, reproductive traits such as maximum longevity, fecundity and age at maturity tended to evolve together with fish maximum length. Consequently, certain orders of fish showed shared suites of traits.Comparative methods revealed a significant positive relationship of parental care with elevation and stream order. By contrast, non‐phylogenetic analyses and multivariate analyses indicated positive relationships between elevation and rheophily and lithophily, and a negative relationship between stream order and invertivory and rheophily.Overall, our results point to a notable phylogenetic signal in many traits of inland fishes and a strong phylogenetic structure in their functional traits along their elevational and longitudinal gradients. Thereby, our results contribute to an improved understanding of species’ adaptations to environmental changes with important conceptual and practical implications for minimising further species losses.

Environmental effect on temporal patterns in lentil seed quality development

AbstractTo maximize seed longevity, seeds should be harvested at optimal maturity, that is, when seeds have acquired maximum physiological quality before deterioration begins. The aim of this study was to map the variation in temporal patterns of lentil (Lens culinaris Medik.) seed quality development when grown across four regeneration environments, which differ in the level of temperature and humidity control throughout the growing season, at the Australian Grains Genebank. Seeds of two lentil accessions (76080 and 76072) were harvested at different stages throughout development, commencing at 21 d after 50% anthesis until a maximum of 130 d. At each harvest, physiological quality traits, including germinability (fresh and dried seeds) and seed longevity, were determined, as well as seed dry weight and moisture content. Seeds of both accessions, and in all environments, started to accumulate physiological quality early on in development but did not reach their maximum until 3–54 d after mass maturity. The temporal patterns of desiccation tolerance and storage longevity were highly influenced by the environmental conditions during the maturation drying phase, affecting both ‘when’ maximum quality was attained and for how long it was maintained, thereafter. Seeds did not show a typical developmental response, rather variation was observed in seed quality development both between and within accessions grown in the different environments. The poorest storage longevity was seen when seeds of both accessions were grown in the cooler, temperature-controlled glasshouse, and the maximum longevity was observed in the warmer, semi-protected environments of the green and the big igloo for accessions 76080 and 76072, respectively.

The relay for human longevity: country-specific contributions to the increase of the best-practice life expectancy

This study investigates the long-term dynamics of longevity by taking into account the specific contribution of each country, and how this has changed over time, thus highlighting different timing and speeds of the evolution of life expectancy among the low-lowest mortality countries. Leveraging on quantile regression, we analyze the specific position of countries that have recorded the maximum (BPLE) and second-best life expectancy value at least once in the period 1960-2014, both at ages 0 and 65. Moving in this direction, the purpose of our contribution is to provide new perspectives on the untracked behavior that may be overshadowed by the maximum longevity levels. Our results provide a comprehensive picture of the different phases and transitions experienced by developed countries in the evolution of life expectancy that has led to a continuous increase in the BPLE. This study is a prominent practice in detecting untracked behaviors, providing imminent onsets on the maximum and sub-maximum values, thus contributing to new clues for future longevity.

Pós-colheita de flores comestíveis

Abstract The objective of this work was to evaluate the changes in the physicochemical properties of different species of edible flowers in the postharvest period. Flowers of Viola cornuta (light or dark colored), Viola tricolor, Antirrhinum majus, Dianthus chinensis, and Tagetes patula were selected, packed, and placed in a cold chamber of the BOD type, at 5±1°C and 90–95% relative humidity. Every two days, fresh weight loss, visual quality using a scale score, and total longevity were evaluated. The total soluble solids (SS) content, titratable acidity (TA), the SS/TA ratio, and pH were also evaluated at the time of harvest and at the end of postharvest life. There was a significant increase in the SS contents of light-colored V. cornuta, V. tricolor, and D. chinensis. A significant reduction in TA was observed in light-colored V. cornuta, V. tricolor, A. majus, and D. chinensis at the end of postharvest life. The pH value increased significantly only in T. patula flowers. The studied species of edible flowers have a short commercial longevity, which varies from 4 to 10 days, while the maximum total longevity varies from 6 to 14 days.

Site fidelity and other attributes of infrequently trapped bats over two decades in a montane wet sclerophyll forest

A long-term perspective on bat populations is lacking in most ecosystems. We describe fluctuations in capture rate, sex ratio, body condition, site fidelity and longevity of banded bats over two decades as part of an annual banding study in a montane forest. We focus on five species previously omitted from mark–recapture analyses because band returns were too low. Each species was infrequently trapped and/or retrapped, though this was often highly variable. A degree of site fidelity was recorded for all species, even those where trap success was low. We recorded maximum longevity (likely an underestimate) of at least 5 years for eastern falsistrelle Falsistrellus tasmaniensis and 7 years for Gould’s long-eared bat Nyctophilus gouldi and golden-tipped bat Phoniscus papuensis. Although N. gouldi was assumed to be highly detectable in harp traps, recaptures were few and none were retrapped more than once. No female greater-broad-nosed bat Scoteanax rueppellii were captured, a minor male bias was evident for F. tasmaniensis and sex ratios were close to parity for N. gouldi, P. papuensis and eastern horseshoe bat Rhinolophus megaphyllus. Body condition and mass were mostly stable over the study and were not related to periods of drought (except perhaps F. tasmaniensis in 2019) or higher rainfall. Although we recorded some degree of site fidelity among years, the extent of any seasonal or nomadic movements remains largely unknown.

Soil fungi, Aspergillus niger NAAC, as environmental pollution clean-up agent against Progesterone: Remediation strategy and preparation of Bioformulation

The presence of hormones, drugs and chemicals in the environment are disrupting the ecosystem. The existence of chemicals in the environment is a threat to the ecosystem as they have dangerous effects on animals, plants and microbes. Progesterones are steroid hormones used for human contraceptives and therapeutic purposes as well as promoting animal growth. The cases of consumption of progesterone for medical purposes are much higher than estrogens, however, much studies related to estrogens have been conducted thereby neglecting the effects of progesterone. This invention focuses on removal of progesterone using fungal strain. Aspergillus niger NAAC efficiently degraded the progesterone content and transformed it into non-toxic end product. The uniqueness of this study involves preparation of a formulated product which would store the fungal strain and maintain its viability. The bioformulation was prepared using used vegetable cooking oil mixed with water as carrier. The bioformulation would reduce the efforts required to isolate the microorganism for regular usage and can be commercialized for large scale applications. To determine the storage conditions of bioformulation, various parameters were analysed which showed that storing the formulation in air tight container at room temperature would result in maximum longevity of the efficient strain.

Parametric Study and Optimization for Welding Processes Using Machine Learning

Optimization facilitates in attainment of maximum strength, efficiency, reliability, productivity and longevity. In this work, data from three material joining processes - Ultrasonic welding of polymers, arc welding as Metal Inert Gas and Tungsten Inert Gas are analysed for establishing quantitative relationship between the process parameters and for prediction of weld features using Multivariate Linear Regression algorithm. The various dependency coefficients and characteristics generated with the ML algorithms are in agreement with the inherent dependency as obtained from experimental data and simulation results. This investigation is a preliminary attempt with a limited set of data to manifest the suitability of machine learning techniques; nevertheless, the results are far from conclusive owing to small data set and hence may be extended to precisely model joining processes with higher number of process parameters, degree of freedom and responses.

Combined foliar-applied L-glutamic acid, nitrogen, and potassium improve plant growth, physio-chemical attributes, minerals, and longevity of gerbera (Gerbera jamesonii)

Foliar application of amino acids and nutrients is an effective practice to improve plant yield in agriculture and horticulture. The hydroponic experiment was carried out to find the changes in physiological attributes, antioxidant enzymes activity, minerals, and flower number and longevity of gerbera (Gerbera jamesonii) plants under foliar application of L-glutamic acid (GA), potassium (K), and nitrogen (N). Plant fresh weight under 4 and 8 g L−1 GA was higher than other experimental treatments. The main improvement of flower number was related to 5 g L−1 K. Lignification in plants treated with non-GA/N and 5 g L−1 K was higher compared to other experimental treatments. Relative water content (RWC) and total soluble sugar (TSS) in plants sprayed with 8 g L−1 GA and 5 g L−1 N and K were greater than other experiment plans. The activities of phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL), catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD) increased by progressing GA, N, and K application. The highest leaf P was observed in 4 g L−1 GA with no foliar-applied K and N. Leaf N increased with enhancing GA and N, in which its highest amount was found in plants experiencing 8 g L−1, 4 g L−1 N, and 5 g L−1. Besides, the concentration of K increased by advancing the foliar-applied GA, N, and K, particularly K levels. The maximum flower longevity, as an important trait, increased with 8 g L−1, 10 g L−1 N, and 5 g L−1 K. The present study suggests high concentration of GA in combination with high N and medium K to achieve the optimum plant quantity and quality in gerbera. Heat map analysis showed two distinguished clusters by GA and N through an effective role of SOD, TSS, PAL, and CAT in distinguishing the GA-based clusters and TSS, flower number, and P for N-based clusters.

Dinosaurian survivorship schedules revisited: new insights from an age‐structured population model

AbstractLittle is known of dinosaur population biology due to insufficient information on age‐dependent fecundities and mortalities. So far, survivorship curves (SC) of only six dinosaurs (four tyrannosaurs, one ceratopsian, one hadrosaur) have been erected from bone assemblages of aged specimens. They indicate high survival throughout most of their life with presumably higher mortalities after hatching and increasing mortalities towards its end. However, none of these studies recognized that to infer a reliable SC for a taxon, the assemblage must preserve a stationary age distribution (i.e. one which is stable, with constant population size over time as overall fecundities match mortalities, hereafter SAD population). To assess SCs of these dinosaurs, I built a simple population model with age‐dependent fecundities and survival rates. Its three input parameters are maximum longevity, age at sexual maturation and maximum annual offspring number, for which information exists on these dinosaurs. As bone histological studies and scaling relationships provide estimates on these parameters, my model is also applicable to other extinct taxa. Modelling suggests that bone assemblages did not preserve SAD populations. SCs determined for SAD populations of Albertosaurus sarcophagus, Gorgosaurus libratus, Dasplatosaurus torosus and Tyrannosaurus rex indicated that low mortalities followed high mortalities in early life or that mortality rates were rather constant throughout their life. In Psittacosaurus lujiatuensis, modelling suggests low mortalities throughout most of its life that increase towards its end. Due to its simplicity, my model was unable to render composite SCs, specifically the sigmoidal shape previously predicted for Maiasaura peeblesorum.

English

The maize weevil, Sitophilus zeamais (Motschulsky) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), is one of the most damaging pests of stored cereals causing severe damage to stored grains. In current investigation, six open pollinated maize varieties viz. JALAL (white), AZAM (white), SADAF (yellow), ZARD LOCAL (yellow), KASHMIRI (yellow) and PAHARI (white) were screened out in the laboratory of Entomology Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Gomal University, Dera Ismail Khan, Pakistan for their relative susceptibility/resistance to maize weevil. The experiment was laid out following completely randomized design (CRD) with 5 replicates. Results revealed that minimum (23.8) days to adult emergence of maize weevil were recorded when it was reared on variety Azam; whereas; maximum (34.2) days were recorded on variety Sadaf. Total number of F1 adults emerged were maximum (91) in Azam while minimum (62) in variety Sadaf. Percent infestation of maize kernels was maximum (39.01%) in Azam while minimum (25.80%) was recorded in variety Sadaf. Percent weight loss was maximum in Azam i.e. 26.12% while minimum percent weight loss (16.88%) was recorded in Sadaf. Maximum longevity (68.4 days) of adult weevils was recorded on Azam while minimum (53.4 days) was recorded on variety Sadaf. All the tested varieties had no significant effect on the sex ratio of emerged weevils. High germination percentage was recorded in Sadaf (90%) whereas; low germination was found in Azam (57%). The grain hardness test indicated that yellow varieties including Sadaf, Zard local and Kashmiri had maximum hardness having 317, 302.33 and 296 N grain hardness, whereas; white varieties i.e. Pahari, Jalal and Azam had minimum values of grain hardness i.e. 264.33, 251.66 and 238.33 Newton. The present work has shown that Azam is the most susceptible variety and should not be stored for longer periods whereas; Sadaf is the resistant variety against maize weevil.

Life-history traits and the first demographic data of Iranian population of the West Asian Lemon-Yellow Tree Frog, Hyla savignyi (Audouin, 1827)

The life-history of an organism consists of its lifetime pattern of growth, development, storage, age, and reproduction. In this study, some life-history traits of Hyla savignyi were studied in populations from different parts of Iran. The microscopic and macroscopic analysis showed that testicular activity in H. savignyi is potentially continuous, reaching its peak level in April. Metamorphosis was completed in approximately 102 days after egg deposition, and body size at metamorphosis was 10 mm. Significant sexual size dimorphism was present in all populations, and a larger female asymptotic body size was observed (43.07 mm for females vs 41.16 mm for males). The adult survival rate (S) and life expectancy (ESP) were the same for both sexes (S = 0.73 and ESP = 4.2 years). Age and body size were positively correlated with each other for both females and males. Maximum longevity was recorded to be six years in both females and males, and ages of sexual maturity were estimated to be two or three years in breeding individuals. The adult sample age ranged from two to six years (mean age of females: 4.40±0.68 years; males: 3.63±0.13 years). Our data confirm the general patterns of body size variation and mean age in anurans and show that females are larger than males and live longer.

Surfactant screening to generate strong foam with formation water and crude oil

Most of the available commercial surfactants precipitate due to the hardness of formation water. The study of surfactant generated foam and its stability is very complex due to its multifaceted pattern and common physicochemical properties. This research involved the study of foam generation by using the blended surfactants and their evaluation in terms of enhanced oil recovery (EOR). The objective of this study is to systematic screening of surfactants based on their capability to produce stable foam in the presence of two different categories of crude oil. Surfactant types such as non-ionic, anionic and amphoteric were selected for the experimental study. The foam was generated with crude oil, and the synthetic brine water of 34,107 ppm used as formation water. Surfactant concentration with the both types of crude oil, foam decay, liquid drainage and foam longevity was investigated by measuring the generated foam volume above the liquid level. The surfactant with concentration of 0.6wt%AOSC14-16, 1.2wt%AOSC14-16, 0.6wt%AOSC14-16 + 0.6wt%TX100 and 0.6wt%AOSC14-16 + 0.6wt%LMDO resulted in the maximum foam longevity with formation water and two categories of crude oil. The 50% liquid drainage and foam decay of surfactant solutions with concentration of 0.6wt%AOSC14-16 + 0.6wt%LMDO and 0.6wt%AOSC14-16 + 0.6wt%TX100 were noted with the maximum time. The findings of this research demonstrated that the generated foam and its longevity is dependent on the type of surfactant either individual or blended with their concentration. The blend of surfactant solution combines excellent foam properties.

Growth parameters of Brycinus longipinnis (Günther, 1864) from the Aghien Lagoon (South East of Côte D’ivoire)

The growth of Brycinus longipinnis caught at Aghien Lagoon was studied between June 2014 and May 2015 through growth type, condition factor and growth parameters according to the Von Bertalanffy model. Sampling was conducted using experimental fisheries. Growth type was determined from the length-weight relationship and growth parameters according to the Von Bertalanffy model from the FiSAT software. The growth was of negative allometric type (b = 2.59). The Brycinus longipinnis population grows faster towards the asymptotic length ((L∞ = 92.40 mm SL) with a growth coefficient K of 0.36 year-1. It is also a long-lived fish species with maximum longevity (tmax) of 8.32 years.

The cecal appendix is correlated with greater maximal longevity in mammals.

The cecal appendix had been considered as a useless vestige since Darwin's work, but recent research questioned this idea demonstrating that the cecal appendix appeared among the mammals at least 80 million years ago and has made multiple and independent appearances without any obvious correlation with diet, social life, ecology, or size of the cecum. However, functions and probable selective advantage conferred by this anatomical structure still remain enigmatic. We found, through analyses of data on 258 mammalian species, that cecal appendix presence is correlated with increased maximal observed longevity. This is the first demonstration of a correlation between cecal appendix presence and life history. Interestingly, the classical evolutionary theory of aging that predicts an increased longevity when the extrinsic mortality is reduced has been questioned several times, but recent comparative studies asserted its validity in the taxa, which experience age‐dependent and density‐dependent mortality, as in mammals. Thus, the cecal appendix may contribute to the increase in longevity through a reduction of extrinsic mortality. A lower risk of fatal infectious diarrhea is one of the most plausible hypotheses that could explain it. However, several hypotheses coexist about the possible functions of the cecal appendix, and our results provide new insights about this much‐disputed question. In addition, we show that the cecal appendix arose at least 16 times and was lost only once during the evolutionary history of the considered mammals, an asymmetry that supports the existence of a positive selective of this structure.

Relative humidity affects life table parameters of Callosobruchus maculatus (Fabricius) (Coleoptera:Bruchidae)

Dried seeds of pigeonpea, Cajanus cajan are frequently attacked by a range of insect pests of which Callosobruchus maculatus is the most serious, causing significant loss in post-harvest storage facilities. An experiment was designed to determine the effect of relative humidity on fecundity life table parameters of C. maculatus (Trinidad strain). Age related mortality and fecundity curves for C. maculatus derived in the present study were typical of “r” selected organisms. R 0 exhibited a positive correlation with relative humidity ranging from 15.29 at 29.5%RH to 252.17 at 75.5% RH. Maximum longevity for both males and females occurred at 75.5%RH being positively correlated with relative humidity for both sexes. Fifty percent oviposition occurred at humidity of 50.5% > 63.0%> 75.5%>29.5%. The finite rate of increase (λ) for all the relative humidities in the current study was always > 1 indicating an increasing population and was highest at 75.5% RH.

Longevities of Adult Chironomidae (Diptera) from Two Streams in Iceland

Mean annual air temperatures are predicted to increase by several degrees in the Arctic. This increase in temperature will likely impact organisms adapted to current conditions. Studies of longevities of winter-active Chironomidae from cold, groundwater-fed streams in Minnesota demonstrate that winter-emerging species are long-lived as adults when incubated at cold or sub-freezing air temperatures post emergence. It is unknown if this holds for species emerging in sub-arctic latitudes during warm months, or if warm air temperatures affect the adults of species emerging from cold and geothermally heated streams. The goal of this study was to determine the effects of exposure to air temperatures predicted by climate change models on the longevities of Chironomidae emerging from both cold and geothermally heated larval environments. Chironomidae were trapped at emergence from two groundwater-fed streams with contrasting (warm and cold) thermal regimes at the Hengladalir valleys in the Hengill alpine geothermal area in southwestern Iceland over 4 days in July 2018. Adults (N=102) were randomly divided into two treatments and incubated at either 20°C or 6°C for 28-32 days to determine influence of source stream and incubation temperature on adult longevity. These temperatures were selected to simulate current and predicted water and air temperatures that adult chironomids are likely to be exposed to with climate change. Adults incubated at 6°C survived longer than adults incubated at 20°C irrespective of source stream. All adults incubated at 20°C died within 1-5 days post-emergence. Longevities of taxa incubated at 6°C ranged from 13 to more than 32 days. Species of Diamesa exhibited the greatest longevities, with 41.7% surviving more than 28-32 days post-emergence at 6°C. We were unable to determine maximum longevity for Diamesa within the 6°C treatment because surviving adults had to be sacrificed at the termination of the experiment on day 32. However, the minimum longevity we report is similar to longevities determined for other Diamesa species and indicates that Diamesa species in Iceland are also long-lived under cold air temperatures. We suggest there may be a difference in longevity between sex, with females living longer than males at cold temperatures. By contrast, we found that both sexes of Diamesa and all other chironomid taxa that we tested are susceptible to warm air temperatures regardless of stream of origin. Therefore, warming climatic temperatures could potentially lead to shortened adult lifespans for these sub-arctic taxa.

COMBINE: a coalesced mammal database of intrinsic and extrinsic traits.

The use of species' traits in macroecological analyses has gained popularity in the last decade, becoming an important tool to understand global biodiversity patterns. Currently, trait data can be found across a wide variety of data sets included in websites, articles, and books, each one with its own taxonomic classification, set of traits, and data management methodology. Mammals, in particular, are among the most studied taxa, with large sources of trait information readily available. To facilitate the use of these data, we did an extensive review of published mammal trait data sources between 1999 and May 2020 and produced COMBINE: a COalesced Mammal dataBase of INtrinsic and Extrinsic traits. Our aim was to create a taxonomically integrated database of mammal traits that maximized trait number and coverage without compromising data quality. COMBINE contains information on 54 traits for 6,234 extant and recently extinct mammal species, including information on morphology, reproduction, diet, biogeography, life habit, phenology, behavior, home range, and density. Additionally, we calculated other relevant traits such as habitat and altitudinal breadths for all species and dispersal for terrestrial non-volant species. All data are compatible with the taxonomies of the IUCN Red List v. 2020-2 and PHYLACINE v. 1.2. Missing data were adequately flagged and imputed for non-biogeographical traits with 20% or more data available. We obtained full data sets for 21 traits such as female maturity, litter size, maximum longevity, trophic level, and dispersal, providing imputation performance statistics for all. This data set will be especially useful for those interested in including species' traits in large-scale ecological and conservation analyses. There are no copyright or proprietary restrictions; we request citation of this publication and all relevant underlying data sources (found in Data S1: trait_data_sources.csv), upon using these data.

Bomb-produced radiocarbon age validation of Greenland halibut (Reinhardtius hippoglossoides) suggests a new maximum longevity

Bomb-produced radiocarbon (14C) was used to validate age estimates of Greenland halibut (Reinhardtius hippoglossoides) using a stained otolith cross-section method. The Δ14C in eastern Bering Sea (EBS) Greenland halibut otoliths was compared to both EBS and Gulf of Alaska (GOA) Pacific halibut (Hippoglossoides stenolepis) otolith reference chronologies to evaluate which reference chronology was most suitable, and to quantitatively estimate age determination bias. Using Bayesian analysis and a coupled-function model, the Δ14C in the Greenland halibut showed greatest similarities to the Δ14C in the GOA reference chronology. Although the model indicated under ageing, the bias was not large. Assigning an age less than the true age by more than a one year is about 73%, and less than the true age by more than 2 years is only about 25%. When considering the age at which Greenland halibut is only 7.5% of its maximum longevity (50+ years) and that the probability of underageing by 3 years being less than 5%, it is likely that between-age-reader variation will cancel out any systematic bias that exists in the age determination protocols. Prior to the use of stained cross-sections the maximum age was 38 years, now a maximum age of 53 years is supported.

Disentangling the aging gene expression network of termite queens

BackgroundMost insects are relatively short-lived, with a maximum lifespan of a few weeks, like the aging model organism, the fruit-fly Drosophila melanogaster. By contrast, the queens of many social insects (termites, ants and some bees) can live from a few years to decades. This makes social insects promising models in aging research providing insights into how a long reproductive life can be achieved. Yet, aging studies on social insect reproductives are hampered by a lack of quantitative data on age-dependent survival and time series analyses that cover the whole lifespan of such long-lived individuals. We studied aging in queens of the drywood termite Cryptotermes secundus by determining survival probabilities over a period of 15 years and performed transcriptome analyses for queens of known age that covered their whole lifespan.ResultsThe maximum lifespan of C. secundus queens was 13 years, with a median maximum longevity of 11.0 years. Time course and co-expression network analyses of gene expression patterns over time indicated a non-gradual aging pattern. It was characterized by networks of genes that became differentially expressed only late in life, namely after ten years, which associates well with the median maximum lifespan for queens. These old-age gene networks reflect processes of physiological upheaval. We detected strong signs of stress, decline, defense and repair at the transcriptional level of epigenetic control as well as at the post-transcriptional level with changes in transposable element activity and the proteostasis network. The latter depicts an upregulation of protein degradation, together with protein synthesis and protein folding, processes which are often down-regulated in old animals. The simultaneous upregulation of protein synthesis and autophagy is indicative of a stress-response mediated by the transcription factor cnc, a homolog of human nrf genes.ConclusionsOur results show non-linear senescence with a rather sudden physiological upheaval at old-age. Most importantly, they point to a re-wiring in the proteostasis network and stress as part of the aging process of social insect queens, shortly before queens die.