Sanders, F. | bioRxiv Science

bioRxiv2022

Associations between methylation age and brain age in late adolescence

Recent research suggests that biological age, based on DNA methylation or neuroimaging measures, may predict health traits in adulthood more accurately than chronological age. However, whether these findings apply to earlier stages in life is unknown. We therefore aimed to characterise the performance of and interdependence between measures of biological age during adolescence, leveraging longitudinal data from a subsample of young adolescents from the population-based ALSPAC cohort (n=386). We derived four methylation age measures in late adolescence (17-19 years) and a measure of brain age derived from structural neuroimaging data (18-24 years). We then examined associations between these measures of biological age, and their relationship with five measures of physical, cognitive and mental health (8-18 years). Brain age was largely independent of different measures of methylation age, after accounting for age, cell type composition, array and study (beta range: -0.60 to 0.60, all p>0.05). Smoking and BMI were associated with three measures of advanced methylation age (beta range: -0.35 to 0.52, all p<0.05), but not brain age. Depressive symptoms and cognitive ability were unrelated to all measures of biological age. Our findings emphasize the variability of and independence between these methylation- and brain-based measures of age in adolescents. They also highlight the importance of tracking the mosaic of ageing in younger populations.

neuroscience↗

bioRxiv2022

Kiawah and Seabrook islands are a critical site for the rufa red knot (Calidris canutus rufa)

The rufa Red Knot (Calidris canutus rufa) is a migratory shorebird that performs one of the longest known migrations of any bird species -- from their breeding grounds in the Canadian Arctic to their nonbreeding grounds as far south as Tierra del Fuego -- and has experienced a population decline of over 85% in recent decades. During migration, knots rest and refuel at stopover sites along the Atlantic Coast, including Kiawah and Seabrook islands in South Carolina. Here, we document the importance of Kiawah and Seabrook islands for knots by providing population and stopover estimates during their spring migration. We conducted on-the-ground surveys between 19 February - 20 May 2021 to record the occurrence of individually marked knots. In addition, we quantified the ratio of marked to unmarked knots and deployed geolocators on knots captured in the area. Using a superpopulation model, we estimated a minimum passage population of 17,247 knots (~41% of the total rufa knot population) and an average stopover duration of 47 days. Our geolocator results also showed that knots using Kiawah and Seabrook islands can bypass Delaware Bay and fly directly to the Canadian Arctic. Finally, our geolocators, combined with resighting data from across the Atlantic Flyway, indicate that a large network of more than 70 coastal sites mostly concentrated along the coasts of Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina provide stopover and overwintering habitat for the knots we observed on Kiawah and Seabrook islands. These findings corroborate that Kiawah and Seabrook islands should be recognized as critical sites in the knot network and, therefore, a conservation priority. As a result, the threats facing the sites -- such as prey management issues, anthropogenic disturbance, and sea level rise -- require immediate attention.

ecology↗