Environmental conditions in early life influence ageing rates in a wild population of red deer

The process of ageing, or senescence, is an important focus of current research, but our knowledge of the factors influencing ageing rates in naturally occurring populations remains poor [1]. A growing number of studies of wild vertebrate and human populations has shown that environmental conditions early in life can have long-term effects on fitness-correlated traits [2,3]. However, the consequences of early-life environment for ageing rates remain unknown [4]. Using data collected over 35 years from a wild population of red deer (Cervus elaphus), we show that females experiencing high levels of resource competition during early life showed faster rates of senescence as adults. Our results suggest that rather than inducing adaptive shifts in developmental trajectories, harsh early-life conditions may constrain development and ultimately exacerbate the ageing process.