Results

Telomere dynamics

There was no difference in ∆RTL between males and females (Mean ± SE; Males = 0.001 ± 0.014, Females = 0.000 ± 0.013). Females infected with malaria at first RTL measurement had more negative ∆RTL than non-infected females (Fig. 1). In females, the association between offspring number and ∆RTL was dependent on the availability of food within the same period (interaction term in Table 1). Females that produced no offspring had ∆RTL close to zero regardless of food availability (Fig. 2). Females in territories of low mean food availability had a more negative ∆RTL with increasing numbers of offspring, whereas females in territories of high mean food availability had a more positive ∆RTL with increasing numbers of offspring (Fig. 2). Females that reared offspring with the assistance of helpers also had more positive ∆RTL change compared to females without helpers (Fig. 3). ∆RTL was not associated with ∆RTL period or age (Table 1). None of the chosen explanatory variables predicted ∆RTL in males (Table 1). In all models, results were qualitatively identical when unadjusted ∆RTL was used as the response variable and controlling for initial RTL length (Table S1).