The researchers saw this effect accumulate over generations, so lizards in collapsing populations were born “old”. They suggest that by looking at telomere length, conservationists could get ahead of tipping points and help species before they can no longer adapt, or measure the success of conservation programmes without having to do time-consuming population studies. The research was performed on lizards in France, however they give birth to live young and are adapted to cold, meaning they have similarities with NZ natives.
This is a companion discussion topic for the original entry at https://www.sciencemediacentre.co.nz/2022/08/09/could-native-lizards-be-born-old-as-the-climate-warms-expert-reaction/