The evolution of post-reproductive lifespans remains an evolutionary oddity. In mammals post-reproductive lifespans have evolved only in humans and a few species of toothed whale. I am interested in why menopause has evolved, and why in these species in particular. I use two approaches to understand how, why and when menopause evolves: a comparative approach focussing on toothed whales, and a within-system approach focussed on the killer whales of the north east Pacific ocean.
This work is currently supported by an Early Career Research Fellowship from the Leverhulme Trust.
Key Publications:
Nielsen MLK, Ellis S, Towers JR, et al (2021) A long postreproductive life span is a shared trait among genetically distinct killer whale populations. Ecology and Evolution 11:9123–9136. https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.7756
Ellis S, Franks DW, Nattrass S, et al (2018) Analyses of ovarian activity reveal repeated evolution of post-reproductive lifespans in toothed whales. Sci Rep 8:1–10.
Ellis S, Franks DW, Nattrass S, et al (2018) Postreproductive lifespans are rare in mammals. Ecol Evol 8:2482–2494.
Croft D.P, Johnstone R.A, Ellis S, et al (2017) Reproductive conflict and the evolution of menopause in killer whales. Current Biology 27 pp. 298–304.
This work is currently supported by an Early Career Research Fellowship from the Leverhulme Trust.
Key Publications:
Nielsen MLK, Ellis S, Towers JR, et al (2021) A long postreproductive life span is a shared trait among genetically distinct killer whale populations. Ecology and Evolution 11:9123–9136. https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.7756
Ellis S, Franks DW, Nattrass S, et al (2018) Analyses of ovarian activity reveal repeated evolution of post-reproductive lifespans in toothed whales. Sci Rep 8:1–10.
Ellis S, Franks DW, Nattrass S, et al (2018) Postreproductive lifespans are rare in mammals. Ecol Evol 8:2482–2494.
Croft D.P, Johnstone R.A, Ellis S, et al (2017) Reproductive conflict and the evolution of menopause in killer whales. Current Biology 27 pp. 298–304.
