Animals may age faster depending on how much competition there is for food in their early life, according to a study.
The Edinburgh and Cambridge university research reveals that animals born when competition for food is intense tend to age more quickly.
The 35-year study, which focused on red deer on the Isle of Rum, also found they reproduce less and die sooner.
Their birth weight had no effect on ageing, suggesting that differences may be linked to food intake.
The study of the deer, which recently featured on the BBC Television series Autumnwatch, is the first time scientists have been able to show a link between conditions in early life and the speed of ageing in a wild animal population.
"It may be that harsh early environments are somehow constraining development and ultimately exacerbating the ageing process"
Researchers found that as deer age, the chances of reproducing and surviving the winter can decline with each year that passes.
They discovered those born when competition for food was strong have an even slimmer chance of reproducing and surviving each year compared with those born in plentiful times.
The findings contradict similar studies on humans, which suggest those experiencing an unfavourable environment during development may become more resilient as adults.
Dan Nussey, of the University of Edinburgh's school of biological sciences, said: "Our results suggest the opposite: deer experiencing environmental stress just before and after birth do poorly as adults and age faster.
"Under natural conditions, it may be that harsh early environments are somehow constraining development and ultimately exacerbating the ageing process."
The research is published in the journal Current Biology.
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