SEXUAL SELECTION FOR MALE BODY MASS AND THE EVOLUTION OF LITTER SIZE IN MAMMALS

摘要: Interspecific variation in litter size is one of the most puzzling features mammalian life-history diversity. In polygynous mammals, sexual selection by male-male competition often favors increased body size. Because adult size, and hence reproductive success, are commonly related to maternal expenditure, I hypothesize that for male can favor female strategies single-birth parental allocation. To test this hypothesis, made comparisons dimorphism variations, after controlling effect mass, 106 species mammals. The results show increases accompanied decreases number offspring per litter. Body mass reductions only larger whereas negatively correlated with throughout whole range all included taxa. Thus, support hypothesis ...