Effect of Litter Size on Postnatal Growth and Survival in the Desert Woodrat
Cameron GN. 1973. Effect of Litter Size on Postnatal Growth and Survival in the Desert Woodrat. Journal of Mammalogy. 54(2):489-493
Previous papers by this author describe habitat at the Joshua Tree National Monument study site, along with some woodrat reproductive data. For this part of the monument ecology study, pregnant females from the site were taken to the laboratory. Weights, growth rates, and survival rates among the laboratory young indicate clear advantages to those born in smaller litters. When litters reached five, mortality increased among both the young and their mothers, largely from nutritional deficiencies. The conclusion, however, suggests that availability of adequate nutrition in various habitats affects typical litter size, with arid-area rodents having smaller litters.
- Type
- Journal Article
- Authors
- Cameron, Guy
- Units
- JOTR
- Keywords
- Animal Studies, desert woodrats (Neotoma), Habitats, litter size, Mortality, Reproduction, Taxa Links To References