Abstract
Prevailing theories concerning maternal investment strategies to maximize fitness under adverse environmental conditions predict sex-biased investment in offspring under certain circumstances. These predictions have received empirical support in some species but not in others. The present study was designed to assess patterns of maternal investment in postnatally food-restricted eastern woodrats, Neotoma floridana, in an attempt to replicate previous work and to examine patterns of resource allocation in greater detail. Experimental dams received a food ration that supplied approximately 80% of non-lactating nutritional requirements, whereas control dams had unrestricted access to food. To limit the level of stress experienced by lactating mothers, individual females were allowed unlimited access to food for the duration of the lactation period if their mass fell below 75% of their pre-experimental mass. Food restricted dams attempted to rear all offspring despite experiencing considerable weight loss themselves. Growth rates of young from experimental litters were significantly lower than those of young from control litters. In contrast to previously reported data, no evidence of sex-biased maternal investment was found in this species.
Published Version
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