Adaptive biases in offspring sex ratios established before birth in a marsupial, the common brushtail possum Trichosurus vulpecula |
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Authors: | Johnson, Christopher N. Ritchie, Euan G. |
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Affiliation: | School of Tropical Biology, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland 4811, Australia |
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Abstract: | Offspring sex ratios in the common brushtail possum are malebiased in many populations, and there is evidence that inter-populationdifferences in sex ratios represent adaptive responses to localconditions. However, how these biases are produced is not known.Using comparisons between populations with and without biasedoffspring sex ratios, we show that biases in this species arenot produced by sex-differential mortality between birth andweaning or sex-selective termination of pregnancy. Rather,adjustment in the sex ratio of offspring are evidently dueto shifts in the probability of conceiving male and femaleoffspring. |
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Keywords: | brushtail possums local resource competition Marsupialia primary sex ratio sex ratio mechanisms Trichosurus vulpecula. |
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