The Relationship Between Juvenile Survival and Litter Size in Wild Muskrats (Ondatra zibethicus)

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
(1) We measured survival of wild juvenile muskrats born in ninety-nine litters ranging in size from three to twelve. (2) Of the litters sampled, 55% failed to have any young survive to weaning. The probability of failure was not dependent on litter size. (3) Survival of young in successful litters was not significantly correlated with litter size. (4) Survival of individuals within litters was not independent. Instead, more litters tended to disappear completely or have a higher proportion of young survive from expected given the average survival of young. (5) We conclude that muskrats do not show a simple trade-off between juvenile survival and litter size.