Maternal effects on reproduction in the precocial European hare (Lepus europaeus).

ABSTRACT: In female mammals, reproduction, and in particular lactation, is the energetically most exigent life-history phase. Reproduction is strongly controlled by body reserves and food availability, so females with better body condition or food supply are believed to have higher reproductive output. Additionally, the growth and mortality of young mammals depends on their postnatal development. Therefore, the degree of precociality affects energetic demands for both mothers and young. To study the reproductive performance of the precocial European hare (Lepus europaeus), we analysed relationships between six predictor variables describing maternal and environmental effects and nine response variables relating to reproduction from 217 captive females. We compared the data with those of precocial an

SUBMITTER: Schai-Braun SC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7888652 | biostudies-literature | 2021

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature