Marsupial position on life-history continua and the potential contribution of life-history traits to population growth

Previous studies have suggested that mammal life history varies along the fast-slow continuum and that, in eutherians, this continuum is linked to variation in the potential contribution of survival and reproduction to population growth rate (& lambda;). Fast eutherians mature early, have large litters and short lifespans, and exhibit high potential contribution of age at first reproduction and fertility to & lambda;, while slow eutherians show high potential contribution of survival to & lambda;. However, marsupials have typically been overlooked in comparative tests of mammalian life-history evolution. Here, we tested whether the eutherian life-history pattern extends to marsupials, and show that marsupial life-history trade-offs are organized along two major axes: (i) the reproductive output and dispersion axis, and (ii) the fast-slow continuum, with an additional association between adult survival and body mass. Life-history traits that potentially drive changes in & lambda; are similar in eutherians and marsupials with slow life histories, but differ in fast marsupials; age at first reproduction is the most important trait contributing to & lambda; and fertility contributes little. Marsupials have slower life histories than eutherians, and differences between these clades may derive from their contrasting reproductive modes; marsupials have slower development, growth and metabolism than eutherians of equivalent size.

Automated summary

Previous studies have suggested that mammal life history varies along the fast-slow continuum, but marsupials have been overlooked. This study shows that marsupial life-history trade-offs are organized along reproductive output and dispersion axis, and the fast-slow continuum. Marsupials have slower life histories than eutherians, potentially due to their contrasting reproductive modes.