A milk-sharing economy allows placental mammals to overcome their metabolic limits.
basic_science · Level V
Where this comes from
- Record sourced from PubMed, PMID 35238685.
- Also identified by DOI 10.1073/pnas.2114674119 and PMC identifier 8915790.
- Licence recorded as CC BY-NC-ND.
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Abstract
SignificanceHere, we demonstrate that a naturally evolving behavior (allonursing) has greater effect on reproductive power (mass per unit of time) and output (litter mass at birth) than does artificial selection (domestication). Additionally, we demonstrate the importance of resource optimization afforded by sociality (rather than resource abundance per se) in shaping a species' life history profile and its ability to overcome its own physiological constraints.
Medical subject headings
- Lactation
- Litter Size
- Milk