Evol Ecol Res 7: 1221-1222 (2005)     Full PDF if your library subscribes.

Reproductive effort is inversely proportional to average adult life span

Eric L. Charnov*

Department of Biology, The University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131-0001, USA


e-mail: rlc@unm.edu

ABSTRACT

Background: Forty years ago, G.C. Williams predicted that reproductive effort should be inversely related to the average adult life span across species.

Aim: Use allometric life-history theory to refine that prediction.

Result: Reproductive effort should be inversely proportional to average adult life span, a −1 scaling rule.

Keywords: allometry, life history, optimization, trade-offs, Williams’ hypothesis.

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