WHITE-TAILED DEER VARY OFFSPRING SEX-RATIO ACCORDING TO MATERNAL CONDITION AND AGE

We tested two models of adaptive offspring sex-ratio that predict oppo site optimal reproductive strategies for female white-tail deer (Odoco ileus virginianus). Trivers and Willard's model predicts that does (fe males) in particularly good condition should produce sons, and William s refined their model to make specific predictions about optimal offsp ring number/sex choices. Verme's model results in very different predi ctions because of very different assumptions about which sex of offspr ing can best benefit from high levels of maternal resources. We found dear support for the Trivers and Willard/Williams model when we analyz ed data from road-killed does, and we furthermore question several of the assumptions of the Verme model.