FECUNDITY AND AGE STRUCTURE OF MAMMALIAN POPULATION IN THE PRIMARY TROPICAL FOREST OF EAST INDO-CHINA

Stepanyan (1991, 1992) proposed that the prosperity of avian populatio ns in the tropical forest is based on preservation of the highest poss ible number of older generations during the longest possible period at the expense of youngs. We have tested this hypothesis with reference to mammals inhabiting some ecosystems. Comparison of the data on repro duction and abundance of mammalian populations (some species of the Sc iuridae and Felidae) in the tropical forests and in the northern latit ude areas suggests that this hypothesis is also valid for the mammalia n populations of the tropical forests.