Sources of variability in numbers of live births in wild golden lion tamarins (Leontopithecus rosalia).

We examined the effects of several variables on the number of live births in multiparous females in a wild population of golden lion tamarins (Leontopithecus rosalia). Independent variables included the number of infants born to a female the previous breeding season, the number of infants weaned the previous breeding season, the female's age and body mass, the number of adult males and helpers in the group, and the inbreeding coefficient of the offspring. We also tested the hypothesis that trapping and chemical immobilization during pregnancy affected the number of live births. Female body mass was the only statistically significant predictor of the number of live-born infants in the current season when both first and second peaks were included. Characteristics that predicted higher numbers of infants in the first peak of a season were the number of infants born the previous season and the body mass of the female. The greater the number of infants born the previous season, the greater the number of infants born in the first peak of the current season. Factors positively correlated with the number of live births in the second peak within a season included the number of infants born the previous season, as well as the number of available helpers. Due to sample size constraints, the analysis of litters in the second peak did not include body mass of the female as a variable. Inbreeding and handling did not affect the number of live births. We found no evidence that current reproduction negatively impacts future reproduction in this species. We also found no evidence for an age-related reduction in fertility. Copyright 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc.