Nine-year demography of the black-eared opossum Didelphis aurita (Didelphimorphia: Didelphidae) using life tables

Abstract

A population of the black-eared opossum, Didelphis aurita Wied-Neuwied 1826, was studied during 1997-2006 by capture-mark-recapture in the Atlantic Forest in the state of Rio de Janeiro. Cohorts were established with females marked still in the pouch, classified into five age classes. Population parameters were estimated using life tables. Survival was type III and mortality was greatest in age classes I and II, just after weaning. Fecundity was inversely correlated with survival, reproductive value was inversely correlated with mortality and residual reproductive value was inversely correlated with fecundity. The intrinsic rate of increase was always close to zero and tended to be slightly negative. The black-eared opossum can be considered a good model species for this type of study.