Data Paper. Data Paper

File List Data files are in ASCII format, tab delimited. No compression schemes are used. Data set consists of 1440 records, not including header row. Mammal_lifehistories_v2.txt Description The purpose of this data set was to compile general life history characteristics for a variety of mammalian species to perform comparative life history analyses among different taxa and different body size groups. Data were collected from the literature, and data sources are documented for each species within the data file. Since life history characteristics will show minor variation with environmental conditions (resource availability, climate, competitive environment, and predation pressure) a general life history for each species was sought to average over minor differences in local populations. To create a general life history for each species, life history values are often an average from several literature sources. Life history variables included in the data set are: Maximum Lifespan (months), Age of First Reproduction (months), Gestation time (months), Weaning age (months), Weaning Mass (grams), Litter size (months), litters per year, newborn mass (grams), and adult body mass (grams). Since these data were collected with the intent to examine general life history patterns, these data are good for examining large-scale patterns, specifically in comparing life history characteristics for different orders or families of mammals. All orders of placental mammals, except Chiroptera (bats) are represented in this data set: Artiodactyla (161 species), Carnivora (197), Cetacea (55 species), Dermoptera (2 species), Hydracoidea (4 species), Insectivora (91 species), Lagomorpha (42 species), Macroscelidea (10 species), Perissodactyla (15 species), Pholidota (7 species), Primates (156 species), Proboscidea (2 species), Rodentia (665 species), Scandentia (7 species), Sirenia (5 species), Tubulidentata (1 species), and Xenarthra (20 species). There are two caveats on this data set, however. First, these data are not appropriate for asking population-level questions where the integration of life history parameters with specific environmental conditions is important. Second, while this data set is extensive, it is not exhaustive. The creation of an exhaustive data set is the ultimate goal, but that goal is still several years from completion. In the meantime, researchers utilizing the data set are urged to conduct their own search for data not reported within the current data set. Researchers are also encouraged to contact the author of the data set and alert her to literature sources containing data for missing variables or species. The updated data set will be made available to <i>Ecological Archives</i> periodically. <i>Key words</i>: <i>adult mass; age of first reproduction; gestation time; life history; litter size; litters per year; maximum lifespan; newborn mass; non-volant mamals; weaning age.</i>

文件列表：数据文件采用ASCII格式，以制表符分隔，未使用任何压缩方案。本数据集共包含1440条记录，不含表头行。

数据集说明（Mammal_lifehistories_v2.txt）：
本数据集旨在收录多种哺乳动物的通用生活史特征，用于开展不同分类群与不同体群组间的生活史对比分析。数据均来自已发表文献，数据文件中为每个物种标注了数据来源。由于生活史特征会随环境条件（资源可获得性、气候、竞争环境与捕食压力）产生小幅波动，本数据集针对每个物种的通用生活史取当地种群间差异的平均值以统一标准。为构建各物种的通用生活史数据，生活史参数值通常取自多篇文献的均值。
本数据集包含的生活史变量包括：最大寿命（月）、首次繁殖年龄（月）、妊娠期（月）、断乳年龄（月）、断乳体重（克）、每胎产仔数（月）、年胎数、新生幼崽体重（克）以及成年个体体重（克）。
由于本数据集旨在探究通用生活史模式，因此适用于开展大尺度格局分析，尤其是比较不同目或科的哺乳动物的生活史特征。本数据集涵盖了除翼手目（Chiroptera，蝙蝠）外的所有有胎盘哺乳动物目：偶蹄目（Artiodactyla，161种）、食肉目（Carnivora，197种）、鲸目（Cetacea，55种）、皮翼目（Dermoptera，2种）、蹄兔目（Hydracoidea，4种）、食虫目（Insectivora，91种）、兔形目（Lagomorpha，42种）、象鼩目（Macroscelidea，10种）、奇蹄目（Perissodactyla，15种）、鳞甲目（Pholidota，7种）、灵长目（Primates，156种）、长鼻目（Proboscidea，2种）、啮齿目（Rodentia，665种）、树鼩目（Scandentia，7种）、海牛目（Sirenia，5种）、管齿目（Tubulidentata，1种）以及异关节总目（Xenarthra，20种）。

但本数据集存在两点局限：其一，本数据集不适用于探究种群层面的问题——这类问题需要将生活史参数与特定环境条件相结合进行分析；其二，尽管本数据集规模庞大，但仍未穷尽所有相关数据。构建完整详尽的数据集是最终目标，但该目标仍需数年方可实现。
在此期间，恳请使用本数据集的研究者自行检索当前数据集未收录的数据。同时也欢迎研究者联系数据集作者，告知其包含缺失变量或物种数据的文献来源。更新后的数据集将定期发布于《Ecological Archives》。

关键词：成年体重；首次繁殖年龄；妊娠期；生活史；每胎产仔数；年胎数；最大寿命；新生幼崽体重；非飞行哺乳动物；断乳年龄。