Abstract: The existence or extinction of population was controlled by reproductive activity. Reproductive investment and reproductive success were the main contents of reproduction ecology. The influencing factors of reproductive investment and reproductive success of small mammals, such as environment, age, reproductive frequency , hierarchy, social mating systems, reproductive effort were reviewed based on both empirical and theoretical literature. This includes classification of reproductive investment and technologies used in molecular biology. Small mammals could adjust reproductive investment by themselves according to their own conditions in order to increase their fitness. They could adapt various strategies under different situations. In addition , molecular technology could accelerate the development of reproduction ecology in small mammals.

Key words: Small mammals, Reproductive effort, Reproductive success, Fitness, Reproduction strategy

摘要： 动物的繁殖活动关系到整个种群的生存与灭绝, 繁殖投入和繁殖成功率是繁殖生态学研究的重要内容。从繁殖投入的划分入手, 综述了小型哺乳动物的繁殖投入和繁殖成功率之间的关系及其影响因素、分子生物学技术在繁殖生态学中的应用等, 阐述了小型哺乳动物能够根据自身的状态调整每次繁殖活动中的时间投入和能量分配, 采取不同的繁殖对策。这些繁殖对策是长期自然选择的结果, 其目的都是为了最大限度地提高自身的适合度。并且指出分子生物学技术在繁殖生态学中的应用将大大加快这一研究领域的快速发展。

关键词: 小型哺乳动物, 繁殖努力, 繁殖成功率, 适合度, 繁殖对策