| seasonal changes in the physiology of male virginia opossums (didelphis virginiana): signs of the dasyurid semelparity syndrome? | semelparity, which is multiplying once in a lifetime, is a rare reproductive strategy among mammals. several species of the marsupial family dasyuridae experience 100% male mortality following an intense mating period. we investigated seasonal physiological changes that may be associated with early mortality in the male virginia opossum (didelphis virginiana; didelphidae) and compared these changes with those of semelparous, male dasyurids. free-ranging male virginia opossums (n=36) were collect ... | 2010 | 12905127 |