The researchers calculated the cost of adoption by measuring a decrease in the survival probability of the entire litter after increasing the litter by one pup, while benefit was measured as the increased chance of survival of the orphan.
Os investigadores calcularon o custo da adopción ao medir un decrecemento na probabilidade de supervivencia de toda a camada despois de incrementar a camada nunha cría, mentres que o beneficio foi medido como o incremento da probabilidade de supervivencia do orfo.