Final answer:
According to the trade-off between offspring number and size, Population B with fewer baby prairie dogs per litter is predicted to have larger baby prairie dogs, as a greater investment can be made in each individual offspring.
Step-by-step explanation:
In biology, particularly in the study of life history strategies, there is a trade-off between the number of offspring and the size of those offspring. This concept is a pivotal insight into understanding the ecological and evolutionary strategies of different populations. When it comes to prairie dogs, we can apply this knowledge. If Population A averages 8 baby prairie dogs per litter and Population B averages 5, it is reasonable to predict according to the trade-off principle that Population B will have larger baby prairie dogs. This prediction is based on the generalized compromise that producing fewer offspring typically allows for a greater investment per individual offspring, which often translates into larger sizes at birth.
The inverse relationship between offspring number and size means that if a population has more offspring, the investment in each is typically less, resulting in smaller individual offspring. Conversely, if there are fewer offspring, more resources can be dedicated to each, leading to larger sizes at birth. Therefore, Population B, with fewer babies per litter, is likely to have larger baby prairie dogs. It's important to note that this is a prediction based on a general trend and actual sizes can be influenced by a multitude of other factors in the environment or genetics of the populations.