Which of the following scenarios BEST illustrates a trade-off between reproductive rate and offspring survival?
Understand the Problem
The question asks us to identify the option that best demonstrates the trade-off between the quantity of offspring produced (reproductive rate) and the likelihood of those offspring surviving. The correct answer will highlight a situation where increasing one factor necessitates decreasing the other.
Answer
It is when an organism balances producing many offspring with low survival chances versus few offspring with high survival chances.
A trade-off between reproductive rate and offspring survival is when an organism must choose between producing many offspring with a lower chance of survival for each, or fewer offspring with a higher chance of survival for each.
Answer for screen readers
A trade-off between reproductive rate and offspring survival is when an organism must choose between producing many offspring with a lower chance of survival for each, or fewer offspring with a higher chance of survival for each.
More Information
This trade-off is a fundamental concept in life history theory, where organisms face constraints on energy and resources, forcing them to prioritize different aspects of reproduction and survival.
Tips
Students may confuse this with other types of life-history trade-offs, such as current versus future reproduction. The key is to focus on the direct relationship between the number of offspring and their individual survival probabilities.
Sources
- The offspring quantity–quality trade-off and human fertility variation - pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- Life History Evolution | Learn Science at Scitable - Nature - nature.com
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