Q4.28. African elephants are iteroparous species, reproducing repeatedly through their lifetimes. Females begin reproducing around age 10, and have a calf every 4 years or so. The natural mortality of adult elephants is very low (when poaching and human-mediated stressors are excluded), so adult females can reproduce 10 times or more throughout their lives. What is the life-history trade-off elephants make by adopting this strategy? * They sacrifice future reproduction for higher fecundity today * They sacrifice growing larger for adult survivorship * They sacrifice adult survivorship for earlier reproduction * They sacrifice higher fecundity today for increased future reproduction
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The text states: - African elephants are iteroparous, meaning they reproduce repeatedly throughout their lives. - Females begin reproducing around age 10. - They have a calf every 4 years or so. - Natural mortality of adult elephants is very low. - Adult females Show more…
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African elephants are iteroparous species, capable of reproducing repeatedly throughout their lifetimes. Females begin reproducing around age 10, producing a single calf every 4 years or so until they die. The natural mortality of adult elephants is very low (when poaching and human-mediated stressors are excluded), so adult females can reproduce 10 times or more throughout their lives. What is the life history trade-off elephants make by adopting this strategy? They trade away future reproduction for higher fecundity. They trade away growing larger for adult survivorship. They trade away adult survivorship for earlier reproduction. They trade away higher fecundity for future reproduction.
Dave K.
Shaiju T.
On average, which leaves more offspring that survive to become adults and reproduce: a pair of elephants or a pair of rabbits? a) The pair of elephants, because elephants live much longer and have more breeding seasons. b) The pair of rabbits, because they have so many more offspring per breeding season than do elephants. c) The pair of rabbits, because they reach sexual maturity more rapidly. d) The pair of elephants, because any individual elephant born is more likely to survive to become an adult and reproduce. e) If both populations are stable, the pair of elephants and the pair of rabbits will leave the same number of offspring that survive to become adults and reproduce.
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