How Does Having a Large Number of Offspring Affect a Parent's

question 10

Multiple Choice

How does having a large number of offspring affect a parent's fitness for subsequent breeding seasons?

• A) It could limit the number of offspring the adult produces in its life.
• B) The increased energy needed to feed many offspring may lower adult survival in the following breeding season.
• C) The energy required to feed many offspring could trigger smaller broods in the future.
• D) Competition with offspring for food could reduce energy for future reproduction.

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Definitions:

Growth Patterns

Growth patterns refer to the characteristic ways in which individuals grow and develop physically over time, often studied to understand health, nutritional needs, and developmental progress.

Infants

Very young children, especially those from birth to one year of age, experiencing rapid physical and cognitive development.

Neonates

Newborn infants, especially within the first month after birth, emphasizing the earliest phase of life outside the womb.

Cephalocaudal Development

A pattern of growth where development proceeds from the head downward through the body.