All Things Being Equal, Fast Maturation and Early Reproduction Are

question 26

Multiple Choice

All things being equal, fast maturation and early reproduction are advantageous because

• A) they increase the length of the reproductive life span.
• B) they increase generation time.
• C) they result in a juvenile stage.
• D) they give offspring a longer learning period.

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Definitions:

Placentals

Mammals that nourish their developing fetus via a placenta, an organ that facilitates the exchange of nutrients, gases, and wastes between the mother and fetus.

Notochord

A flexible rod-shaped structure that provides support in the embryonic stages of all chordates, including humans.

Tunicates

Marine invertebrates, also known as sea squirts, that are part of the subphylum Tunicata, characterized by a tough outer tunic and filter-feeding mode of nutrition.

Lancelets

Small marine animals belonging to the subphylum Cephalochordata, characterized by their fish-like shape and a notochord extending the length of their body.