Some Mammals Give Birth to One Offspring at a Time

question 52

Multiple Choice

Some mammals give birth to one offspring at a time, and others to larger litters. Since more offspring per birth could mean higher reproductive success, why doesn't natural selection favor large litters in all mammals?

• A) Natural selection does this; most mammals will eventually evolve the ability to have multiple offspring per litter.
• B) The number of offspring per litter has no effect on reproductive success because in most cases only one survives anyway.
• C) Reproducing involves a number of trade-offs, including quantity (number) versus quality of offspring. Larger litters mean lower-quality individual offspring.
• D) It is not possible to change the number of offspring per litter in mammals; all mammals have about the same number of offspring.

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Definitions:

Self-Objectification

The tendency to perceive oneself primarily as an object to be viewed and judged based on appearance, often leading to negative psychological effects.

Cognitive Skills

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Spatial Abilities

The capacity to understand, reason, and remember the spatial relations among objects or space.

Sexual Behaviors

Actions or practices related to the expression of sexuality, which can vary widely among individuals and cultures.