Natural selection involves energetic trade-offs between
A) choosing how many offspring to produce over the course of a lifetime and how long to live.
B) producing large numbers of gametes when employing internal fertilization and fewer numbers of gametes when employing external fertilization.
C) increasing the number of individuals produced during each reproductive episode and a corresponding increase in parental care.
D) high survival rates of offspring and the cost of parental care.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Natural selection involves trade-offs between producing offspring with high survival rates and the cost of providing parental care. Parents that invest more energy in caring for their offspring may have fewer overall offspring or may have a shorter lifespan due to the energetic demands of caregiving. This trade-off is an example of natural selection favoring individuals that can balance the costs and benefits of parental investment to maximize their fitness.

Natural Selection Involves Energetic Trade-Offs Between