BIO120H1 Lecture Notes - Lecture 9: Fecundity, Semelparity And Iteroparity, Parental Investment
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BIO120H1 Full Course Notes
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Each individual produces one offspring that live to reproduce: number of offspring laid varies between species. Used observation, mathematical modeling, and experimentation to explore why life histories differ so much among species. Important points: life history traits (number of offspring) Contribute to reproductive success influence evolutionary fitness: life history varies consistency with respect to factors in environment. Length of time available for feeding young: number of offspring that parents can rear is limited by food supply. 9. 1 trade-offs in the allocation of resources provide a basis for understanding life histories. Adaptive modifications of form and function either increase the resources available to individuals or allow them to use those resources to their best advantage. Trade-offs- time, energy or materials devoted to one body structure, physiological function or behaviour cannot be allotted to another. Reproduction involves many allocation problems: begin to breed, how many offspring to have at one time, how much care to bestow upon them.
