Final answer:
Self-fertilization is important for species with limited mobility or those that live in isolated habitats. It ensures the production of offspring when mates are hard to find and requires little parental effort.
Step-by-step explanation:
Self-fertilization is a part of the life history of some species despite its potential negative consequences because it ensures that an organism can produce offspring when mates are hard to find. This is important for species with limited mobility or those that live in isolated habitats. Additionally, self-fertilization requires little parental effort, allowing the organism to allocate more energy towards ensuring the survival of the offspring.