Final answer:
Iteroparity is the term describing species that mate multiple times throughout their lives, such as pronghorn antelopes who mate seasonally during estrus and primates who reproduce any time during their reproductive years.
Step-by-step explanation:
Iteroparity describes the animals that mate many times during the course of their life cycle. This reproductive strategy is observed in various species, including those that mate seasonally, like the pronghorn antelope, and those like primates, such as humans and chimpanzees, which can reproduce at any point during their reproductive years. The concept of iteroparity stands in contrast to semelparity, where species breed only once in their lifetime before dying.
The life cycle of iteroparous animals often includes a complex series of stages, with reproductively mature adults capable of surviving through multiple mating seasons. Pronghorn antelopes, for example, mate during a specific hormonal phase known as estrus, which is a repeating seasonal cycle. Primates, on the other hand, do not have a restricted breeding season, although the likelihood of conception is higher during the female's ovulation period.
Understanding animal life cycles is important for comprehending how species survive and evolve, especially considering factors such as parental care, energy allocation for reproduction, and the timing of breeding seasons in relation to the animal's overall strategy for survival and reproductive success.