Question

Three of the following characteristics would be expected to have evolved together, but one does not fit in with what we would expect to see. which of the following characteristics would not have evolved with the others listed in the life history of a species?

a. low chance of survival to adulthood
b. multiple reproductive episodes
c. low fecundity
d. active parental care

Answer 1

Multiple reproductive episodes would not likely evolve with low chance of survival to adulthood, low fecundity, and active parental care because species with high parental care ('iteroparity') typically invest in fewer offspring, contrasting with the strategy of reproducing once with many offspring ('semelparity').

Step-by-step explanation:

The characteristic that would not have evolved with the others listed in the life history of a species is multiple reproductive episodes (b). Typically, species that exhibit a life history strategy involving low chance of survival to adulthood (a), low fecundity (c), and active parental care (d) tend to produce fewer offspring but invest heavily in those few. This type of life history strategy is known as iteroparity, where organisms reproduce multiple times over their lifespan, and is more common in environments where offspring survival is relatively secure due to the considerable care provided by the parents. In contrast, species with a low chance of survival to adulthood commonly demonstrate a strategy known as semelparity where they reproduce once with many offspring, hoping that some will survive to adulthood, making option b incongruent with the other characteristics.