Question

A rodent species that once experienced much predation now has lower predation risk. As a consequence, the mortality of maturing individuals is reduced. What will be the most likely response to a reduction in mortality

Answer 1

A shift to later reproduction with benefit of higher fecundity, because of their smaller size.

Step-by-step explanation:

When an organism faces high predatory risk they tend to adapt in order to survive predation. Generally the smaller an animal is the lower it's mortality.

So as the rodent has reduced predation it must have reduced its size.

The rodent will also be involved in reproductive activity that will increase it fecundity. That is a later reproduction with benefit of higher fecundity.

In a bid to survive extinction the rodent will have developed a strategy to have high reproduction of offspring and smaller size that promotes lower mortality.