Cost of Reproduction II
Age of reproduction: long-lived animals put off reproduction ? juveniles can learn before investing high costs in own offspring ? reproductive energy is used more efficiently
Reproductive events per lifetime: annual plants and short-lived insects ? invest all in one reproduction (no sense of “saving” for next year); perennial plants, long-lived animals ? do not over-spend to have enough growth potential and reserves for next year
Resources:
- abundant ? low costs of reproduction ? many offspring
- limiting ? high costs of reproduction ? defer reproduction to enhance growth and survival, higher parental investment (which further increases reproductive costs)
Short life ? low costs (b/c unlikely to survive for next breeding season anyway) ? many offspring
Life history = complete life cycle with all reproductive events