Question

Describe the difference in evolutionary pressures experienced by an animal that begins reproducing early and an animal that reproduces late in its lifecycle.

Short answer

• A species that reproduces early in its life cycle is under evolutionary pressure to reach sexual maturity as soon as possible.
• A species that reproduces late in its life cycle will only generate offspring from parents that were able to survive in their habitats.

Step-by-step solution

Step 1. Introduction

Reproduction may be asexual when one individual produces genetically identical offspring, or sexual when the genetic material from two individuals is combined to produce genetically diverse offspring. Asexual reproduction in animals occurs through fission, budding, fragmentation, and parthenogenesis.

Step 2. Explanation

• A species that reproduces early in its life cycle is under evolutionary pressure to reach sexual maturity as soon as possible. Animals that mature earliest will be able to reproduce the most times, and therefore more of the next generation will carry their early maturation genes.

• A species that reproduces late in its life cycle will only generate offspring from parents that were able to survive in their habitats. This increases the likelihood that the next generation will be well-adapted to its environment.