[Campbell Biology P.1244] The text describes the reproductive strategies of Belding's ground ... | Practice Question

The text describes the reproductive strategies of Belding's ground squirrels, oak trees, and mussels. Which of the following statements best compares these strategies in terms of offspring quantity and parental investment per offspring?

  • A: Squirrels produce many offspring with high parental investment; oak trees produce few offspring with low investment.
  • B: Mussels produce millions of offspring with high parental investment; squirrels produce few offspring with low investment.
  • C: Oak trees and mussels produce large numbers of offspring with relatively low individual parental investment, while squirrels produce fewer offspring with higher individual parental investment.
  • D: All three organisms exhibit similar reproductive outputs, primarily differing in the frequency of reproduction.

Explanation

Mussels release millions of eggs and sperm, and oak trees drop thousands of acorns, both implying low individual parental investment in large numbers of offspring. Belding's ground squirrels, in contrast, have litters of two to six young, suggesting higher individual parental investment per offspring given the much smaller quantity.