Which reproductive pattern involves multiple reproductive events across a lifetime?

Which reproductive pattern involves multiple reproductive events across a lifetime?

• A. Iteroparous
• B. Semelparous
• C. Monogamous
• D. Polygynous

Answer: (A)

Repeated reproduction across a lifetime is iteroparity. In iteroparous species, individuals reproduce in multiple events over their lifespan, spreading reproductive effort across several seasons or years to boost the chances that at least some offspring survive. This pattern is common in humans, most mammals, many birds, and perennial plants. By contrast, semelparity involves investing all or most reproductive resources into a single event, often followed by death, as seen in many annual plants, some insects, and the Pacific salmon. The other terms describe mating systems—monogamous means one partner, and polygynous means one male with multiple females—but they don’t specify how many times reproduction occurs. The key idea here is the ability to reproduce more than once, which defines iteroparous species.

Repeated reproduction across a lifetime is iteroparity. In iteroparous species, individuals reproduce in multiple events over their lifespan, spreading reproductive effort across several seasons or years to boost the chances that at least some offspring survive. This pattern is common in humans, most mammals, many birds, and perennial plants. By contrast, semelparity involves investing all or most reproductive resources into a single event, often followed by death, as seen in many annual plants, some insects, and the Pacific salmon. The other terms describe mating systems—monogamous means one partner, and polygynous means one male with multiple females—but they don’t specify how many times reproduction occurs. The key idea here is the ability to reproduce more than once, which defines iteroparous species.