Which term refers to animals that mate multiple times during their life and produce few offspring per mating event?

Which term refers to animals that mate multiple times during their life and produce few offspring per mating event?

• A. Monogamy
• B. Iteroparity
• C. Polygyny
• D. Semelparity

Answer: (B)

This question tests a life-history strategy about how organisms allocate reproduction over their lifespan. Iteroparity describes species that reproduce multiple times across their lives, typically producing a small number of offspring each time. This pattern allows repeated opportunities to reproduce and often involves spreading reproductive effort over several seasons or years. In contrast, semelparity is reproducing once and then usually not surviving to reproduce again, often with a large number of offspring produced in that single event. Monogamy and polygyny describe social or mating systems, not the frequency of reproduction across a lifetime. So, the description—mates multiple times and produces few offspring per event—fits iteroparity.

This question tests a life-history strategy about how organisms allocate reproduction over their lifespan. Iteroparity describes species that reproduce multiple times across their lives, typically producing a small number of offspring each time. This pattern allows repeated opportunities to reproduce and often involves spreading reproductive effort over several seasons or years.

In contrast, semelparity is reproducing once and then usually not surviving to reproduce again, often with a large number of offspring produced in that single event. Monogamy and polygyny describe social or mating systems, not the frequency of reproduction across a lifetime.

So, the description—mates multiple times and produces few offspring per event—fits iteroparity.