Practicing Success

Target Exam

CUET

Subject

Biology

Chapter

Organisms and Populations

Question:

Read the passage and answer the following questions :

Organisms evolve in their respective habitats to maximize their reproductive fitness, also known as Darwinian fitness, which is often measured by a high "r" value. They adapt to the specific selection pressures present in their environment by developing the most efficient reproductive strategies. This includes variations in breeding frequency and the number and size of offspring produced.Some organisms, such as Pacific salmon fish and bamboo, exhibit a strategy known as semelparity, where they breed only once in their lifetime. In contrast, most birds and mammals follow an iteroparous strategy, breeding multiple times throughout their lives. Additionally, some species, like oysters and pelagic fishes, produce a large number of small-sized offspring, while others, such as birds and mammals, produce a small number of large-sized offspring.The desirable reproductive strategy for maximizing fitness depends on the specific conditions and selection pressures within the habitat. Ecologists emphasize that the evolution of life history traits is influenced by the constraints imposed by the abiotic and biotic components of the environment. Factors such as resource availability, competition, predation, and other ecological interactions shape the evolution of these traits. In summary, populations evolve to maximize reproductive fitness in their habitats, and the specific reproductive strategies and traits they adopt depend on the selection pressures and constraints present in their environment. Ecologists investigate these relationships to uncover the mechanisms behind the evolution of life history traits and their ecological significance.

 

Which reproductive strategy is exhibited by Pacific salmon fish and bamboo?

Options:

Semelparity

Iteroparity

Oviparity

Viviparity

Correct Answer:

Semelparity

Explanation:

The reproductive strategy exhibited by Pacific salmon fish and bamboo is (a) Semelparity.

Semelparity, also known as "big bang" reproduction, is a reproductive strategy in which organisms reproduce only once in their lifetime. They invest a significant amount of energy and resources into a single reproductive event, typically producing a large number of offspring. After reproduction, the individuals usually die.

Pacific salmon fish and bamboo both follow a semelparous reproductive strategy.

In the case of Pacific salmon fish, they typically migrate from the ocean to freshwater rivers and streams to spawn. They undertake a long and arduous journey, facing various challenges and obstacles, to reach their spawning grounds. Once they reach their destination, they release a large number of eggs and sperm into the water in a single reproductive event. After spawning, most Pacific salmon individuals die.

Similarly, bamboo is a type of grass that also exhibits semelparity. Bamboo plants can take several years to mature and accumulate energy reserves. Once they reach maturity, usually after many years, they undergo a synchronized flowering event across an entire population. Following flowering, bamboo plants produce a massive amount of seeds before eventually dying.

The semelparous strategy of Pacific salmon fish and bamboo allows them to allocate a substantial amount of resources towards reproduction, increasing the chances of successful reproduction and maximizing the survival of their offspring. While this strategy may result in the death of the individuals after reproduction, it allows for a burst of offspring production and ensures the continuation of the species.