How does the optimal age of reproduction vary among different species?
The optimal age of reproduction is higher in species with shorter lifespans.
The optimal age of reproduction is higher in species with longer lifespans.
The optimal age of reproduction is lower in species with shorter lifespans.
The optimal age of reproduction is lower in species with longer lifespans.
Correct option (b)
The age at which an organism should begin reproducing in order to increase its lifetime reproductive success is referred to as the optimal age of reproduction. Depending on the life history tactics used by each species, this age can differ.
In comparison to species with shorter lifespans, longer-living animals often have a later optimal age for reproduction. This is due to the fact that longer-lived species have more time to devote to growth and development before they begin to reproduce, which may ultimately result in a higher reproductive output.
For example, female elephants often do not start reproducing until they are in their late teens or early twenties, despite the fact that they can live up to 70 years or more. In contrast, female mice, whose lifespan is normally just 1-2 years, may begin reproducing as early as 6 weeks of age.
There may, of course, be exceptions to this general rule, and the ideal age for reproduction may also rely on other elements including the environment and the availability of resources. In contrast to species with shorter lifespans, however, animals with longer lifespans typically have a higher optimal age for reproduction.
Option b is the correct answer.