In a population of snails occupying a single small pond, some individuals possess a single sex, and some individuals are simultaneous hermaphrodites that are capable of reproducing with both males and females. After monitoring the snail population for several years, you find that an average male-only pond snail produces 10 offspring per week during the peak of the reproductive season, while an average female-only pond snail produces 40 offspring per week during the same period. In addition, the average hermaphroditic pond snail produces 30 offspring using its male function and 20 offspring using its female function per week. What is the order of these three reproductive strategies, highest to lowest, in terms of their relative fitness? A. female > hermaphrodite > male B. male > hermaphrodite > female C. female > male > hermaphrodite D. hermaphrodite > male > female E. hermaphrodite > female > male F. male > female > hermaphrodite
In a population of snails occupying a single small pond, some individuals possess a single sex, and some individuals are simultaneous hermaphrodites that are capable of reproducing with both males and females. After monitoring the snail population for several years, you find that an average male-only pond snail produces 10 offspring per week during the peak of the reproductive season, while an average female-only pond snail produces 40 offspring per week during the same period. In addition, the average hermaphroditic pond snail produces 30 offspring using its male function and 20 offspring using its female function per week. What is the order of these three reproductive strategies, highest to lowest, in terms of their relative fitness?
Step by step
Solved in 2 steps