Chapter 4, Problem 13A

Summary Introduction

To analyze:

The number of whales the female will produce in her lifetime assuming that a right whale begins to reproduce at age ten, produces a calf every four years, and gives birth to its last calf at age fifty.

Introduction:

Right whales are migratory organisms and one of the endangered species. A unique feature of right whales is rough skin patches on their head. Due to parasitism by whale lice, these patches appear white.

Explanation of Solution

In the given assumption, the right whale started reproducing at the age of ten. So, the first calf born at the age of ten. Every four years calf is born till the age of fifty. So, the total number of calves born by this female right whale is 11.

  $1+\frac{\left(50-10\right)}{4}=11$

Conclusion

Whale follows a k-selection strategy for reproduction with long gestation and less number of offspring.