Which of the Following Choices Best Describes an Iteroparous Organism

Question

Which of the following choices best describes an iteroparous organism?
A) An iteroparous species breeds only once and invests all of its energy into reproduction.
B) An iteroparous species breeds many times in its life and invests all of its energy into reproduction.
C) An iteroparous species breeds many times and invests its energy into reproduction, growth and development.
D) An iteroparous species breeds only once but invests all of its energy into growth and development.

Accepted Answer

An iteroparous species is one that breeds multiple times in its life, and typically invests energy not only into reproduction, but also growth and development. Choice A is describing a semelparous organism, which only breeds once and invests all of its energy into reproduction. Choice B is incorrect because an iteroparous species does not invest all of its energy into reproduction, but rather divides energy between reproduction and other aspects of growth and development. Choice D is incorrect because an organism that breeds only once would not be considered iteroparous.