These graphs show variation in lifetime reproductive success for male and female

Question

These graphs show variation in lifetime reproductive success for male and female elephant seals (note difference in x-axis scale). The most successful male had >90 offspring; the most successful female had 10 and many others did nearly as well.  

A) Based on these data, what kind of mating system do you think elephant seals have? Which sex do you think invests more in progeny? What limits reproduction in each sex? Explain.

These seals lived but had no offspring 100 75 75 Males Females These seals died before 50 freq 50 adulthood 25 25 0 01- 11- 21- 31- 41- 51- 61 71 81 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 Number of offspring Number of offsprii Number of offspring

Explanation / Answer

On basis of the data provided elephant seals follow polygynous mating system. In polygynous mating system a single male will have relationship with more than one or numerous females.

Comparing the frequency of elephant seals and number of offsprings female should tend to invest more in producing a progeny.

The limitation in female for reproduction will be number of offsprings considering the investment of metabolic energy involved in producing an offspring. In case of males the limitation for reproduction is competition from other males to copulate the female.

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