Consider the life of the praying mantis. The large predatory female lays several hundred eggs in a foam mass in the fall. The young are most vulnerable when they emerge in the spring, but the few that survive spread out over the countryside and, if they find a mate, lay eggs the following fall. Which type of survivorship curve does this represent?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The life cycle described in the scenario represents a type III survivorship curve, where many offspring have a low chance of survival, but those that do survive have a higher chance of living to reproductive age. The praying mantis lays several hundred eggs, indicating a high reproductive rate, but the young are most vulnerable when they first emerge, leading to a high mortality rate. However, the few that do survive have the potential to reproduce and continue the cycle.

Consider the Life of the Praying Mantis