Many animals undergo a dramatic metamorphosis from larval to adult form. Poorly nourished animals cannot grow as fast as well-nourished animals and therefore do not reach a given mass as quickly as their well-nourished counterparts. If metamorphosis occurs when a specific minimum body mass is reached, which of the following costs is most likely incurred by a poorly nourished animal?

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A poorly nourished animal will take longer to reach the minimum body mass required for metamorphosis, which means it will have a longer period of vulnerability to predation before it can reproduce. This is because it will spend more time in the larval form, which is generally a less well-adapted stage for avoiding predators.

Many Animals Undergo a Dramatic Metamorphosis from Larval to Adult