The extent to which selection favors a strategy in which an animal makes an investment is determined by
A) senescence.
B) the total cost of the investment.
C) the total benefit derived from the investment.
D) the net benefit (benefit minus cost) of the strategy.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The net benefit (benefit minus cost) of a strategy is the key factor in determining the extent to which selection favors it. This is because natural selection operates on the basis of maximizing an organism's reproductive success, which is determined by the balance between the benefits and costs of various strategies. If the net benefit of a particular investment strategy is high, then individuals that use that strategy are more likely to have higher reproductive success and pass on their genes to future generations, leading to the evolution of that strategy within the population.

The Extent to Which Selection Favors a Strategy in Which