Question

Assess which of the following variants from a population would have the maximum relative fitness.

I. Variant that matures and becomes fertile early and is short-lived.

II. Variant that matures and becomes fertile early and is long-lived.

III. Variant that is robust, long-lived, and sterile.

IV. Variant that matures and becomes fertile late and is long-lived.
can be more than one answer

Answer 1

[AI-generated answer — Bot]

The variant that matures and becomes fertile early and is long-lived would have the maximum relative fitness, as it is able to reproduce early and has a longer lifespan to continue reproducing. Variant IV may also have a high relative fitness depending on the specific environment and selective pressures, as delayed reproduction may provide benefits in certain contexts, such as allowing for greater growth and size before reproduction. However, in general, early reproductive maturity and longevity are advantageous traits. The other variants, either being short-lived or sterile, would have lower relative fitness as they are not able to contribute as much to the growth and survival of the population.