Maternal risk-management elucidates the evolution of reproductive adaptations in sharks by means of natural selection.

ABSTRACT: Maternal investment theory is the study of how breeding females allocate resources between offspring size and brood size to achieve reproductive success. In classical trade-off models, r/K-selection and bet-hedging selection, the primary predictors of maternal investments in offspring are population density and resource stability. In crowded, stable environments, K-selected females invest in large offspring at an equivalent cost in brood size. In uncrowded, unstable environments, r-selected females invest in large broods at an equivalent cost in offspring size. In unpredictable resource environments, bet-hedging females invest moderately in brood size and offspring size. The maternal risk-management model represents a profound departure from classical trade-off models. Maternal investments

SUBMITTER: Deeken D 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11362299 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature