semelparity

views updated May 29 2018

semelparity (big-bang reproduction) The condition of an organism that has only one reproductive cycle during its lifetime. It is well exhibited by Antechinus; males die after mating (typically in autumn, in their first year of life), so the entire population overwinters as pregnant females. Compare ITEROPARITY.

semelparity

views updated May 23 2018

semelparity The strategy of reproducing only once during a lifetime, after which death is inevitable, even if the reproductive event is unfruitful. Semelparous organisms include most annual and biennial plants and representatives from most invertebrate animal taxa; vertebrate examples include the Pacific salmon and Atlantic eel. Compare iteroparity.

semelparity

views updated Jun 08 2018

semelparity(big-bang reproduction) The condition of an organism that has only one reproductive cycle during its lifetime. Compare iteroparity.