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Ch. 47 - Animal Reproduction and Development
Freeman - Biological Science 8th Edition
Freeman8th EditionBiological ScienceISBN: 9780138276263Not the one you use?Change textbook
Chapter 47, Problem 6

Summarize the experimental evidence that Daphnia require three cues to trigger sexual reproduction. Discuss what these cues indicate about the environment.

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Identify the three cues necessary for Daphnia to trigger sexual reproduction: changes in photoperiod, population density, and food availability.
Explain how changes in photoperiod serve as a cue: Shorter days signal the approach of unfavorable conditions, prompting Daphnia to reproduce sexually to produce resting eggs that can survive harsh conditions.
Discuss the role of population density: High population density indicates limited resources, triggering sexual reproduction to produce more resilient offspring through genetic recombination.
Analyze the impact of food availability: A decrease in food availability signals deteriorating environmental conditions, encouraging sexual reproduction to ensure survival through genetically diverse diapausing eggs.
Summarize the environmental implications: These cues help Daphnia detect changes in their environment that could threaten their survival, prompting them to switch to a reproductive strategy that enhances the chances of their offspring's survival through adverse conditions.

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Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

Daphnia Reproduction

Daphnia, commonly known as water fleas, exhibit both asexual and sexual reproduction. Under favorable environmental conditions, they reproduce asexually through parthenogenesis, producing clones. However, when conditions become stressful, such as changes in temperature or food availability, Daphnia switch to sexual reproduction, which increases genetic diversity and resilience in fluctuating environments.
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Environmental Cues

Daphnia rely on specific environmental cues to trigger sexual reproduction. These cues typically include changes in population density, the presence of predators, and variations in resource availability. Each cue signals a shift in environmental conditions, prompting Daphnia to adapt their reproductive strategy to ensure survival and optimize offspring success.
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Adaptive Significance

The requirement for multiple cues to trigger sexual reproduction in Daphnia highlights the adaptive significance of their reproductive strategies. By integrating various environmental signals, Daphnia can better assess the overall health of their habitat. This multi-cue approach allows them to time sexual reproduction for when conditions are most favorable for the survival of their offspring, thereby enhancing their evolutionary fitness.
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Related Practice
Textbook Question

In sperm competition, what is 'second-male advantage'?

a. The observation that when females mate with two males, each male fertilizes the same number of eggs

b. The observation that when females mate with two males, the second male fertilizes most of the eggs

c. The observation that females routinely mate with at least two males before laying eggs or becoming pregnant

d. The observation that accessory fluids prevent matings by second males—for example, by forming copulatory plugs

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Textbook Question

Which of the following statements regarding animal development is/are correct? Select True or False for each statement.

T/FThe neural tube forms after organogenesis is complete

T/FThe blastocyst is formed during cleavage

T/FDuring cleavage, the zygote divides rapidly without growth, forming a mass of cells

T/FAnimals have two germ layers

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Textbook Question

True or false: The corpus luteum is retained upon implantation due to the presence of the hormone human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG).

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Textbook Question

Many frogs and mice are similar in size, yet a frog egg is vastly larger than a mouse egg. Propose a plausible explanation for this difference in the egg size.

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Textbook Question

How do spermatogenesis and oogenesis in humans differ with respect to numbers of cells produced, gamete size, and timing of the second meiotic division?

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Textbook Question

Give examples of negative and positive feedback in hormonal control of the human menstrual cycle. Why can a high estradiol level be considered a 'readiness' signal from a follicle?

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