Why does the ability to produce up to 100 offspring increase the fitness of scorpions?

• A. It increases the likelihood that some offspring will survive to reproduce, passing on the parent's genes.
• B. It reduces the need for parental care after birth.
• C. It ensures that all offspring will survive to adulthood.
• D. It allows scorpions to avoid predation by overwhelming predators with large numbers.

Answer: (A)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand the concept of 'fitness' in biology: Fitness refers to an organism's ability to survive and reproduce, passing its genes to the next generation. The more offspring that survive and reproduce, the higher the fitness of the parent organism.
2. Analyze the reproductive strategy of scorpions: Producing a large number of offspring increases the chances that at least some will survive to adulthood, even in environments with high predation or other risks.
3. Consider the survival challenges faced by scorpions: Many offspring may not survive due to predation, environmental factors, or competition. By producing up to 100 offspring, scorpions increase the probability that some will survive and reproduce.
4. Evaluate the role of parental care: Scorpions generally do not provide extensive parental care after birth. Producing many offspring compensates for this lack of care by increasing the odds of survival through sheer numbers.
5. Rule out incorrect options: Not all offspring will survive to adulthood, and overwhelming predators is not the primary reason for producing many offspring. The correct explanation is that producing many offspring increases the likelihood that some will survive to reproduce, ensuring the continuation of the parent's genetic lineage.