Marine Biology 8th Edition by Peter Castro,Michael Huber

Exercise 3

Cetaceans give birth to a few well-developed calves at well-spaced intervals. They also feed and protect the calves for long periods. This is in sharp contrast to most fishes, in which many eggs are spawned and the parents spend no time feeding and protecting the offspring. What do you think is the best strategy? Has this effort paid off in the case of the great whales?