What Is Life? 2nd Edition by Jay Phelan

Exercise 4

On average, which leaves more offspring that survive to become adults and reproduce: a pair of elephants or a pair of rabbits?
A) The pair of elephants, because elephants live much longer and have more breeding seasons.
B) The pair of rabbits, because they have so many more offspring per breeding season than do elephants.
C) The pair of rabbits, because they reach sexual maturity more rapidly.
D) The pair of elephants, because any individual elephant born is more likely to survive to become an adult and reproduce.
E) If both populations are stable, the pair of elephants and the pair of rabbits will leave the same number of offspring that survive to become adults and reproduce.