Question

part 2: determining fitness in a population
directions: read each scenario below to determine which individual in the population is the most fit.
*fitness = individuals who live the longest and produce the most offspring that also survive and live to adulthood are considered the most fit.
scenario #1: george dwayne spot tyrone
size 10 feet 8.5 feet 9 feet 9 feet
age at death (years) 13 16 12 10

cubs fathered 19 25 20 20

cubs surviving to adulthood 15 14 14 19

#1. identify the lion that is considered the most fit? explain your answer and provide evidence from the chart above.
#2. identify the lion that is considered the least fit? explain your answer and provide evidence from the chart above.

Explanation:

1. To determine the most fit lion, we look at the criteria of living long and having the most offspring that survive to adulthood. Dwayne lived to 16 years (long - est among them), fathered 25 cubs, and 14 survived to adulthood. His combination of long life and relatively high number of surviving offspring makes him the most fit.
2. Tyrone is considered the least fit. He died at 10 years (the youngest), and although he had 20 cubs fathered and 19 survived to adulthood, his short lifespan compared to others puts him at a disadvantage in terms of overall fitness.

Answer:

1. Dwayne. He lived to 16 years, fathered 25 cubs, and 14 survived to adulthood.
2. Tyrone. He died at 10 years, the youngest among them, and despite having a good number of surviving cubs, his short lifespan makes him the least fit.