Question

Which of the following is an example of a semelparous organism?

Options

• Most birds and mammals

• Oysters only in their larval stage

• Pacific salmon fish

• Pelagic fishes that live for multiple years

Answer 1

Pacific salmon fish are classic examples of semelparous organisms, as they reproduce only once in their lifetime before dying. Bamboo is another example. These organisms invest all their energy into a single reproductive event rather than distributing reproduction across multiple events throughout their lives.