2007-03-27 12:24:52 · 4 answers · asked by dhuynh9 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Zoology
There are two main types of strategies in reproduction: r-selcetion versus K-selection. K-selection is when a species has few offspring, but the offspring have a high viability (meaning each has a good chance of survival) and a longer life. r-selection is when a species has many, many offspring, but most die young. Frogs are r-selective. A lot of animals will eat tadpoles, or even the eggs before they hatch. Beyond that, many frogs will be eaten as mature adults before they manage to reproduce. So in order for frogs to survive, they have to have lots of offspring in each generation.
2007-03-27 12:30:57 · answer #1 · answered by Professor Beatz 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Because maybe one or two of those thousands of eggs will live to be a full grown frog...
Just off the top of my head, the list of animals more than willing to eat frog eggs or tadpoles and even adult frogs is as follows....
snakes, herons egrets fish turtles small alligators raccoons, opossums, sheesh, it goes on and on, really... you have to insure that at least a few of them survive to breed the next generation.
2007-03-27 19:32:18 · answer #2 · answered by gimmenamenow 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Probably the same reason fish lay so many eggs. And other animals such as turtles. The more eggs that are laid, the more eggs hatch, the more hatchlings that might survive to adulthood.
2007-03-28 20:30:19 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
because they have not an outer covering and many of them are wasted away.
2014-09-15 07:47:19 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋