Question

Hydras are animals related to coral and jellyfish. Hydras can reproduce sexually or asexually. Why would hydras avoid reproducing asexually when conditions are difficult? (1 point)

Answer 1

One possible reason why hydras would avoid reproducing asexually when conditions are difficult is that sexual reproduction provides genetic diversity. By reproducing sexually, hydras can produce offspring with different genetic traits and variations, which increases the chances of survival in changing or challenging environments. This genetic diversity allows for a better adaptation to the difficult conditions and increases the overall resilience of the population. In contrast, asexual reproduction produces genetically identical offspring, limiting the ability to adapt to changing conditions and reducing the overall survival rate in difficult environments.