Organisms reproduce following several patterns. Some organisms produce few offspring and provide parental care. Other organisms produce many offspring but provide little or no parental care. Which of the following organisms has the greatest risk of losing a population due to the death of only a few individuals?

Elephants. Elephants produce few offspring and provide parental care, so the loss of even a few individuals can have a significant impact on their population. In contrast, flies, rats, and bacteria produce many offspring and provide little or no parental care, so the loss of a few individuals is less likely to have a significant impact on their population.