Although in some species, mothers sacrifice themselves

Last updated: 8/7/2022

Although in some species, mothers sacrifice themselves completely for their offspring (spiders often do when their offspring eat them after being born), in many cases a mother's fitness decreases if she devotes all nutrients, resources and activities to her offspring. Why? Because she is reducing her chances of living to have more reproductive opportuniites. Because her offspring may not carry her DNA at all. Because she cannot determine how well her offspring will use what she has given them in resources. Because she may adopt other offspring which are not hers and she would not benefit at all by raising them.