Which reproductive strategy has a higher cost associated—sexual or asexual reproduction?

Sexual reproduction generally incurs higher costs compared to asexual reproduction for several reasons. Firstly, sexual reproduction requires two parents to contribute genetic material, which often requires time and energy to find a mate, engage in courtship behaviors, and compete for access to potential partners. This investment can be significant and can also expose an organism to various risks, such as predation during the mating process.

Additionally, sexual reproduction tends to produce fewer offspring compared to asexual reproduction, where a single organism can produce many identical offspring rapidly and with less energy expenditure. In essence, while asexual reproduction allows for rapid population growth and colonization of environments, sexual reproduction diversifies the gene pool, which can have long-term evolutionary advantages. However, the trade-off is the immediate cost in terms of energy, time, and risk associated with seeking a mate and reproduction itself.

This understanding outlines why the correct answer points to sexual reproduction as having a higher cost in terms of the investment required for successful reproduction compared to asexual methods.