Semelparity and iteroparity

Semelparity and iteroparity are two ways of reproducing, or making new generations of organisms. Semelparity is sometimes referred to as "big-bang" reproduction. It is a one-time reproductive event, where the organism puts most or all of its energy into having a single generation of offspring as quickly as possible, and then it dies. This is often seen in animals like some species of salmon and mayflies, who lay thousands of eggs in their lifetime.

Iteroparity is different: the organism reproduces over and over again, with each reproductive event being smaller. Animals like frogs, snakes, and birds can all reproduce in this way, often having a smaller number of offspring each time they reproduce. Over their lifetime, they can have hundreds or even thousands of offspring in total.