Semelparous Reproduction
A reproductive strategy with a single reproductive episode followed by death. All resources are invested in one massive breeding effort.
Used in the Books
This term appears in 2 chapters:
"After spawning, they die - 100% mortality. The dying salmon decompose, fertilizing the stream that their offspring will grow up in. This is semelparous reproduction: reproduce once, then die. It's programmed. The salmon don't die from exhaustion (they have energy reserves)."
"...uilding deep roots and energy reserves before flowering - those that flowered too early produced fewer viable seeds and left no descendants. This is semelparous reproduction - reproduce once, then die (from Latin semel = once, pario = to beget). But most plants aren't semelparous."
Biological Context
Pacific salmon spawn once and die. Century plants bloom once after decades of growth. The strategy makes sense when survival between breeding attempts is unlikely or when one massive effort outperforms multiple small ones.
Business Application
Business semelparity: companies or products designed for one big exit. Venture-backed startups often pursue this strategy—burn resources for growth, succeed spectacularly or die.