In this harsh environment, mangroves have evolved a special mechanism to help their offspring survive.

Every species is fertile enough that if all offspring survived to reproduce the population would grow (fact).

The offspring are feeble and cannot survive more than a few days, but before their demise a researcher can glean insights into their development.

Studies show that offspring of large adults still survive under food limitations, despite needing more nutrients for a longer development.

It increases the chance that at least some offspring of a parent survive.

Others reproduce quickly; but, under normal circumstances, most offspring do not survive to adulthood.

Since only one female in a group breeds, heavy investment in infant care ensures that all offspring survive until independence.

Mutant offspring that were best able to utilize the sparse nutritional residues would survive.

She may even have already laid a few eggs, but without her mate's assistance to rear the chicks, the offspring do not survive.

The offspring receiving the extra copy of myd88 survived and hatched, while those without the extra copy died.