The influence of mortality on the behaviour that maximizes reproductive success in a patchy environment

We consider an animal for which opportunities to reproduce occur in patches. The animal is subject to a rate of mortality while in a patch, and to a possibly different rate of mortality while travelling between patches. The animal continues to engage in reproductive behaviour until it dies. We characterize the policy that maximizes the animal's total reproductive success. This policy differs from the policy that maximizes the animal's mean rate of reproductive success. Furthermore, maximizing this mean rate can result in a significant reduction in total reproductive success.