Question

Two bird species, one an r-strategist and the other a K-strategist, are near extinction. Intense conservation efforts are undertaken, and both species begin to recover and increase in number. Which, if either, species should increase more quickly, and why?

Answer 1

The r-strategist.

Step-by-step explanation:

R-Strategist species (such as rodents, ants and other insects) are defined as a species whose populations depend on their reproductive capacity.

Their offspring requires short gestation periods, they can produce a large number of newborns in a relatively short time and they can also endure heavily contaminated habitats. However, they have shorter life spans than the K-strategist species (such as Elephants, larger plants, birds, etc). This could result in the r-strategist growing numbers more quickly, but after a long time, the K-strategist could slowly grow larger in numbers, due to their longer life spans, and increased ability to adapt to environmental changes.