Final answer:
The maximum lifespan for a species is not unalterable and can change through natural selection, environmental factors, and scientific advancements. Life history strategies, which detail how energy is allocated for growth, maintenance, and reproduction, can evolve, influencing lifespan. Therefore, the answer to the quiz question is False.
Step-by-step explanation:
The maximum lifespan for a species is not unalterable. I think it is would be a misunderstanding of evolutionary processes and life history strategies. Life history strategies involve how a species partition energy for growth, maintenance, and reproduction, and these can evolve through natural selection. Natural selection enables species to adapt their reproduction patterns and other life-history traits to changes in their environment, potentially altering their lifespans.
For example, environmental changes can lead to adaptations that might increase a species' longevity, if such longevity provides a reproductive advantage under the new conditions. Moreover, scientific studies and interventions may also influence lifespans. Studies on telomeres are an example of research aimed at potentially extending the lifespan of individuals. In essence, the lifespan of a species is a result of complex interactions between genetics, environment, and evolution.
It's also worth noting that the lifespan of individual species has varied greatly throughout history. The diversity of life on Earth is a dynamic equilibrium of speciation and extinction, with some species surviving for millions of years while others may exist for only a short period before going extinct.