90.3k views
4 votes
Life history strategies differ along a continuum from what is referred to as "r-selected species" to "K-selected species". For each of the following, indicate whether it describes organisms at the r-selected end or the K-selected end of the continuum.

a. short life span
b. poor competitive ability
c. stable population size at or near carrying capacity
d. high annual per capita population growth
e. long life-span
f. large number of offspring produced at one time
g. reproductive age reached early
h. outcompetes other species for resources

1 Answer

4 votes

Final answer:

Life history strategies can be classified into r-selected and K-selected species. Short lifespan, poor competitive ability, and high annual per capita population growth are characteristics of r-selected species. Long lifespan, stable population size at or near carrying capacity, and outcompeting other species for resources are characteristics of K-selected species.

Step-by-step explanation:

Life history strategies differ along a continuum from what is referred to as "r-selected species" to "K-selected species".
For each of the following, indicate whether it describes organisms at the r-selected end or the K-selected end of the continuum:

  1. short life span - r-selected species
  2. poor competitive ability - r-selected species
  3. stable population size at or near carrying capacity - K-selected species
  4. high annual per capita population growth - r-selected species
  5. long life-span - K-selected species
  6. large number of offspring produced at one time - r-selected species
  7. reproductive age reached early - r-selected species
  8. outcompetes other species for resources - K-selected species
User Pierre Ghaly
by
8.7k points