Final answer:
K-selected populations do not reproduce quickly but instead have a slower reproductive strategy with greater parental investment in fewer offspring. K-selected species are adapted to stable environments and focus on offspring quality over quantity, opposite to r-selected species which reproduce rapidly.
Step-by-step explanation:
False. K-selected populations do not tend to reproduce quickly. They have a slower reproductive strategy that involves fewer, larger offspring and more parental investment.
K-selected species are adapted to stable, predictable environments where they tend to live close to their carrying capacity. Such species engage in intense intraspecific competition and invest substantial energy into raising few offspring. They typically have large offspring, longer gestation periods, and provide long-term care to ensure the survival and competitive ability of their young. By contrast, r-selected species reproduce rapidly and have many offspring with minimal parental investment. Examples of K-selected species include humans, elephants, and oak trees, while r-selected species examples include dandelions and jellyfish.
Although both r-selected and K-selected species face energy investment limitations, they employ distinct reproductive strategies. These strategies are shaped by their respective ecological contexts, with K-selected species focusing on offspring quality over quantity.