r-selected species are organisms that have a high reproductive rate and produce many offspring, but provide little parental care. They typically have short lifespans and reach sexual maturity quickly.
Think of r-selected species as the "fast food" of the animal kingdom. Just like fast food restaurants churn out large quantities of cheap meals quickly, r-selected species reproduce rapidly and produce many offspring without investing much time or energy into each individual.
K-selected species: These are organisms that have a low reproductive rate and produce few offspring, but provide extensive parental care. They typically have longer lifespans and reach sexual maturity later.
Carrying capacity: This refers to the maximum number of individuals that an environment can sustainably support.
Population growth rate: It is the rate at which a population increases or decreases over time, taking into account births, deaths, immigration, and emigration.
How is the biotic potential different in K-selected and r-selected species?
Compared to families of r-selected species, K-selected species have a _____ family size.
r-selected species tend to have a _____ survivorship curve.
Which type of survivorship curve is most likely associated with R-selected species?
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