What are R & K-selected species?
A mouse produces a large litter. A whale tends for a single calf. r-selection: On one extreme are the species that are highly r-selected. r is for reproduction….r- and K-selection.
| Characteristic | r | K |
|---|---|---|
| Size of offspring | small | large |
| Independence at birth | early | late |
| Ability to learn | low | high |
| Lifespan | short | long |
What are 5 characteristics of K-selected species?
Ans: The factors or characteristics of K selected species include slow development, low reproductive rate, late reproductive age, large body size, multiple reproductive cycles, long lifespan, strong competitive ability, and low offspring mortality.
What is K in ecology?
The letter K represents the carrying capacity of a habitat for members of a given sort of organism. The terms r-selection and K-selection have also been used by ecologists to describe the growth and reproductive strategies of various organisms.
Are Wolves K related species?
Key elements of wolf biology that support their classification as K-strategists are summarized in table 1. Survivorship: Gray wolves have a relatively even probability of survival throughout life which designates them as a species with a Type II survivorship curve (see Figure 3).
What is a K-selected species?
K-selected species possess relatively stable populations fluctuating near the carrying capacity of the environment. These species are characterized by having only a few offspring but investing high amounts of parental care. Elephants, humans, and bison are all k-selected species.
What are the characteristics of K-selected species?
K-selected species are characterized by long gestation periods lasting several months, slow maturation (and thus extended parental care), and long life spans. In addition, they tend to inhabit relatively stable biological communities, such as late-successional or climax forests (see ecological succession).
What is a K-selected species list 3 traits that define these species give two examples of K species?
Traits that ensure the population doesn’t exceed the carrying capacity are known as K-selected traits. This includes characteristics like slow development, low reproductive rate, strong competitive ability, and good parental care, among others.
Are dogs k-selected species?
Indeed, one can think of a given organism as an “r-strategist” or a “K-strategist” only relative to some other organism; thus statements about r and K selection are invariably comparative. Cats and dogs are r-selected compared to humans, but K-selected compared to mice and rats.
Why do K-selected species have few offspring?
By contrast, K-selected species display traits associated with living at densities close to carrying capacity and typically are strong competitors in such crowded niches, that invest more heavily in fewer offspring, each of which has a relatively high probability of surviving to adulthood (i.e., low r, high K).