Are humans R or K selected?

Elephants, humans, and bison are all k-selected species. On the other hand, r-selected species often inhabit unstable environments and are completely density independent. These species often have short life expectancies, produce as many offspring as they can, and invest very low amounts of parental care.

Are humans R strategists or K strategists?

Both across and within species, r and K strategists differ in a suite of correlated characteristics. Humans are the most K of all. K’s supposedly have a longer gestation period, a higher birthweight, a more delayed sexual maturation, a lower sex drive, and a longer life.

What does R K theory argue?

In ecology, r/K selection theory relates to the selection of combinations of traits in an organism that trade off between quantity and quality of offspring.

What is R vs K selection?

r is for reproduction. Such a species puts only a small investment of resources into each offspring, but produces many such low effort babies. K refers to the carrying capacity, and means that the babies are entering a competitive world, in a population at or near its carrying capacity.

Do humans utilize R strategy or K strategy for reproduction?

Bacterial Growth Curve representing r and K Reproductive Strategies. K-strategists, on the other hand occupy more stable environments. They are larger in size and have longer life expectancies….K and r Reproductive Strategies.

Characteristics of r- and K-selected organisms
r-organisms	K-organisms
small size at birth	large size at birth

How does R and K selection differ quizlet?

Amount of care given to offspring by K-selected species. r-selected species are more common in this environment, along with disturbed communities. K-selected species are more common in this environment. Largest number of individuals of a population that an environment can support.

What are the differences between R and K strategies?

The key difference between r strategist and K strategist is that the r strategist lives in unstable and unpredictable environments while the K strategist lives in more stable environment. Because of this environmental conditions, the r strategists produce many offspring while the K strategists produce few offsprings.

Why do we use the symbols R and K for these strategies?

In the equations describing growth of populations of organisms, r represents the slope of the line representing exponential growth. The letter K represents the carrying capacity of a habitat for members of a given sort of organism.

What are examples of R selected species?

Examples of r-selected species are marine invertebrates, such as jellyfish, and plants, such as the dandelion. Dandelions have small seeds that are dispersed long distances by wind; many seeds are produced simultaneously to ensure that at least some of them reach a hospitable environment.

How do R and K selection influence survivorship curves?

How do survivorship curves relate to r selection and K selection in animals. Ans: Populations described as r selection have traits that contribute to a high population growth rate. K selection maximizes the chance of surviving in an environment where the number of individuals is near the carrying capacity.

Which organism follows an R strategy for reproduction?

Houseflies are R-Strategy, a small bodied organism, has a short life spans, mature faster because of shorter life span, produce many offspring, and often don’t take care of their young.

What are three differences between R and K strategists?

K and r Reproductive Strategies

Characteristics of r- and K-selected organisms
r-organisms	K-organisms
have large litters	have small litters
reproduce at an early age	reproduce at a late age
fast maturation	slow maturation

Is R/K selection better than k/r selection?

Neither K or r selection is necessarily better; both have advantages and disadvantages. Keep in mind though that a lot of organisms lie between these two and that r/K selection theory has fallen a bit out of favor over the last few decades. Still though, it is helpful in understanding organisms’ life histories.

Who has applied R/K selection theory to human behavior?

Some researchers, such as Lee Ellis, J. Philippe Rushton, and Aurelio José Figueredo, have applied r/K selection theory to various human behaviors, including crime, sexual promiscuity, fertility, IQ, and other traits related to life history theory.

What are the R/K selection trade-offs in biology?

These trade-offs relate to the r/K selectiontheory of life history strategies. 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.

What is the R / K selection theory of mouse reproduction?

A litter of mice with their mother. The reproduction of mice follows an r -selection strategy, with many offspring, short gestation, less parental care, and a short time until sexual maturity. In r / K selection theory, selective pressures are hypothesised to drive evolution in one of two generalized directions: r – or K -selection.