R-Selected Species

R-Selected Species

What is an example of an R-strategist?

Examples of r-strategist species are dogs, cats, insects, and fish.

What are R species?

r-selected species, also called r-strategist, species whose populations are governed by their biotic potential (maximum reproductive capacity, r). Such species make up one of the two generalized life-history strategies posited by American ecologist Robert MacArthur and American biologist Edward O.

What is R selection in biology?

r-selected species are those that emphasize high growth rates, typically exploit less-crowded ecological niches, and produce many offspring, each of which has a relatively low probability of surviving to adulthood (i.e., high r, low K). A typical r species is the dandelion (genus Taraxacum).

What is type2 survivorship?

A type II survivorship curve shows a roughly constant mortality rate for the species through its entire life. This means that the individual’s chance of dying is independent of their age. Type II survivorship curves are plotted as a diagonal line going downward on a graph.

What is the difference 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.

Are r-selected species more likely to go extinct?

Thus K-selected species are more prone to extinction than r-selected species because they mature later in life and have fewer offspring with longer gestation times.

Are sea turtles R or K strategists?

Similarly, reptiles such as sea turtles display both r- and K-traits: although large organisms with long lifespans (should they reach adulthood), they produce large numbers of unnurtured offspring.

What characteristics are common to r-selected species?

These characteristics describe R-selected species perfectly:
Rapid development.High reproductive rate.Early reproductive age.Small body size.One reproductive cycle.Short lifespan.Poor competitive ability.High mortality of offspring.

Why are r-selected species invasive?

R-selected species often grow quickly and mature rapidly. Combined with their explosive reproductive potential, their quick growth and maturation allow them to colonize disturbed and early successional habitats remarkably well. This is not to suggest that all r-selected species are invasive.

James H. Sterling
Author

James H. Sterling

James Sterling reports on renewable energy developments, climate policy, ecological conservation, and green tech innovations around the globe.