Explain the key differences between r- and K-strategists, their life histories, and their reactions to environmental changes. Where do the r and K come from in population equations? What do they stand for?
What will be an ideal response?
R-strategists (r-selected species) "produce massive numbers of young, but then leave survival to the whims of nature." On the other hand, K-strategists (K-selected species) "have a much lower reproductive rate (that is, a lower biotic potential), but then care for and protect the young until they can compete for resources with adult members of the population."
R-strategists typically multiply quickly and have a high mortality rate. They are called r-strategists because they usually have high r values (the number of offspring that individuals can produce in a given amount of time if resources are unlimited).
K-strategists are typically "larger, longer lived, and well adapted to environmental conditions." They are so named because "their population sizes are more likely to fluctuate around the carrying capacity," termed K.
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