r-Strategists: Maximize reproductive growth rate (r). Huge numbers of offspring, little/no parental care. Mosquitoes, rodents. Type III Survivorship.
K-Strategists: Maximize population carrying capacity (K). Few offspring, extensive parental care, long lifespan. Elephants, humans. Type I Survivorship.
Invasives: Many invasive species are r-selected, allowing them to rapidly colonize disturbed environments.
Tags
Populationr-SelectedK-SelectedSurvivorship
r-Selected Strategist
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OffspringMany (Hundreds)
Body SizeSmall
Parental CareNone to Minimal
LifespanShort
Pop. StabilityHighly Volatile
K-Selected Strategist
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OffspringFew (1 to 2)
Body SizeLarge
Parental CareHigh / Extended
LifespanLong
Pop. StabilityStable (Near K)
Simulate Environmental Disturbance
Normal Conditions: r-selected populations boom and bust rapidly. K-selected populations maintain a slow, steady balance near their carrying capacity.
Endangered vs Invasive
K-strategists are brutally susceptible to extinction. If their slow-growing population is hit by poaching or habitat loss, they cannot replace numbers fast enough. Conversely, r-strategists are robust against disturbances and dominate as invasive species.