K-Selected Species: Few offspring, high parental care, late maturity. (Type I)
r-Selected Species: Many offspring, little/no parental care, early maturity. (Type III)
Type I (Late Loss)
High survival rates through early and middle life, followed by a rapid decline in later life as they reach the limits of maximum lifespan. (E.g., Humans, Whales).
Type II (Constant Loss)
A roughly constant mortality rate is experienced regardless of age. Vulnerable at all life stages. (E.g., Birds, some rodents).
Type III (Early Loss)
High mortality early in life, with low mortality for those few individuals who reach a certain age and size. Produces vast numbers of offspring. (E.g., Frogs, Trees, Fish).
Tags
APESPopulationsK-SelectionDemographics
Population Biology
Interact with the buttons below or click the curves directly to understand the reproductive strategies (K vs r) of different species.
Curve Types
Explanation
Select a curve to view detailed characteristics and evolutionary reproductive strategies. Note the Y-axis is logarithmic, meaning equal vertical distances represent 10x decreases in population.