r and K Selection Guide Viewing
1: What does “r” stand for?
- "r" stands for growth rate
2: What happens if we have a positive “r”?
- You will have exponential growth and eventually hit logistic growth
3: What is “N”?
- "N" is the number of individuals in the population
4: What is “K”?
- "K" is carrying capacity
5: Explain the survivorship curve. (Give an example for each)
TYPE I: High survival likelihood early on (Humans)
TYPE II: Dying off at a linear rate (robins)
TYPE III: Most die off very early on (frogs)
6: How does the environment affect the survivorship curve?
- Some environments are stable in comparison to others. Stable environments usually help prolong life
7: What are “r” selected species? Explain characteristics of these species.
Species that base their life on growth rate.
- Unstable environment
- High Fecundity (Lots of offsprings)
- Small body size
- Early maturity
- Short generation time
- Dispersed off spring
8: What are “K” selected species? Explain characteristics of these species.
- Species that live for a long time (Live for exponential and logistic growth)
* Stable environment
* Large body sizes
* Long life expectancy
* High parental care
* Fewer offsprings
- "r" stands for growth rate
2: What happens if we have a positive “r”?
- You will have exponential growth and eventually hit logistic growth
3: What is “N”?
- "N" is the number of individuals in the population
4: What is “K”?
- "K" is carrying capacity
5: Explain the survivorship curve. (Give an example for each)
TYPE I: High survival likelihood early on (Humans)
TYPE II: Dying off at a linear rate (robins)
TYPE III: Most die off very early on (frogs)
6: How does the environment affect the survivorship curve?
- Some environments are stable in comparison to others. Stable environments usually help prolong life
7: What are “r” selected species? Explain characteristics of these species.
Species that base their life on growth rate.
- Unstable environment
- High Fecundity (Lots of offsprings)
- Small body size
- Early maturity
- Short generation time
- Dispersed off spring
8: What are “K” selected species? Explain characteristics of these species.
- Species that live for a long time (Live for exponential and logistic growth)
* Stable environment
* Large body sizes
* Long life expectancy
* High parental care
* Fewer offsprings