What is the lifespan of an orangutan?
Bornean orangutan: 35 – 45 years
Are orangutans R selected?
The orangutan appears to be the ultimate K-selected species, in that survivorship is high, interbirth interval is long (mean = 8 years) and the female makes a high investment in her offspring.
What are examples of R-selected species?
Typical examples of r-species are mice, rabbits, weeds and bacteria, which have a lot of offspring, but a short life expectancy. Examples of organisms undergoing K-selection are tortoises, elephants, people, and sequoia trees: their offspring are few but long-lived.
Are bacteria R-selected?
R-selected organisms, those emphasizing a fast growth rate, high number of offspring, include rabbits, bacteria, salmon, plants such as weeds and grasses, etc.
Are dandelions r-selected species?
Dandelions are particularly good examples of R-selected traits because they have several of the physical characteristics associated with R-selected traits including: rapid development, small size, and short lifespan.
Why are humans K-selected species?
K-selected species possess relatively stable populations fluctuating near the carrying capacity of the environment. These species are characterized by having only a few offspring but investing high amounts of parental care. Elephants, humans, and bison are all k-selected species.
Why are rabbits r-selected species?
So this begs the question are rabbits truly prolific, and why? In Page 2 the 1960s two ecologists came up with r/K selection theory. It relates to parental investment and reproductive strategies adopted by species in order to advance its kind into the future. And they have the ability to reproduce rapidly.
What are characteristics of R-selected species?
The production of numerous small offspring followed by exponential population growth is the defining characteristic of r-selected species. They require short gestation periods, mature quickly (and thus require little or no parental care), and possess short life spans.
What does R stand for in r-selected species?
A whale tends for a single calf. r-selection: On one extreme are the species that are highly r-selected. r is for reproduction. Such a species puts only a small investment of resources into each offspring, but produces many such low effort babies.
Are humans R or K strategists?
Both across and within species, r and K strategists differ in a suite of correlated characteristics. Humans are the most K of all. K’s supposedly have a longer gestation period, a higher birthweight, a more delayed sexual maturation, a lower sex drive, and a longer life.
Are Lions R or K-selected?
Common examples of k-strategists species include humans, lions and whales.
Are cats R or K-selected?
Cats and dogs are r-selected compared to humans, but K-selected compared to mice and rats. Mice and rats, in turn, are K-selected compared to most insects. We can think of an r-K selection continuum and an organism’s position along it in a particular environment at a given instant in time (Pianka 1970).
What does R stand for in ecology?
The first variable is r (the intrinsic rate of natural increase in population size, density independent) and the second variable is K (the carrying capacity of a population, density dependent).
Are trees K-selected?
K-selected species While larger in size when born, the offspring are relatively helpless and immature at birth. Examples of K-selected species are primates including humans, other mammals such as elephants, and plants such as oak trees.
Are Squirrels k-selected?
Tree squirrels are K-selected compared to ground squirrels but rodents are r-selected compared to elephants, etc.
Are elephants K strategists?
K-selected species, also called K-strategist, species whose populations fluctuate at or near the carrying capacity (K) of the environment in which they reside. Elephants are classic examples of K-selected species—that is, species characterized by relatively stable populations.
Are frogs K-selected species?
Other examples of r-selected species include frogs, bacteria, and dandelions. On the other end of the spectrum are K-selected species, which are creatures like the elephant. R-selected species produce so many offspring because it is not likely that many of them will survive.
Why are frogs r selected species?
Frogs have been selected by stable, predictable environments, therefore they do not feel the need to care for their offspring like wolves.
Are frogs R-strategists?
Frogs produce many eggs, and a fraction live to reproduce themselves. They are an example of r-strategists.
How many eggs do frogs lay?
Common toad: 3,000 – 6,000
What are K and R strategists?
The terms r-selection and K-selection are used by ecologists to describe the growth and reproduction strategies of organisms. r-selected species have a high growth rate but low survivability (“cheap” offspring) K-selected species have a low growth rate but high survivability (“expensive” offspring)
What are three traits of an R strategist?
Among the traits that are thought to characterize r-selection are high fecundity, small body size, early maturity onset, short generation time, and the ability to disperse offspring widely. Organisms whose life history is subject to r-selection are often referred to as r-strategists or r-selected.
What are 2 types of reproduction?
There are two types of reproduction: asexual and sexual reproduction. Though asexual reproduction is faster and more energy efficient, sexual reproduction better promotes genetic diversity through new combinations of alleles during meiosis and fertilization.
What is r at carrying capacity?
In the equations describing growth of populations of organisms, r represents the slope of the line representing exponential growth. The letter K represents the carrying capacity of a habitat for members of a given sort of organism.
How do R and K selection influence survivorship curves?
How do survivorship curves relate to r selection and K selection in animals. Ans: Populations described as r selection have traits that contribute to a high population growth rate. K selection maximizes the chance of surviving in an environment where the number of individuals is near the carrying capacity.