Which of the Following Statements About the Evolution of Life

Question

Which of the following statements about the evolution of life histories is correct?
A)Stable environments with limited resources favour r-selected populations.
B)K-selected populations are most often found in environments where density-independent factors are important regulators of population size.
C)Most populations have both r- and K-selected characteristics that vary under different environmental conditions.
D)The reproductive efforts of r-selected populations are directed at producing just a few offspring with good competitive abilities.
E)K-selected populations rarely approach carrying capacity.

Accepted Answer

Most populations have both r- and K-selected characteristics that vary under different environmental conditions. This is because different environmental conditions can favour different life history strategies. For example, a stable environment with limited resources may favour r-selection, where individuals produce many offspring with lower survival rates, whereas a more stable and predictable environment may favour K-selection, where individuals produce fewer offspring with higher survival rates. Therefore, most populations have a combination of r-selected and K-selected characteristics that can vary depending on environmental conditions.