r-selected vs K-selected Species: AP Enviro Sci Exam Prep

📚 Quick Study Guide

• 🌱 r-selected species: Characterized by high growth rates, many offspring, minimal parental care, and typically thrive in unstable environments. Think of them as the 'quantity over quality' approach to reproduction.
• 🐢 K-selected species: Characterized by low growth rates, few offspring, significant parental care, and typically thrive in stable environments. They focus on the 'quality over quantity' approach.
• 📈 r-selected traits: Small size, early maturity, short lifespan, high dispersal ability.
• 🌳 K-selected traits: Large size, late maturity, long lifespan, low dispersal ability.
• 🌍 Examples of r-selected species: Bacteria, insects, weeds.
• 🐘 Examples of K-selected species: Elephants, whales, humans.
• ⚖️ Environmental Stability: r-selected species do well in unstable environments while K-selected species thrive in stable ones.

🧪 Practice Quiz

1. Which of the following is a characteristic of r-selected species?
   1. High parental care
   2. Large body size
   3. Early maturity
   4. Long lifespan
2. Which of the following is an example of a K-selected species?
   1. Bacteria
   2. Insects
   3. Elephants
   4. Weeds
3. In what type of environment do r-selected species typically thrive?
   1. Stable environments
   2. Unstable environments
   3. Highly competitive environments
   4. Resource-scarce environments
4. Which of the following traits is NOT associated with K-selected species?
   1. Late maturity
   2. Long lifespan
   3. Small size
   4. Low dispersal ability
5. What is the primary reproductive strategy of r-selected species?
   1. Few offspring with high survival rates
   2. Many offspring with low survival rates
   3. Clonal reproduction
   4. Asexual reproduction
6. Which of the following organisms would likely exhibit K-selected traits?
   1. A fast-growing annual plant
   2. A long-lived oak tree
   3. A rapidly reproducing mosquito
   4. A short-lived fruit fly
7. Which concept best describes the reproductive strategy of K-selected species?
   1. "Quantity over quality"
   2. "Quality over quantity"
   3. Exponential growth
   4. J-shaped curve