4/19/24 - Lecture 12: Life History Evolution

Question 1

Life cycle

Answer 1

The stages and forms that an organism goes through from fertilization to reproduction and death

Question 2

Semelparity

Answer 2

Reproducing once in one’s lifetime and then dying

Question 3

Iteroparity

Answer 3

Reproducing many times in a lifetime

Question 4

R-selected species

Answer 4

Habitat: tolerate unpredictable conditions by using a wide variety of resources
Reproductive strategy: typically reproduce once but make many offspring
Survivorship: short lifespan, density-independent mortality
Population growth: period of exponential growth followed by periodic or seasonal declines

Question 5

K-selected species

Answer 5

Habitat: thrive in predictable environments but compete for high-quality resources
Reproductive strategy: reproduce more than once but fewer offspring
Survivorship: long lifespan, density-dependent mortality
Population growth: slowly rising population growth that stabilizes at or near carrying capacity