Features of r-selected and K-selected species
short lived
r-selected species
small body size
r-selected species
few offspring
K-selected species
high competitive ability - may be dominant species in the ecosystem
K-selected species
large amount of parental care - high investment in young - few young so high chance of survival is important
K-selected species
large body size
K-selected species
long life cycle - usually number of years before mature and able to reproduce
K-selected species
low dispersal ability - colonisation of new habitats less frequent
K-selected species
population size more constant
K-selected species
tend to be highly specialised so less resistant to environment change - prone to becoming extinct in changing environment eg polar bears and global warming
K-selected species
typically occur in stable habitats that remain relatively undisturbed for many years eg oak trees in a forest
K-selected species
able to disperse rapidly and colonise new habitats
r-selected species
low competitive ability - unlikely to become dominant
r-selected species
not specialised o adaptable to change in environment - can evolve rapidly eg antibiotic resistance in bacteria
r-selected species
often inhabit unstable or short-lived habitats eg weeds in a ploughed field
r-selected species
population size very variable
r-selected species
reproduce rapidly with usually many offspring
r-selected species
very little parental care
r-selected species