Question

Which of the following factors confers fitness on those species that show high growth rate producing many offsprings and occupy less crowded ecological niches?

• A. Carrying capacity
• B. Population density
• C. Limiting factor
• D. $K$-selection
• E. $r$-selection

Answer 1

Answer: (E)

$r$-selection

Survival of a species depends on the fitness of its members and their ability to produce and reproduce offspring. Species which inhabits an unstable environment is dependent on certain conditions of the environment and density-independent, not dependent on its population size. Such species will produce offsprings at a very rapid rate when the environment is suitable and also reach the reproductive stage very early. This reproductive strategy is called r-selection as the fitness of the individuals and survival of the species is dependent on their high reproduction rate.