What characterizes an R-selected species?

An R-selected species is characterized by its reproductive strategy that focuses on producing a large number of offspring with low survival probabilities. This life history strategy is typically associated with unstable or unpredictable environments where the chances of offspring survival are low due to factors like high predation, competition, or environmental variability.

In these conditions, R-selected species invest less energy in each individual offspring, as the idea is that even if many do not survive to adulthood, the sheer number of offspring increases the likelihood that some will successfully reach maturity and reproduce. This is in contrast to K-selected species, which produce fewer offspring but invest significantly more energy and resources into raising them to ensure higher survival rates.

The other options describe attributes associated with K-selected species. Producing few offspring with high survival rates, adapting to stable environments, and having longer lifespans for offspring are all characteristic of species that thrive in stable conditions where competition and predation are manageable. In summary, R-selected species embody a strategy of quantity over quality in reproduction, ensuring their persistence in variable habitats.