Question

Which of the following is an r-strategist?
A) Human
B) Insect
C) Rhinoceros
D) Whale

Answer 1

Hint: R-strategist organisms are organisms that produce their offsprings full to their capacity. They use their maximum reproduction potential and also they strategise to aim for their higher population.

Step by step answer: During evolution, there were species who predominantly wanted to overtake a particular niche and survive for a longer lifespan. The population strategy was seen in the population of different mammals. The mammals decided their reproduction rates based on their lifespan. Since mammals live longer, their reproduction rate was less and since insect’s life span was less, the reproduction rate was higher. There were two strategists seen on the basis of their strategies: K strategist and r strategist. R-strategist cannot have a better carrying capacity from the population equation. They often live in unstable environments where the slightest disturbance can cause a decrease in their population. Thus, they have developed a strategy to reproduce whenever there are favourable conditions. So, for every little chance they get, they reproduce in large numbers where there is still fewer chances of survival till their lifespan. This maintains their population and prevents the extinction of the species. The characteristics of r-strategists include:
1) Breeding once or twice in their lifespan.
2) A large number of offsprings
3) No parental care is seen
4) High infant mortality, etc.
Insects produce a large number of offsprings and fall in the category of r strategist.
Thus, the correct answer is B, Insects.

Note: K-strategists are way different than r-strategist as they show maximum parental care and less infant mortality rates are seen. They also have lesser reproduction rates as a high population can be harmful for the entire population. The survival curve has also been constructed to give the survival rates of these types of strategist organisms. The survival of r strategist increases as they get older and in the case of K strategist, the survival rate decreases as they get older.