Differential Reproductive Strategies

Definition

Differential reproductive strategies refer to the various ways in which different species reproduce and allocate their resources towards reproduction. Some species have a high reproductive rate with little parental care (r-selected species), while others have a low reproductive rate with significant parental investment (K-selected species).

Analogy

Think of differential reproductive strategies like two different approaches to managing money. R-selected species are like spendthrifts who quickly use up their resources, while K-selected species are like savers who carefully invest their resources for long-term benefits.

Related terms

r-selected species: These are organisms that produce many offspring but provide minimal parental care.

K-selected species: These are organisms that produce few offspring but provide extensive parental care.

Life history traits: These are characteristics of an organism's life cycle, such as age at first reproduction and lifespan, that influence its reproductive strategy.