Which of the following best describes the concept of r-selection?

The concept of r-selection is best described by the production of many offspring with low parental investment. This reproductive strategy is associated with species that often inhabit unstable or unpredictable environments where the chance of offspring survival is low. By producing a large number of offspring, these species increase the likelihood that some of their young will survive to adulthood, despite the low investment in each individual’s care.

In r-selected species, the focus is on quantity over quality. These organisms tend to have shorter lifespans, reach reproductive maturity quickly, and may produce several broods in a single season. This strategy allows them to exploit available resources rapidly and can be particularly advantageous in environments where conditions can change dramatically.

In contrast, options that describe few offspring with high parental investment focus on K-selection, which is typical of stable environments where competition for resources is high, leading to more parental care for each offspring. Concepts such as stable population sizes or constant reproductive efforts do not capture the essence of r-selection, which is fundamentally about maximizing reproductive output in uncertain conditions.