Which strategy is associated with species characterized by high offspring numbers and short life spans?

The strategy associated with species characterized by high offspring numbers and short life spans is known as r-selection. This concept comes from ecological theories regarding how species reproduce and invest energy into their young.

Species that follow r-selection tend to produce many offspring at once, often with minimal parental care. This reproductive strategy is advantageous in unstable or unpredictable environments where the survival rates of many offspring may be low. By maximizing the number of births, these species increase the likelihood that at least some of their offspring will survive to adulthood and reproduce themselves. Typically, r-selected species exhibit rapid growth rates, early maturation, and shorter life spans, allowing them to take advantage of transient environments.

Understanding r-selection helps in studying population dynamics and the evolutionary strategies that species employ based on their ecological contexts. The focus on producing numerous offspring in a shorter timeframe contrasts with k-selection, which emphasizes fewer offspring with more parental care and investment in a stable environment, often leading to longer life spans.