Q.(a) Differentiate between r-selected and k-selected species. OR

(a) r-selected species maximise reproductive rate in unstable environments; k-selected species maximise competitive fitness near carrying capacity in stable environments. (b) Protected areas, wildlife sanctuaries and WWF are key institutions/categories in biodiversity conservation.

(a) Life-history strategies of species are often classified along the r-K continuum. r-selected species are adapted to unstable, unpredictable, or rapidly-changing environments; they are typically small in body size, have short life spans, reach sexual maturity quickly, reproduce frequently and produce very large numbers of offspring in a single reproductive event, but invest little or no parental care in each individual offspring, relying instead on sheer numbers for some to survive -- insects, many small fish, and weedy plant species are classic examples. K-selected species, by contrast, are adapted to relatively stable environments where population size remains close to the habitat's carrying capacity (K); they are typically larger-bodied, longer-lived, take longer to reach sexual maturity, reproduce fewer times in their lifetime and produce fewer offspring per event, but invest considerable time and resources in parental care, giving each offspring a much higher individual chance of survival -- elephants, whales and humans are classic examples of K-selected species. …