RE: Taking a glance into the r and K Survival Strategy theory by living creatures

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It was a nice surprise to see you deviating from your usual topics. I really enjoyed this post, including how the idea came up to you.

What I don’t understand about the animals following an r strategy is why they just stay in their unstable environment and do not move away from it to conquer other horizons. This is what logic would tell me to do. What do you think? Any idea on this matter?

Additionally, you mentioned that the r and K theory has been replaced by something else. Do you mind sharing a bit about this ‘something else’ in a few words? Thanks in advance.

Finally:

They are known for their resilience and ability to live for weeks without water, a rare attribute not so common with other species of fishes.

I was surprised that you didn’t mention cockroaches, who can even resist a nuclear bomb, as your starting example. They however come next. I assume they are more of the r-type, aren’t they?

Cheers, and thanks in advance for coming back to me! :)



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Hmmmmm, as always 😅. Brilliant question sir @lemouth

My mentee @nazom also says likewise, your questions are on point and makes her dig deep into her bank of knowledge.

replaced by something else. Do you mind sharing a bit about this ‘something else’ in a few words?

The r and K theory was replaced by Life history theory which is mainly analytical.

It was formulated and structured to study the diverse nature of the life history strategies that are mostly employed by different creatures. It also takes into account the causes of variation in these creatures life Cycle and the results of these variations.

Life history theory attempts to understand how natural selection designs organisms to achieve reproductive success, given knowledge of how selective factors in the environment (i.e., extrinsic mortality) and factors intrinsic to the organism (i.e., trade-offs, constraints) affect survival and reproduction. By using a variety of theoretical and empirical methods, and in particular by applying optimality thinking, life history theorists have derived major predictions about the evolution of the major life history traits, including age and size at maturity, the number and size of offspring, age- or size-specific reproductive effort, reproductive lifespan, and aging.

The r and K were as a result replaced with fast and slow organisms respectively.

To the second question, I am amazed at this;

cockroaches, who can even resist a nuclear bomb, as your starting example. They however come next. I assume they are more of the r-type, aren’t they?

Haha, that's incredible, no doubt they are part of the oldest living creatures. As regards them being under r strategies, yes they can be added, and can also be added to the K strategists since they are able to alternate environment. Infact they are found virtually everywhere. I think that's why they possibly form part of the creatures that cannot be specifically placed under a particular strategy.

Whoops, thanks sir for the question, this is lovely brain drilling.😅😊😊

why they just stay in their unstable environment and do not move away from it to conquer other horizons.

Just saw this.

I feel they just decided to cut their coat according to their size, lol. The threat that awaits them in other horizon might be far greater than what they can handle.

References resource material

Nature- Life history evolution

The roles of body size and phylogeny in fast and slow life histories

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Thanks for these clarifications and extra pieces of information.

The r and K theory was replaced by Life history theory which is mainly analytical.

I am wondering whether you plan to make a full post on life history theory. I would love to read this :)

Haha, that's incredible, no doubt they are part of the oldest living creatures. As regards them being under r strategies, yes they can be added, and can also be added to the K strategists since they are able to alternate environment. Infact they are found virtually everywhere. I think that's why they possibly form part of the creatures that cannot be specifically placed under a particular strategy.

Interesting. Another sign pushing the fact that the r and K theory is probably too simple. I would have never thought cockroaches would be of the K-type. Our world is so diverse... ;)

Have a nice week-end!

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