Survivorship Curves and Life Expectancy HW Due 3/25/25

Front

What is a survivorship curve?

Back

A graphical representation showing the number of individuals surviving at each age for a given species.

Front

What are the three types of survivorship curves?

Back

Type I, Type II, and Type III.

Front

Describe Type I survivorship curve.

Back

Characterized by low mortality in early and middle life, with a high mortality rate in older age. Examples include humans and large mammals.

Front

Describe Type II survivorship curve.

Back

Characterized by a constant death rate throughout the organism's life. Examples include some birds and small mammals.

Front

Describe Type III survivorship curve.

Back

Characterized by high mortality rates in early life, with few individuals surviving to adulthood. Examples include many fish and invertebrates.

Front

What is life expectancy?

Back

The average period that a person or organism is expected to live.

Front

What is an R-strategist?

Back

Organisms that produce many offspring, have short life spans, and provide little parental care. Examples include bacteria and many insects.

Front

What is a K-strategist?

Back

Organisms that produce fewer offspring, have longer life spans, and provide significant parental care. Examples include elephants and humans.

Front

What factors influence survivorship curves?

Back

Environmental conditions, reproductive strategies, and parental care.

Front

How do survivorship curves relate to population ecology?

Back

They help ecologists understand the dynamics of populations and their survival strategies.