r selection

American  

Also r-selection

Ecology.

1. selection occurring when a population is far below the carrying capacity of an unstable environment: tends to favor individuals that reproduce early, quickly, and in large numbers so as to make use of ephemeral resources and ensure that at least some offspring survive.

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Other Word Forms

• r-selected
  adjective

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How does r-selection compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• K selection vs. r selection