FNR 45400 Lecture 8: Ecological Strategies

• School: Purdue University
• Department: Forestry and Natural Resources
• Course: FNR 45400
• Professor: Goforth

Document Summary

There are two main ecological strategies used by microbes. Patch exploiters display an r- ecotype, while oligotrophs display a k-ecotype. The ability of r-ecotype organisms to reproduce rapidly and exponentially is important because it allows such organisms to have a high fecundity and relatively little investment in any one progeny individual. These organisms are often subject to predation and the lack of predictability in their environment. The strategy is to flood the habitat with progeny so that, regardless of predation or mortality, at least some of the progeny will survive to reproduce. Organisms that are r-selected usually have short life spans, are small, quick to mature and not as energy efficient as k-ecotypes. K-ecotypes are larger in size, have longer life expectancies, and generally are more energy efficient. They produce fewer progeny, but place a greater investment in each individual.