BIOLOGY 1101 Lecture Notes - Lecture 14: Natural Selection, Senescence, Life History Theory
22 Nov 2016
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Document Summary
There are several traits that tend to be correlated across many species. Age at sexual maturity, number or reproductive events in a life longevity, etc. Life history theory attempts to explain these correlations. Variation in life history can be divided into organisms with differential reproductive investment: Reach sexual maturity and die after reproducing. Quickly undergo several copious bouts of reproduction after reaching nearly sexual maturity. Mature more slowly and reproduce more slowly. Humans are at the extreme of this last strategy. Ultimately, this variation in life history is based on evolutionary trade-offs. Resources tend to be limited in some way, so organisms are limited in how they can distribute them. Should an individual put more resources towards growth, survival, or reproduction? (the answer is. Natural selection will select for the organisms that leave the most offspring in the next generation.
