MA: So we have in the “k-selected” species a stable environment that is density dependent. They produce few offspring with extra investment on the part of the parent, they have late maturation (again with much parental care) and they live long lives.
The “r-selected” species thrives in an unstable environment where there is density independence, they produce many offspring with limited parental investment, they have early maturation, and live short lives.
FYI
MA: No James, we are both. Although some organisms are primarily r- or k-strategists, the majority of organisms fall between these two ecological extremes and may display traits of both.
For instance, trees have traits such as longevity and strong competitiveness that characterize them as K-strategists. In reproduction, however, trees typically produce thousands of offspring and disperse them widely, traits characteristic of r-strategists.
Similarly, reptiles such as sea turtles display both r- and K-traits: although large organisms with long lifespans (should they reach adulthood), they produce large numbers of unnurtured offspring.
R/K selection is a continuous spectrum not an absolute.
The concept of a continuous spectrum is paramount to all we are discussing and is often the largest stumbling block to those who try to understand complex systems.