What characterizes K-selected species' life history?

• A. Many offspring with low parental investment.
• B. Small body size with short lifespan.
• C. Rapid reproduction and early maturity.
• D. Few offspring with high parental investment and long development.

Answer: (D)

K-selected species maximize the survival of a few offspring by investing a lot in each one. They tend to be larger, mature later, develop more slowly, and provide substantial parental care, which helps offspring survive in stable environments where competition for resources is high and populations hover near the carrying capacity. This combination—few offspring, high parental investment, and long development—best fits K-selected life history.

So, the description of few offspring with high parental investment and long development matches this pattern. The other descriptions point to strategies focused on producing many offspring with little investment (rapid, early reproduction, or small, short-lived species), which are more characteristic of r-selected species.