What Is Life History, Or Life History Strategy?

Leader: Steven F. Life History Course: Bio 312 Supplemental Instruction Instructor: Dr. Jurik, Dr. Russel Iowa State University Date: 11/4/2016

Group 1

What is Life History, or Life History Strategy?

What is meant by the fact that life history strategies are made up of decisions or events that affect fitness? What are some examples of those events?

What does it mean when there are trade-offs between life history traits? What are these major trade- offs (there are 5)?

What was Grime’s proposition as to the two pressures experienced by plants (what were those pressures)? How do these relate to the three types of plant histories?

Group 2

What are some of the major characteristics related to life histories (explain or give examples of them)?

What are some reasons why modes of reproduction are considered basic life history traits?

What is the Principle of Allocation? How does it relate, for example, to offspring size, and offspring number?

What is the relationship between organismal adult mortality rates and the age of reproductive maturity?

1060 Hixson-Lied Student Success Center v 515-294-6624 v [email protected] v http://www.si.iastate.edu Group 3

What is an organism’s reproductive effort?

What is the difference between semelparous and iteroparous organisms?

What is the relationship between seed size and seed number in plants? How does seed size relate to the relative advantage in either high disturbance, or highly hazardous, areas?

What are r and K selection? Compare/contrast the characteristics of both r selected and K selected individuals (compare their life history events).