Please explain how the following factors associate with life history: Natural selection, environment, population density, abundance and habitat.
It seems as if these concepts should be discussed in whatever textbook you are using. If not, you can look up each of the concepts and relate them to life history <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Life_history>.
I searched Google under the key words "'life history' 'Natural selection'" to get these possible sources:
http://www.bioone.org/perlserv/?request=get-abstract&issn=0014-3820&volume=055&issue=02&page=0423
http://members.iinet.net.au/~sejones/histry04.html
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=14604592&dopt=Abstract
http://www.edge.org/3rd_culture/gould/gould_p2.html
http://www.senescence.info/evolution.html
You can do similar searches for life history combined with your other key words. If you do not have this capability, let us know and we will provide you with other sources.
I hope this helps. Thanks for asking.
Life history refers to the series of events and characteristics that an organism goes through from birth to reproduction and death. Various factors, such as natural selection, environment, population density, abundance, and habitat, play a significant role in shaping an organism's life history.
1. Natural selection: Natural selection is a fundamental concept in evolution that drives the process of adaptation. It refers to the process by which certain traits or characteristics become more or less common in a population over generations. Organisms with traits that enhance their survival and reproduction are more likely to pass on those traits to the next generation. This selection pressure ultimately influences an organism's life history strategy, favoring traits that increase fitness and reproductive success.
2. Environment: The environment in which an organism lives has a profound impact on its life history. Environmental conditions, such as temperature, availability of resources, predation pressure, and competition, shape an organism's development, growth, reproduction, and survival strategies. For example, in harsh and unpredictable environments, organisms may adopt a strategy of producing many offspring quickly and at a smaller size to maximize the likelihood of some offspring surviving. In contrast, in more stable and resource-rich environments, organisms may invest more energy and resources into fewer, larger offspring.
3. Population density: Population density refers to the number of individuals of the same species occupying a given unit of habitat or area. Population density directly influences an organism's interactions with others of its species and with resources in its environment. High population densities generally result in increased competition for resources, such as food, mates, and nesting sites, which can affect an organism's energy allocation, growth, and reproduction. In response, organisms may undergo changes in their life history traits, such as increasing reproductive effort or altering reproductive timing, to maximize their fitness in crowded populations.
4. Abundance: Abundance refers to the number of individuals of a particular species within an ecosystem or population. The abundance of a species can be influenced by factors such as availability of resources, predation, and disease. The abundance of resources, such as food, directly affects an organism's growth, development, and reproductive success. In resource-limited environments, organisms may have to allocate limited resources strategically, sacrificing growth or reproduction to ensure survival. Conversely, in resource-rich environments, organisms may invest more in growth and reproduction.
5. Habitat: Habitat refers to the specific environment or type of place where an organism lives. Different habitats offer unique opportunities and challenges, influencing an organism's life history. For instance, organisms living in aquatic habitats may have different reproductive strategies, such as producing large numbers of small offspring with high dispersal abilities, while those in terrestrial habitats may invest more energy in parental care and produce fewer but larger offspring. Habitat characteristics, such as availability of food, shelter, and suitable breeding sites, shape an organism's life history traits and adaptations.
To delve deeper into the relationship between these factors and life history, it is recommended to consult scientific literature, textbooks, or online resources dedicated to evolutionary biology, ecology, or life history studies.