Natural populations are affected by both density-dependent and density-independent factors. In a population affected mainly by density-independent factors, would you expect natural selection to favor an r-selected or K-selected life history?

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In a population affected mainly by density-independent factors, population growth is unpredictable and unstable, with sudden booms and busts. This favors organisms with an r-selected life history, which prioritize rapid reproduction and high population growth rates over individual survival and parental care. These traits allow r-selected species to quickly take advantage of favorable conditions and rebound from population crashes. K-selected species, on the other hand, invest heavily in individual survival and parental care, but have slower population growth rates and are less able to bounce back from sudden population declines.

Natural Populations Are Affected by Both Density-Dependent and Density-Independent Factors