Aquatic ecology and Biodiversity

Unit 4- Community ecology

4.1.9. Climax community
The terminal and persistent community in an ecosystem is called climax community.
Animal are broadly grouped into
• R- selected species
• K-selected species

R –selected species
Opportunities
• Sexual maturity faster
• Live in un favourable condition
• Rapid rate of colonisation
• Fast mortality
• High mortality
• Ability to compete with other species
• Short lived species

K-selected species
Equilibrium species
• Slow growth, large size and long lived
• Low maturity rate
• Low death rate
• Less affected by variable environmental factors
• Population size small
• Low mortality
• Long lived