What do K-selected organisms typically produce regarding offspring?

K-selected organisms are characterized by certain reproductive strategies that optimize the survival of their offspring in stable environments. These species typically produce only a few offspring but invest heavily in nurturing and protecting them, which increases the chances of those offspring reaching maturity. This strategy is advantageous in environments where competition for resources is high and environmental conditions are relatively constant, allowing parents to invest more effort into fewer offspring rather than producing many offspring with low chances of survival.

For example, organisms like elephants and humans are considered K-selected species. They generally have long gestation periods, provide extensive parental care, and have higher survival rates for their young due to the resources and energy dedicated to nurturing a small number of offspring.

In contrast, r-selected organisms tend to produce a large number of offspring with minimal parental investment, which is beneficial in unstable or unpredictable environments where high mortality rates can occur among young. K-selected strategies emphasize quality over quantity, focusing on the long-term success of a few offspring rather than the short-term benefits of producing many.