R/K selection theoryとは 意味・読み方・使い方

In ecology, r/K selection theory relates to the selection of combinations of traits in an organism that trade off between quantity or quality of offspring. The focus upon either increased quantity of offspring at the expense of individual parental investment, or reduced quantity of offspring with a corresponding increased parental investment, is varied to promote success in particular environments. The theory was popular in the 1970's and 1980's when it was used as a heuristic device, but lost importance in the early 1990's as it was criticized by several empirical studies. The r/K selection paradigm has been replaced by a "life-history" paradigm. However, this continues to incorporate many of the themes important to the r/K paradigm.