Question

select the correct answer.
which statement indicates that an aquatic organism demonstrates k-selection?
a. it has an extremely short lifespan.

b. it lays 70 to 190 eggs per season.

c. it reaches sexual maturity at 15 years of age.

d. neither parent takes care of the young.

Explanation:

K - selection is a reproductive strategy where organisms produce fewer offspring but invest more in their care. Option D indicates that neither parent takes care of the young, which is not in line with K - selection. Option A (extremely short lifespan) and Option B (lays 70 - 190 eggs per season) are characteristics of r - selection (organisms that produce many offspring with little parental care). Option C (reaches sexual maturity at 15 years of age) is more in line with K - selection as K - selected organisms tend to have longer lifespans, later sexual maturity, and often invest more in offspring (even if in this case the key is the later sexual maturity which is a K - selection trait).

Answer:

C. It reaches sexual maturity at 15 years of age.