Read the passage and answer the following questions :

Organisms evolve in their respective habitats to maximize their reproductive fitness, also known as Darwinian fitness, which is often measured by a high "r" value. They adapt to the specific selection pressures present in their environment by developing the most efficient reproductive strategies. This includes variations in breeding frequency and the number and size of offspring produced.Some organisms, such as Pacific salmon fish and bamboo, exhibit a strategy known as semelparity, where they breed only once in their lifetime. In contrast, most birds and mammals follow an iteroparous strategy, breeding multiple times throughout their lives. Additionally, some species, like oysters and pelagic fishes, produce a large number of small-sized offspring, while others, such as birds and mammals, produce a small number of large-sized offspring.The desirable reproductive strategy for maximizing fitness depends on the specific conditions and selection pressures within the habitat. Ecologists emphasize that the evolution of life history traits is influenced by the constraints imposed by the abiotic and biotic components of the environment. Factors such as resource availability, competition, predation, and other ecological interactions shape the evolution of these traits. In summary, populations evolve to maximize reproductive fitness in their habitats, and the specific reproductive strategies and traits they adopt depend on the selection pressures and constraints present in their environment. Ecologists investigate these relationships to uncover the mechanisms behind the evolution of life history traits and their ecological significance.

What is Darwinian fitness often measured by?

High "r" value

The correct answer is Option (2) -High "r" value

Populations evolve to maximise their reproductive fitness, also called Darwinian fitness (high r value), in the habitat in which they live. Darwinian fitness, also known as reproductive fitness, refers to an organism's ability to survive, reproduce, and pass on its genetic traits to future generations. It is a measure of how successful an individual is in terms of producing viable offspring that can themselves reproduce. In other words, it quantifies the relative contribution of an organism's genes to the gene pool of the next generation.

Organisms with higher Darwinian fitness have traits and behaviors that increase their chances of survival and reproductive success in their specific environment. These traits can include physical adaptations, reproductive strategies, and behaviors that allow them to effectively compete for resources, find mates, avoid predation, and successfully raise offspring.

The concept of Darwinian fitness is central to the theory of natural selection proposed by Charles Darwin. According to this theory, individuals with traits that enhance their reproductive success are more likely to pass those traits on to future generations, leading to the gradual evolution of populations over time.

By measuring Darwinian fitness, ecologists and evolutionary biologists can study how different traits, behaviors, and environmental factors influence reproductive success and drive the evolutionary processes that shape populations and species.