Life history theory

Life history theory is a framework that explains how organisms allocate resources like time, energy, and effort to different activities such as growth, reproduction, and survival. It helps us understand why some species grow quickly and reproduce early, while others invest more in long-term survival and fewer offspring. These strategies are shaped by environmental factors, maximizing an organism’s chances of passing on its genes in its specific surroundings. Essentially, it describes the trade-offs animals and plants make to optimize their reproductive success over their lifetime.