Life history strategies refer to the ways in which organisms allocate resources to growth, reproduction, and survival throughout their lives. These strategies are shaped by environmental conditions and can be categorized into two main types: r-strategy and K-strategy. R-strategists, like many insects, produce many offspring with little parental care, while K-strategists, such as elephants, invest more time and resources in raising fewer offspring. These strategies influence population dynamics and species interactions within ecosystems. For example, r-strategists may thrive in unstable environments where rapid reproduction is advantageous, whereas K-strategists are better suited for stable environments where competition for resources is high. Understanding these strategies helps ecologists predict how species will respond to changes in their habitats.