Which of the following populations would be considered r-selected? Black Widow Spiders - they produce 1000s of offspring and few survive. Opossums - They carry offspring in a pouch on the mothers body Mallard Ducks - They lay up to one dozen eggs and provide parental care of their chicks Mammals - They produce few offspring and provide parental care

Option 1.

Explanation:

r-selected species may be defined as the species that has higher growth rate, shows less parental care and the rate of survival of the off spring is low as compared with k selected species.

Black widow spiders have the ability to produce 1000 offspring. Their chances of survival are extremely low and only few species of black widow spiders survive. Hence, black widow spider is r-selected species.

Thus, the correct answer is option (1).