Question

Human populations have which type of survivorship curve? a. Type I b. Type II c. Type III d. Type IV

Short answer

Humans have a Type I survivorship curve.

Step-by-step solution

Understanding Survivorship Curves

Survivorship curves are graphs that show how the likelihood of survival for individuals in a species or a population changes with age. There are three common types labeled as Type I, Type II, and Type III. Type I shows high survival in early and middle life but a rapid decline in older age groups (common in humans and large mammals). Type II demonstrates a relatively constant mortality rate throughout all ages (found in birds, rodents, and some perennial plants). Type III shows very high mortality at young ages and a low mortality rate for those who survive this bottleneck (often observed in species with a high number of offspring like insects and marine species).

Identify the Survivorship Curve for Humans

Knowing the characteristics of each curve type, it's clear that humans fit into Type I, where individuals tend to live to old age.