What reproductive strategy involves organisms that reproduce early and bear many small, unprotected offspring?

The reproductive strategy involving organisms that reproduce early and bear many small, unprotected offspring is characteristic of r-strategists. This strategy is often observed in species that live in unstable or unpredictable environments, where the likelihood of offspring surviving to adulthood is relatively low. By producing a large number of offspring, r-strategists increase the chances that some will survive despite the high mortality rates.

These organisms typically allocate less energy to parental care and invest more in reproduction, allowing them to exploit transient resources effectively. Examples of r-strategists include many species of insects and some plants that produce large quantities of seeds, relying on the sheer volume to enhance species survival.

In contrast, K-strategists focus on fewer offspring and invest significantly more energy into parental care, aiming for higher survival rates in stable environments. Monoecious and polygamous refer to specific mating systems and do not pertain to the reproductive strategies based on offspring quantity and parental investment. Thus, the selection of r-strategist accurately captures the essence of the described reproductive strategy.