Luann by Greg Evans and Karen Evans for April 23, 2003

Pt 1:

Most people probably don’t realize this, but Bernice’s behavior makes perfect sense if you understand evolutionary theory. In evolutionary biology, organisms tend to follow one of two basic reproductive strategies. The first is to produce a large number of offspring while investing little in each individual offspring. This is known as the “r” strategy. The second is to produce only a few offspring but to invest greatly in each one. This is known as the “K” strategy. When a population of organisms is continuously below the carrying capacity of their environment, which can happen if said organism is subjected to intense predation, then there is little need for individuals of that organism to compete with one another for resources, because there is plenty for everyone. Consequently the ability of an individual’s offspring to compete with other individuals is unimportant. Instead the optimal reproductive strategy is simply to produce as many offspring as possible as fast as possible in order to more fully exploit the environment, without giving much concern to the genetic quality of said offspring or to their nurture. Thus the “r” strategy is more effective in such a circumstance. In contrast when a population of organisms is continuously at or near the carrying capacity of their environment, which tends to be the case among organisms which have few if any predators, then individuals of that organism are forced to compete with one another for resources because there simply isn’t enough for everyone. Consequently the optimal reproductive strategy comes to be not to simply produce as many offspring as possible, but instead to produce offspring of the highest quality possible and to invest as much as possible in them, while at the same time producing enough offspring to allow the population to steadily expand.

Pt 1:

Most people probably don’t realize this, but Bernice’s behavior makes perfect sense if you understand evolutionary theory. In evolutionary biology, organisms tend to follow one of two basic reproductive strategies. The first is to produce a large number of offspring while investing little in each individual offspring. This is known as the “r” strategy. The second is to produce only a few offspring but to invest greatly in each one. This is known as the “K” strategy. When a population of organisms is continuously below the carrying capacity of their environment, which can happen if said organism is subjected to intense predation, then there is little need for individuals of that organism to compete with one another for resources, because there is plenty for everyone. Consequently the ability of an individual’s offspring to compete with other individuals is unimportant. Instead the optimal reproductive strategy is simply to produce as many offspring as possible as fast as possible in order to more fully exploit the environment, without giving much concern to the genetic quality of said offspring or to their nurture. Thus the “r” strategy is more effective in such a circumstance. In contrast when a population of organisms is continuously at or near the carrying capacity of their environment, which tends to be the case among organisms which have few if any predators, then individuals of that organism are forced to compete with one another for resources because there simply isn’t enough for everyone. Consequently the optimal reproductive strategy comes to be not to simply produce as many offspring as possible, but instead to produce offspring of the highest quality possible and to invest as much as possible in them, while at the same time producing enough offspring to allow the population to steadily expand.

Pt 2:

In a more “r” type environment, it’s usually in the best interests of the females to reproduce as much as possible and to begin reproducing at as young an age as possible. This is because the abundance of resources makes it easy for her to support her offspring, and she needs to produce as many offspring as possible because a lot of them will probably be killed by predators. In contrast in a more “K” type environment, it’s usually in the best interests of females to delay reproducing until a later age so as to have a better chance of finding the best possible fathers for their offspring, and to reproduce more sparingly in order to be better able to support their offspring. Also, in a more “r” type environment it is usually less important for the females to form prolonged relationships with the fathers of their offspring. This is because it is less difficult for her to raise her offspring on her own, and so she is less dependent on aid from the father of her offspring. Instead it is more in her best interests to reproduce with as many different males as possible, so as to increase the chances of acquiring the best possible genes for some of her offspring. In contrast in a more “K” type environment it is more difficult for the females to support their offspring on their own. Consequently they are more dependent on aid from the fathers of their offspring. Thus in a “K” type environment females tend to develop a strong pair bonding instinct, causing them to become very emotionally attached to their male sexual partners.

Pt 3:

This creates a sort of paradox in that for those females for whom it is most adaptive to begin reproducing at the youngest ages, to reproduce in the largest numbers, and to reproduce with the most different males, it is actually also most adaptive to delay the forming of stable, long-term sexual partnerships the longest; and that in contrast for those females for whom it is most adaptive to delay reproducing until the oldest ages, to reproduce in the smallest numbers, and to reproduce with the fewest different males, it is actually most adaptive to form stable, long-term sexual partnerships at the youngest ages. That’s why some human women start having sex when they’re only thirteen, fourteen or so years old, and go on to have sex with dozens of different men throughout their lives, but aren’t interested in getting married until they’re in their thirties. Those women are more “r” selected. That’s also why some other human women eschew any sort of sexual contact until they’re around seventeen, eighteen, nineteen or so, but then when they do become interested in sex, they suddenly want to get married right away. Those women are more “K” selected. It is actually fully to be expected that those women who become sexually active at the youngest ages, would tend to be the least eager to marry, because they would tend to have the weakest pair-bonding instincts. Likewise it is also fully to be expected that those women who delay becoming sexually active until the latest ages, would tend to be the most eager to marry, because they would tend to have the strongest pair-bonding instinct. Furthermore, the sperm a male produces tends to accumulate genetic mutations slowly over the course of his life. Thus the older a male is, the more likely it is that his sperm carries a dangerous genetic defect.

Pt 4:

Consequently in an “r” type environment, it tends to be most adaptive for females to prefer the youngest possible male sexual partners, all else being equal. This is because the sperm of said males is the least likely to carry genetic defects. However, in more intelligent species such as humans and various other primates, older males generally possess more knowledge and experience, and so are more capable of providing for their offspring. Consequently in a more “K” type environment, it tends to be most adaptive for females to prefer males somewhat older than in an “r” type environment, albeit still young enough that they have enough time left to live that they will be able to adequately support their offspring. Also in a “K” type environment, due to the dependency of females on support from the fathers of their offspring, it is most adaptive for the females to judge the sexual attractiveness of males partly based on said males’ devotion to the welfare of said females as well as judging them by their intelligence, their physical health and the like. In contrast in an “r” type environment, due to the lack of dependency of females on support from the fathers of their offspring, it is most adaptive for the females to judge the sexual attractiveness of males without regard for said males’ devotion to the welfare of said females, but instead based only on said males’ intelligence, physical health and the like. Also, intelligence is a very “K” type trait. This is because high intelligence require a complex brain and a complex brain takes a long time to develop. Thus the offspring of intelligent organisms takes a long time to mature and so intelligent organisms can not afford to produce very many offspring. Thus high intelligence is actually very disabling in an “r” type environment.

Pt 5:

However high intelligence enables an organism to compete much more effectively with other organisms, and this is very important in a “K” type environment. Now, if you consider this cartoon series in light of these things, you can see that Bernice Halper displays many indicators of being heavily “K” selected. First, she’s been far less focused on pursuing men than have the other young women in this series. This is consistent with the lesser degree of sexual promiscuity in a “K” selected organism. Second, she seems to be by far the most intelligent female character in this series. This is consistent with the higher levels of intelligence exhibited by “K” selected organisms. Also Bernice wears glasses, which is usually an indicator of myopia, and many genetic alleles which predict myopia also predict high intelligence. (I don’t know why that is, but its true.) Third, now that Bernice has actually become sexually interested in a man, the man in whom she is sexually interested may not be especially physically able, but he does show a great deal of respect for her and has demonstrated a readiness to place Bernice’s wellbeing ahead of his own. This is consistent with the tendency for females of “K” selected organisms to chose their male sexual partners not only based on the physical health of said male sexual partners, but also upon said male sexual partners’ devotion to the wellbeing of said females. Fourth, the man in whom Bernice has become sexually interested may not be especially old, but he is nonetheless significantly older than many of the men she could have sexually pursued. This is consistent with the predicted tendency of females of especially “K” selected organisms to prefer males who are somewhat older albeit still young enough to be capable of helping them raise their offspring.

Pt 6:

Fifth, even though Bernice has taken longer than the other young women in this cartoon series to become sexually interested in a man, she is nonetheless very anxious to form a stable, committed relationship with him now that she is sexually interested in him. This is also consistent with the increased pair bonding instinct in females of more “K” selected organisms.

Inverted situations!