What does a type one survivorship curve typically represent?

A type one survivorship curve is characterized by high survival rates of individuals throughout most of their life span, with significant mortality occurring in older age groups. This pattern is often observed in species that invest substantial care and resources into raising their young, leading to a higher likelihood of those young surviving to adulthood. Common examples of organisms that fit this model include humans and many large mammals.

In contrast, options reflecting high mortality at young ages, consistent mortality across all ages, or high birth rates with low survival rates describe different reproductive strategies and survival patterns. These scenarios typically align with other types of survivorship curves, such as type two or type three. Thus, the key aspect of a type one curve is the strong emphasis on long-term survival to later life stages, making the choice indicating that most individuals live to adulthood before experiencing a rise in mortality particularly accurate.