Lifespans and Evolution

[James]

Having a long lifespan generally means reprooduction takes place later on, thus the fittest live longest and reproduce, whereas the weak will die before they reproduce. In a short lifespan, reproduction happens at a younger age. Does this mean those species with long lifespans will adapt more/faster, or does the regularity of reproduction in shorter lifespan speices mean they adapt faster; or is it all balanced out?

[mith]

If you mean adapt to environment, I think most pioneer(adaptable) species live very short lives.

[MrMistery]

generally it is the species with short life-span that addapt better and faster. But they are then replaced by longer life-span species. Even in biogeography: in a new ecosystem you first get r species, then you get k species