The natural selection of those organisms that breed in such a way as to maximize their intrinsic rate of increase (r) so that when favourable conditions occur (e.g. in a newly formed habitat) the species concerned can rapidly colonize the area. Such an opportunist strategy, based on producing large numbers of seeds, spores, eggs, or offspring most of which perish, is advantageous in rapidly changing environments, as in the early stages of a succession. Compare k-selection.