1
In a population, unrestricted reproductive capacity is called as -
- Biotic potential
- Birth rate
- Carrying capacity
- Fertility
Answer
(1) Biotic potential
Solution
The maximum capacity of a population to reproduce and increase in number when resources are unlimited and there is no environmental resistance is its biotic potential.
∵ As per NCERT, in nature a population has the innate potential to grow enormously (exponential growth, dNdt = rN, where r is the intrinsic rate of natural increase) when resources are unlimited.
Birth rate is only the number of births per 1000 individuals per year, carrying capacity (K) is the limit set by the environment, and fertility is the actual reproductive output.
∴ Unrestricted reproductive capacity = biotic potential.
Answer: (1)
AIPMT 2002