Fecundity is often confused with fertility and vice versa, however, these terms are completely different. So, what is the difference between fecundity and fertility? Fecundity is the capability of an individual or population to produce offspring whereas fertility is the number of offspring produced by the population or the individual. Fertility is the actual number of offspring produced and not the rate of reproduction. The individual capable of reproducing is known as fertile. Fecundity is the natural ability of a person to reproduce and that depends on the health and availability of healthy and genetics.
On the other hand, fertility is the number of offspring per couple in a population. Fertility is dependent on various factors, such as lifestyle, stress, emotional and reproductive health, willingness, availability of a potential mating partner, and preventive measures being taken.
Fecundity is not equivalent to fertility as the translation of the ability to reproduce is further dependent on a number of societal, environmental, and physiological factors. Fecundity is a developmental and genetic trait that advances within a specific framework. The method to measure fecundity varies as per species and their mode of reproduction as well.
Fecundity is usually measured as the number of litters in a year for viviparous organisms, like placental mammals. Fecundity measurements in oviparous animals are typically carried out by directly counting the eggs in nests or oviposition sites. In aquatic animals except mammals and reptiles , the count of oocytes from a spawning female is used to measure fecundity. The size of oocytes is also employed to measure fecundity.
The day-specific probabilities of conception with respect to the day of ovulation along with the assessment of time to pregnancy are taken into account to measure fecundity in humans. In ecological terms, the net reproductive rate is an important parameter that takes into account fecundity. Net reproductive rate is the average number of offspring that a female can produce throughout its reproductive life span, with due consideration of fertility with respect to age and rate of death in a given period of time.
An estimate of population fecundity improves the ability to translate research in reproductive physiology into foreseen effects on fertility. Thus, fecundity is a very important parameter to study in ecology and animal biology. In ecology, fecundity is also an indication of the amount of energy that is spent on raising offspring. As a general rule of thumb, fecundity is inversely proportional to the amount of energy spent. As per this rule, there are two possibilities: 1 a group of the population that can reproduce in higher numbers and 2 a group of the population that can reproduce a limited or few offspring in their lifetime.
Thus, as per the inverse fecundity and energy rule:. This inverse fecundity and energy rule are similarly applicable to the Plant Kingdom as well. Here, of course, the energy investment is not in terms of parental care, however, it is in terms of energy-rich quality seeds. Plants with low fecundity will produce a few or limited numbers of seeds with high energy which thereby have the higher or maximum possibility of survival, for example, coconuts.
On the other hand, plants with higher fecundity will produce a large number of seeds e. Thus, the survival chances of these seeds would therefore be low. Another important aspect of fecundity and ecology is the time of reproduction. Again, the population can be divided into two basic groups depending on the time when an organism starts to reproduce:. Parity is indicative of the number of any individual that can reproduce in its life span.
Some organisms can reproduce their progeny only once in their lifetime while others can exhibit multiple reproductions. Fecundity can increase or decrease in a population according to current conditions and certain regulating factors.
For instance, in times of hardship for a population, such as a lack of food, juvenile and eventually adult fecundity has been shown to decrease. Physical Condition Quality. We're doing our best to make sure our content is useful, accurate and safe. If by any chance you spot an inappropriate comment while navigating through our website please use this form to let us know, and we'll take care of it shortly.
Forgot your password? Retrieve it. If by any chance you spot an inappropriate image within your search results please use this form to let us know, and we'll take care of it shortly. Term » Definition. Word in Definition. Princeton's WordNet 4. Wiktionary 4. Etymology: From fecunditas, from fecundus. Webster Dictionary 5. See Fecund. Need even more definitions? Homophones, Homographs, and Homonyms The same, but different. Merriam-Webster's Words of the Week - Nov.
Ask the Editors 'Everyday' vs. What Is 'Semantic Bleaching'? How 'literally' can mean "figuratively". Literally How to use a word that literally drives some pe Is Singular 'They' a Better Choice? The awkward case of 'his or her'. Take the quiz. See fecund , -ity. Words nearby fecundity fecula , feculent , fecund , fecundate , fecundation , fecundity , fed , fedayee , feddan , fedelini , federacy.
Words related to fecundity fertility , fruitfulness. Welfare Reform? Buffon's Natural History.
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