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Chapter 4: Problem 2

Define biotic potential and environmental resistance, and give factors of each. Which generally remains constant, and which controls a population's size?

Short Answer

Expert verified
Biotic potential refers to the maximum reproductive capacity of a population under optimum environmental conditions, influenced by reproduction rate, lifespan, and number of offspring. Environmental resistance is the effect of all limiting factors that restrict population growth such as food, predators, and climate. Biotic potential generally remains constant while environmental resistance controls a population's size.

Step by step solution

01

Defining Biotic Potential

Biotic potential is the maximum reproductive capacity of a population under optimum environmental conditions. It is influenced by factors such as reproduction rate, frequency of reproduction, and the number of offspring per reproduction.
02

Defining Environmental Resistance

Environmental resistance is the combined effect of all factors that limit the growth of a population. It includes factors such as availability of food, predation, disease, and adverse weather.
03

Which remains constant?

Generally, it is the biotic potential that is constant. This is because organisms cannot naturally increase or decrease their maximum reproductive capability over a short period of time.
04

Which controls a population's size?

Environmental resistance is the main control of a population's size. If environmental resistance factors increase, a population size decreases and vice versa.

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Most popular questions from this chapter

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