Fecunditat

Fecunditat (Catalan for fecundity) denotes the biological capacity to reproduce—the potential number of offspring an organism or population can produce under favorable conditions. It is a property of individuals, populations, and species, and is shaped by genetics, development, health, nutrition, and environment.

It differs from fertility. Fecunditat refers to potential capacity, while fertility often denotes actual reproductive success or the rate of producing offspring. In human demography, fecunditat is influenced by age, health, and access to resources; measured indirectly by potential output, while realized fertility is the observed number of births.

Variation in fecunditat is wide across taxa. Many fish and invertebrates have extremely high fecundity, producing millions of eggs; many mammals and birds have lower fecundity with fewer offspring per reproductive event. In plants, fecundity relates to the number of seeds or fruits produced.

Measurement and use: In ecology, fecunditat is a key parameter in models of population growth and viability; it helps forecast responses to habitat change, climate, or management. In agriculture and plant breeding, increasing fecundity may refer to seed yield; in conservation, understanding fecunditat helps assess extinction risk.

Note: In Catalan usage the term encompasses both biological potential and figurative productivity in a broader sense.