What is Fecundity?
{{enWiktionary|fecundity}} '''Fecundity''', coming from the word ''fecund'', generally means the ability to [[reproduction|reproduce]]. In [[biology]] and [[demography]], fecundity is the ability to reproduce of an [[organism]] or [[population]], measured by the number of [[gamete]]s (eggs), seed set or asexual [[propagule]]s. Fecundity is under both [[Genetics|genetic]] and environmental control, and is the major measure of biological [[fitness]]. ''Fecundation'' is another term for [[fertilisation]]. 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 [[starvation|lack of food]], juvenile and eventually adult fecundity may decrease. In the [[philosophy of science]], 'fecundity' refers to the ability of a scientific [[theory]] to open new lines of theoretical inquiry. Here, the original meaning is extended by [[analogy]]. ==Related pages== * [[Fertility]] [[Category:Biological reproduction]]