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definitions

biotic potential

noun

the capacity of a population of organisms to increase in numbers under optimum environmental conditions.

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Nearby words

  1. biotelemetry,
  2. bioterrorism,
  3. biotherapy,
  4. biotic,
  5. biotic factor,
  6. biotin,
  7. biotinide,
  8. biotite,
  9. biotope,
  10. biotoxicology

Origin of biotic potential

First recorded in 1930–35
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Science definitions for biotic potential

biotic potential

The maximum capacity of an individual or population to reproduce under optimal environmental conditions. Populations rarely reproduce at their biotic potential because of limiting factors such as disease, predation, and restricted food resources.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.