Biotic potential is defined as:
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: A
Explanation
The correct answer is option 1 i.e. the ability of a population to survive and remain constant under ideal environmental conditions.
Biotic potential refers to the maximum reproductive capacity of a population under ideal environmental conditions—meaning unlimited resources, no predators, and absence of disease. It is a measure of how fast a species can grow when not limited by environmental factors. Factors that influence biotic potential include reproductive rate, frequency of reproduction, age of reproductive maturity, and number of offspring produced per cycle. While actual population growth is limited by environmental resistance (like food scarcity or competition), biotic potential represents the theoretical upper limit of growth. It plays a key role in understanding population dynamics and ecological balance.
Other Options:
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the ability of a population to survive and remain constant under ideal environmental conditions: This describes population stability, not biotic potential.
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the tendency of a population to remain constant under extreme environmental conditions: This refers to population equilibrium or stability under stress, not biotic potential.
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the tendency of a population to decrease under extreme environmental conditions: This describes population decline, opposite of biotic potential.