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| ==Etymology== | | ==Etymology== |
| [https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=English#ca._1100-1500_.09THE_MIDDLE_ENGLISH_PERIOD Middle English], from Anglo-French, from [[Latin]] fecundus | | [https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=English#ca._1100-1500_.09THE_MIDDLE_ENGLISH_PERIOD Middle English], from Anglo-French, from [[Latin]] fecundus |
− | *Date: [http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/15th_Century 15th century] | + | *Date: [https://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/15th_Century 15th century] |
| ==Definitions== | | ==Definitions== |
| *1 : fruitful in [[offspring]] or vegetation : prolific | | *1 : fruitful in [[offspring]] or vegetation : prolific |
| *2 : [[intellectually]] productive or [[inventive]] to a marked degree <a fecund [[imagination]]> | | *2 : [[intellectually]] productive or [[inventive]] to a marked degree <a fecund [[imagination]]> |
| ==Description== | | ==Description== |
− | '''Fecundity''', derived from the word ''[http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/fecund fecund]'', generally refers to the [[ability]] to [[reproduce]]. In demography, fecundity is the [[potential]] reproductive [[capacity]] of an [[individual]] or [[population]]. In [[biology]] the definition is more equivalent to [[fertility]], or the [[actual]] [[reproductive]] [[rate]] of an [[organism]] or population, measured by the number of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gametes gametes] (eggs), seed set or asexual propagules. This [[difference]] is due to the [[fact]] that [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demography demography] considers human fecundity which is often [[intentional]]ly [[limited]], while [[biology]] assumes that organisms do not limit fertility. Fecundity is under both [[genetic]] and [[environmental]] [[control]], and is the major [[measure]] of fitness. Fecundation is another term for fertilization. Super fecundity refers to an organism's [[ability]] to store another organism's sperm (after copulation) and fertilize its own eggs from that store after a period of time, essentially making it appear as though fertilization occurred without sperm (i.e. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parthenogenesis parthenogenesis]). | + | '''Fecundity''', derived from the word ''[https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/fecund fecund]'', generally refers to the [[ability]] to [[reproduce]]. In demography, fecundity is the [[potential]] reproductive [[capacity]] of an [[individual]] or [[population]]. In [[biology]] the definition is more equivalent to [[fertility]], or the [[actual]] [[reproductive]] [[rate]] of an [[organism]] or population, measured by the number of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gametes gametes] (eggs), seed set or asexual propagules. This [[difference]] is due to the [[fact]] that [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demography demography] considers human fecundity which is often [[intentional]]ly [[limited]], while [[biology]] assumes that organisms do not limit fertility. Fecundity is under both [[genetic]] and [[environmental]] [[control]], and is the major [[measure]] of fitness. Fecundation is another term for fertilization. Super fecundity refers to an organism's [[ability]] to store another organism's sperm (after copulation) and fertilize its own eggs from that store after a period of time, essentially making it appear as though fertilization occurred without sperm (i.e. [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parthenogenesis parthenogenesis]). |
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| Fecundity is important and well [[studied]] in the field of [[population]] [[ecology]]. 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 lack of [[food]], juvenile and eventually adult fecundity has been shown to decrease. | | Fecundity is important and well [[studied]] in the field of [[population]] [[ecology]]. 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 lack of [[food]], juvenile and eventually adult fecundity has been shown to decrease. |
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| Fecundity has also been shown to increase in ungulates with relation to warmer weather. | | Fecundity has also been shown to increase in ungulates with relation to warmer weather. |
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− | In the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philosophy_of_science philosophy of science], fecundity refers to the [[ability]] of a [[scientific]] [[theory]] to open new lines of theoretical [[inquiry]]. | + | In the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philosophy_of_science philosophy of science], fecundity refers to the [[ability]] of a [[scientific]] [[theory]] to open new lines of theoretical [[inquiry]]. |
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| In sexual evolutionary biology, especially in sexual selection, fecundity is contrasted to reproductivity. | | In sexual evolutionary biology, especially in sexual selection, fecundity is contrasted to reproductivity. |
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− | In obstetrics and gynecology fecundability is the [[probability]] of being pregnant in a single menstrual cycle, Fecundity is the probability of achieving a live [[birth]] within a single cycle.[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fecundity] | + | In obstetrics and gynecology fecundability is the [[probability]] of being pregnant in a single menstrual cycle, Fecundity is the probability of achieving a live [[birth]] within a single cycle.[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fecundity] |
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| [[Category: Biology]] | | [[Category: Biology]] |