biotic potential (intrinsic rate of natural increase) The maximum reproductive potential of an organism, symbolized by the letter r. The difference between this and the rate of increase that actually occurs under field or laboratory conditions reflects the environmental resistance. See also LOGISTIC EQUATION.

biotic potential(intrinsic rate of natural increase) The maximum reproductive potential of an organism, symbolized by the letter r. The difference between this and the rate of increase that actually occurs under field or laboratory conditions reflects the environmental resistance. See also logistic equation.

biotic potential (intrinsic rate of increase) Symbol r. The number of offspring of an individual organism that would survive to reproductive age under ideal conditons. It is a measure of an individual's reproductive potential, although this is seldom fully realized under natural conditons. Organisms with a high biotic potential undergo r selection.