Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Verified for the 2026 exam
Verified for the 2026 exam•Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Definition
The intrinsic rate of increase represents the maximum potential for reproduction and survival within a species under ideal conditions with unlimited resources.
Related terms
R-selected Species: R-selected species are organisms that have a high intrinsic rate of increase, producing many offspring with little parental care.
K-selected Species: K-selected species are organisms that have a low intrinsic rate of increase, investing more energy into each offspring and exhibiting slower population growth.
Life History Strategies: Life history strategies refer to the different reproductive and survival traits exhibited by different species in response to environmental conditions and resource availability.