Fecundity refers to the ability to produce offspring and vegetation, which is important for survival. Fertile plants disperse seeds through vectors, while animals rely on batch fecundity. Humans have lower fecundity and fertility decreases with age. Fertility is the frequency of producing offspring and any non-sterile female is considered fertile.
The word “fecundity” is defined as the quality of being fruitful, both as regards offspring and as regards vegetation. This has many implications for biology. The survival of any species depends on producing viable offspring. Fertility is an important trait for all living things.
Fertile plants have the ability to produce many seeds and have a mechanism for dispersing those seeds in a given area. Seeds could spread through a vector, such as a bird or insect, or through non-living mediums, such as wind or water. The fecundity of plants also depends on pollination. Many of the most fertile plants have the option of self-pollination or cross-pollination with a different plant.
Lesser species of animals, such as insects and even fish, rely on batch fecundity. These organisms release thousands of eggs at once for external fertilization. The more eggs that are released, the higher the chances that some of them will be fertilized and eventually develop into adults of the species. Organisms with shorter lifespans rely on batch fecundity to continue their species.
More complex organisms produce fewer eggs at one time. In the case of humans, only one egg is usually released per cycle. As long as the female produces eggs and they are healthy, she is considered fertile. Fertility in humans also contributes to population growth. The higher the fertility, the higher the population growth.
Fertility and fecundity are related but not the same. Fecundity is only the ability to produce offspring. Fertility is the frequency with which offspring are actually produced. Any non-sterile female would be considered fertile, even if she chose not to have children.
Fertility is also linked to age. Human females eventually lose the ability to reproduce as they age. After menopause, a woman is no longer considered fertile. Likewise, any female that is sterile or lacks the proper reproductive organs would be infertile.
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