Biotic potential refers to the natural capacity of organisms to reproduce and increase their population size. It is the maximum rate at which a population can grow under ideal conditions, in the absence of any limiting factors. Biotic potential is primarily determined by the organism's reproductive rate, the number of offspring produced per reproductive event, and the age at which reproduction begins.

Explanation:

Reproductive Rate: The reproductive rate of an organism refers to the number of offspring produced per reproductive event. Some organisms, such as bacteria and insects, have a high reproductive rate and can produce a large number of offspring in a short period. On the other hand, organisms with a low reproductive rate, such as humans and elephants, have fewer offspring and longer intervals between reproductive events.

Age at Reproduction: The age at which an organism starts reproducing also affects its biotic potential. Organisms that reach reproductive maturity at an early age have a longer period for reproductive events and can produce more offspring throughout their lifetime. For example, insects and some small mammals reach reproductive maturity at a young age and can have multiple reproductive events during their lifetime.

Limiting Factors: While biotic potential describes the maximum reproductive capacity of an organism, it is important to note that populations are rarely able to achieve their biotic potential due to limiting factors. Limiting factors are environmental conditions that restrict population growth. These factors can include availability of resources such as food, water, and space, predation, competition, disease, and environmental variability.

Conclusion:

In summary, biotic potential is the natural capacity of organisms to reproduce and increase their population size. It is determined by the reproductive rate and the age at which reproduction begins. Biotic potential represents the maximum rate at which a population can grow under ideal conditions, in the absence of any limiting factors. However, populations rarely reach their biotic potential due to various limiting factors that restrict population growth.