Difference Between Fertility and Fecundity

The main difference between fertility and fecundity is that the fertility is a natural capacity of reproduction whereas fecundity is the potential of reproduction. Furthermore, the fertility rate is the average number of offspring a female can give birth to while fecundity is the willingness as well as the healthiness of a female to produce its offspring in several times. 

Fertility and fecundity are two terms used to describe the ability to reproduce in species, most often mammals. 

Key Areas Covered 

1. What is Fertility
     – Definition, Measuring, Dependence
2. What is Fecundity
     – Definition, Measuring, Dependence
3. What are the Similarities Between Fertility and Fecundity
     – Outline of Common Features
4. What is the Difference Between Fertility and Fecundity
     – Comparison of Key Differences

Key Terms 

Ability to Reproduce, Fecundity, Fertility, Measuring, Population Size

What is Fertility 

Fertility is the ability to produce offspring under natural conditions. The fertility rate is the measurement of fertility, which gives the number of an offspring produced by a mating pair or population. In demography, fertility is the product of reproduction, which is based on the number of live young produced by an individual. 

Figure 1: Human Gametes

Fertility in humans is measured within the child-bearing age of a woman, which is 15-49 years. It depends on nutrition, endocrinology, emotions, consanguinity, instinct, sexual behavior, timing, economics, culture, etc. These factors are called the proximate determinants of fertility.  

What is Fecundity 

Fecundity is the physiological ability or the potential for reproduction. It is closely related to fertility and is measured by the number of gametes, seed sets or asexual propagules produced by an individual or a population. In population demography, fecundity is the number of offspring produced per mating season. However, fecundity includes both the number of offspring produced and the survival of the young per mating period.  

Figure 2: Fecundity Variation

Fecundity is an important phenomenon in the regulation of the size of a population based on the requirements of the ecosystem.  

Similarities Between Fertility and Fecundity 

• Fertility and fecundity describe an individual’s ability to reproduce. 
• They can be described in terms of an individual or a population. 
• Both provide methods to control the size of the population of the species that have the potential to cause ecological imbalance. 

Difference Between Fertility and Fecundity 

Definition 

Fertility refers to the natural capability to produce offspring while fecundity refers to the potential for reproduction of an organism or a population. 

Measured by 

The fertility is measured in the form of fertility rate, which is the number of offspring produced by a mating pair or a population while the fecundity is measured by the number of gametes, seed set or asexual propagules and the survival of the young. 

Depends on 

Fertility depends on nutrition, endocrinology, emotions, consanguinity, instinct, sexual behavior, timing, economics, culture, etc. while fecundity depends on genetic and the environmental factors. 

Lacking 

Infertility refers to the lack of fertility while sterility refers to the lack of fecundity. 

Conclusion 

In brief, fertility is the ability of an individual or a population to reproduce or the number of individuals per an offspring while fecundity is the potential of an individual or population to reproduce. The main difference between fertility and fecundity is in this concept. 

Reference:

1. Frank, O. “The Demography of Fertility and Infertility.” Geneva Foundation for Medical Education and Research, Available Here 
2. “What Is Fecundity? – Definition from FertilitySmarts.” FertilitySmarts, Available Here

Image Courtesy:

1. “Fertilization – IB Biology” By Atdoan0 – Own work (CC BY-SA 4.0) via Commons Wikimedia 
2. “Generalized fecundity graph” (CC0) via Commons Wikimedia