Intrinsic rate of increase

Pronunciation
/in-TRIN-sik rayt uhv in-KREASE/
Category
Population Ecology

Definition

The rate at which a population would increase if there were unlimited resources and no other limiting factors.

Etymology

From Latin 'intrinsecus', meaning 'within', and 'rate' + 'increase'

Example

The intrinsic rate of increase for the fruit fly is very high, allowing for rapid population growth.

Related Terms

  • Population growth
  • Biocapacity

Usage Notes

Intrinsic rate of increase is often expressed as a per capita rate (e.g., 'r').