- Both assertion and reason are true and reason is the correct explanation of assertion.
Explanation:
The inherent maximum capacity of an organism to reproduce or increase in number is termed as biotic potential (designated by the symbol 'r). Biotic potential is realised only when the environmental conditions are non-limiting, so that natality rate (birth - rate) is maximum and mortality rate (death - rate) is minimum. Under these conditions, population size increases at the maximum rate. However, nature keeps a check on the expression of biotic potential. For example, if a pair of flies is allowed to reproduce unchecked, the fly population may outweigh the earth in a few years. The environmental check on population size, or its biotic potential is called environmental resistance. With increase in population size, the environmental resistance (against the population) tends to increase. The environmental resistance represents the limiting effect of abiotic (e.g., water, space) and biotic factors (e.g., food, competition) that do not allow organisms to attain their biotic potential and keep the population size at a much lower level.