Final answer:
Superfecundity is the condition where an individual produces a very high number of offspring, often with minimal parental care due to energy constraints. It contrasts with infertility, which is the inability to reproduce naturally. Superfecundity can contribute to overpopulation and stress on natural resources.
Step-by-step explanation:
Superfecundity refers to the phenomenon where high levels of fecundity are exhibited, leading to the production of a large number of offspring. In essence, it means an individual produces more offspring than the average expected amount, often resulting in little to no parental care, as the energy budget is focused on reproduction. This biological strategy is mostly found in species where the survival rate of the offspring is low, which necessitates the birth of numerous progenies to ensure enough survive to adulthood, maintaining the species' existence. In contrast, infertility indicates the incapacity of sexually mature adults to reproduce naturally. Superfecundity could be a contributing factor to issues of overpopulation, where the population size surpasses the available resources, leading to environmental stress.
Some countries with high fecundity rates often struggle to meet the needs of their growing populations, placing a strain on planetary resources and highlighting the importance of family planning to prevent more children than a family, or the planet, can sustainably support. The inverse relationship between fecundity and parental care is a fundamental aspect of reproductive strategies across various species.