generation

noun

A stage or degree in sucession of natural descent, such as in the case of a son, father, and grandfather representing three generations. Also, the average age of parents in a population. In fish, greater than the age at first breeding, except in species that spawn only once, where generation time is calculated as (age of maturity / fisihg mortality rate) + 1. Generation may be measured as the average age of parents in the poulation. This is greater than the age at first breeding, except in taxa where individuals breed only once.