Which term best describes the process of plants and animals producing more offspring than are able to survive?

The term that best describes the process of plants and animals producing more offspring than are able to survive is overproduction.

Here's why:

* Overproduction refers to the biological principle where organisms produce more offspring than can realistically survive in their environment. This is a key component of natural selection.

* Other terms might seem close, but they don't quite fit:

* Reproduction is the general process of creating offspring, but doesn't specify the excess.

* Survival of the fittest is a consequence of overproduction, not the process itself.

* Natural selection is the overall process that favors those best suited to the environment, driven in part by overproduction.

Overproduction ensures that some offspring will inherit advantageous traits, leading to a population better adapted to its surroundings over time.