What term is used to describe when wildlife is harvested beyond their capacity to reproduce?

The term "over-exploitation" refers specifically to the scenario where wildlife is harvested at a rate that exceeds its natural ability to reproduce, leading to a decline in population levels. This concept highlights the critical balance between utilizing natural resources and ensuring their sustainability. When wildlife populations are subjected to over-exploitation, the immediate benefits of harvesting may not only deplete the population but can also disrupt the ecosystem as a whole, impairing the ability of species to recover.

In contrast, while "over-harvesting" might seem similar, it generally refers to the act of exceeding sustainable limits in extraction without necessarily focusing on the reproductive capacity of the species involved. Similarly, "over-population" describes a rise in population numbers often due to a lack of natural predators or resources, and "under-management" pertains to insufficient oversight or strategies to maintain healthy population levels, rather than the act of harvesting itself. Therefore, "over-exploitation" is the most precise term for the situation described in the question.