Parent–offspring conflict and selection on egg size in turtles

摘要: The trade-off between offspring size and number can present a conflict parents their offspring. Because egg is constrained by clutch size, the optimal for fitness may not always be equivalent to that which maximizes parental fitness. We evaluated selection on in three turtle species (Apalone mutica, Chelydra serpentina Chrysemys picta) determine if sizes differ mothers. Although hatching success was generally greater larger eggs, strength form of varied. In most cases, maximized than maternal Consistent with optimality theory, mean populations were more similar fitness, rather These results provide evidence has achieve an balance number.