Review of Natural Selection of Hatchling Turtles

Janzen, F.J. 1993. An Experimental Analysis of Natural Selection on Body Size of Hatchling Turtles. Ecology. 74: 332-341 Purpose: The purpose of the experiment was to evaluate the effects of natural selection on hatchling turtle size. The author tested whether turtle hatchlings with bigger mass, body size, and plastron length would exhibit greater survivorship during movement from the nest to the water habitat. Methods: In conducting this experiment eggs from 17 different Chelydra serpentina clutches were collected …

…did however address the issue of predation upon the hatchlings. The author explained that the use of clay or model hatchlings might give us a better understanding of how/if hatchling size has an effect on predation. Finally, the methods section was very clear in exactly what took place, how long, and why it was being done. With the exception of the results section the presentation was easy to follow and right to the point.