Re: Hatchling survival?

[Bettyc <Bettyc@flyinggoat.com>]

> > We've argued about the fact that the higher numbers in
> > each clutch give more of the fragile hatchlings a chance to survive to
> > adulthood. >>
> 
> I've thought about this and have asked a few paleontologist about that
> very subject. What I've come to is this, the reason why there are large
> egg clutchs isn't due to the fragility of the hatchlings, but is due to
> how many are picked off by predators, and in a smaller part, due to the
> the enviroment. If they weren't picked off by predators, they had a
> much better chance of living.

I actually meant that very thing but couldn't think of a word to
describe the very-high-rate of infant mortality other than "fragile". 
Is there a better word for this?

-- 
           Betty Cunningham  
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