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clutch size

biology
Also known as: clutch

Quick Summary

In biology, a clutch refers to a nest of eggs or a brood of chicks. The number of eggs produced, known as the clutch size, is a result of natural selection. This balance is achieved between producing many eggs with limited food for development or fewer eggs with more provisions.12

There's a theory that clutch size is adjusted by natural selection to the maximum number of offspring parents can feed. However, some organisms produce millions of eggs due to high mortality rates, needing vast numbers to ensure a few reproductive adults.2

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