--- On Wed, 12/30/09, allen <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

> They do seem to use that factor to explain the early-season
> queen activity, but I did not see how they would explain the
> decrease in egg laying later in the season when the same
> gradients may well exist.

My first impression is that the comment used an assumption that the “same gradients may well exist” later in the season, for the purpose of  ‘shedding doubt’ on conclusions that were derived from statistics from a scientific study which focused solely on factors existing during the ‘early egg laying season‘.

Since we are speaking in terms of 'may well', there is a statement in the manuscript which you may have overlooked which 'may well' exclude them from the burden of explaining the decreased egg-laying later in the season: 

“The fact must not be overlooked that this experiment was conducted during the spring…”

In short, 
This is a study on spring egg-laying, and I do not believe it would be fair play to require a spring egg-laying study to explain the "decrease in egg laying later in the season" by using an assumption that "the same gradients may well exist".  Seem fair?

Best Wishes,
Joe

 




      

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