MOLT VARIES WITH PARASITES IN LAYSAN ALBATROSSES

In Laysan Albatrosses the extent of primary moult is severely constrained by time, and should be considered in the context of life history trade-offs between current and future reproduction. In this study we asked whether differences in moult patterns varied with levels of the nematode Seuratia spp., and whether any of the observed variation in moult patterns could be explained by condition differences as reflected by parasite levels. Laysans with more nematodes replace fewer primaries, grow fewer feathers at a time, begin their moult later, and are more likely to replace only their outermost feathers - indicating that an individual bird's condition may affect the extent of its primary moult - which, in turn, may have significant effects on future reproduction.