Photo courtsey of Lucy Pemon; permission pending	Laysan Albatross	Photo courtsey of USGS; permission pending
	(Phoebastria immutabilis)
	Home

Home		Social Relationships
General Information		Dance of Laysan Albatross
Habitat		Summary
Social Spacing		References

Photo courtsey of BirdFish; permission pending

Introduction

The Laysan albatross (Phoebastria immutabilis) is the most recognizable of the northern Pacific albatross. Once considered one of the smallest members of the Great Albatross family (Diomedideae), Laysans are sexually monomorphic, socially monogamous, migratory seabirds that nest in expansive colonies on the islands of Hawaii (Langston & Rohwer,1996). Albatrosses were first immortalized in literature and folklore for their ability to circumnavigate the globe in a single foraging trip, but it is the pronounced presence of these "gooneys" around Midway Atoll and Laysan Island have made them the icons of the northern Pacific. This website investigates the basic social system of these amazing creatures, with a special emphasis on their social relationships and spacing.

Photo courtsey of Marshall J. Iliff

This website was completed in partial fulfillment of the requirements for Biology 323, Animal Behavior, at Davidson College in the Spring Semester, 2008.

Please send any questions, suggestions, or comments regarding this website to Karina Todd or Verna Case.

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