Priorities for Future Research

The species has been little studied. Proposed sexual dimorphism of breeding cycles, which is unique in birds if proven (Murton and Westwood 1977), needs to be confirmed with long-term studies of marked individuals. The relationship between extreme sexual dimorphism, lekking behavior, and protracted breeding cycle, is of considerable interest to many questions in behavioral ecology (e.g., Osorno 1999). Data are needed on many aspects of this species: breeding biology, morphology, demography, philopatry and degree of genetic separation between colonies, energetics. Description of molt patterns (both juvenile to adult and annual cycle of adult; Schreiber 2000b) is of particular importance to determine length of the annual cycle. Given the extended incubation period (56 d) and chick rearing period (10–14 mo), comparative studies of energetics and physiology in this and other frigatebird species could be very instructive regarding the energy limitation hypotheses of Ashmole (1963) and Lack (1968). Genetic studies throughout the range of this bird are needed to determine the validity and range of possible subspecies. Extent of movement between colonies (and proclivity of species to move at all) may be of critical importance to conservation, given the extent of loss of colonies.