What evolutionary constraint arises from the extreme specialization of *D. exulans* for low-energy, long-duration flight?

Low flexibility when faced with sudden, dramatic environmental shifts

The profound specialization that grants the Wandering Albatross unparalleled performance in its established niche—low-energy, long-duration flight—also imposes a significant evolutionary constraint known as low flexibility. Because the bird's physiology and behavior are perfectly tuned for exploiting the stable, circumpolar foraging base via dynamic soaring, adapting to unprecedented and rapid environmental heterogeneity, such as significant climate warming altering prey distribution, incurs a massive energy cost. Rerouting search patterns, even for such an efficient flyer, becomes immensely taxing compared to species adapted for more active flapping or smaller search areas, thus risking the lineage's long-term persistence.