Aging red grouse chicks by primary molt and development.
An animal that molted was re-tagged as soon as its cuticle hardened.
These insects do not develop morphologically distinct larval and adult forms but rather undergo a series of molts in which earlier stages (nymphs) resemble miniature adults.
In the small intestine, they molt twice and become adult female worms.
This form molts a second time into slightly larger nymphs, before a final molt into adult mites.
Mating takes place as soon as she has her final molt.
Tissues were obtained from 12 chicks collected on the day of environmental sampling and 21 hens that died during a forced molt 1 month later.
For example, imagine a bird that molts its feathers each year, then produces a new "generation" of feathers that is similar but not identical to the previous year's.
