Black Oystercatchers
Southwest Alaska Network. 2018. Black Oystercatchers. Southwest Alaska Network
The black oystercatcher is a common and conspicuous member of rocky intertidal marine communities and is thought to be important in structuring nearshore ecosystems. Black oystercatchers are completely dependent on nearshore marine habitats for all critical parts of their life cycle including foraging, breeding, chick-rearing, and resting. Because of their complete reliance on nearshore marine habitats, they are also highly susceptible to human disturbance. The black oystercatcher is considered a Management Indicator Species by the Chugach National Forest and a species of concern by the Alaska Shorebird Working Group. It is widely recognized as a species representative of nearshore habitats and therefore particularly amenable to long-term monitoring.
- Type
- Resource Brief
- Authors
- Southwest Alaska Network
- Date of Issue
- 2018-03
- Publisher
- Southwest Alaska Network
- Units
- KATM , KEFJ , SWAN
- Keywords
- black oystercatcher, chick diet, nest density, nest productivity, nesting
- Subjects
- Ecological Framework: Biological Integrity | Focal Species or Communities | Intertidal Communities , Ecological Framework: Biological Integrity | Focal Species or Communities | Birds