This book reviews what is known about the behavior and population ecology of the oystercatcher. The plight of this popular shorebird highlights the many conflicts of interest in coastal zones, between human activities such as shellfishing, land reclamation, and industrial pollution, and the needs of wildlife for food and suitable habitats. As well as detailing the oystercatcher's natural history—including the well-known specialization in feeding technique shown by individuals—the authors use their field studies of individual variations in behavior to produce population models. This novel approach provides tools for predicting how populations will respond to the many environmental changes to which the coastal zone is subject. Thus it can play a role in coastal management plans that seek to balance the needs of people and wildlife, and suggests that the same methods can be applied in other situations.
