Productivity of Black Oystercatchers in Southwest Alaska

The black oystercatcher, a keystone species in nearshore ecosystems, plays an important role in structuring nearshore systems and is highly susceptible to human disturbance. Current inventory and monitoring efforts may not adequately address the information needs for estimating long-term trends for this species. To address these issues, the goal of this research is to examine black oystercatcher nests, diet, and chick provisioning to ensure robust interpretation of trends observed in long-term monitoring data. The project is a collaborative effort with the NPS and the University of Alaska-Fairbanks. Current and alternative methods for monitoring black oystercatcher reproductive success could be evaluated, and recommendations for management of the species could be produced.