Reproductive ecology of American Oystercatchers nesting on shell rakes

The condor

Patrick G. R. Jodice¹ 

关键词: American Oystercatcher;    Cape Romain;    daily survival rate;    flooding;    Haematopus palliatus;    predation;    reproductive success;    South Carolina;   

DOI  :  10.1650/CONDOR-14-35.1

学科分类：动物科学

来源: Central Ornithology Publication Office

【 摘 要 】

ABSTRACT Degradation of nesting habitat for coastal birds has led to the use of nontraditional nesting habitat. The American Oystercatcher (Haematopus palliatus) is listed as a “Species of High Concern” by the U.S. Shorebird Conservation Plan and is declining in the southern portion of its U.S. breeding range, where ∼50% of breeding oystercatchers nest on shell substrate instead of beachfront habitat. We measured daily survival rates during incubation and chick rearing in shell rake habitats over five breeding seasons in the Cape Romain region of South Carolina, USA. Of 354 nesting attempts monitored, 16.1% hatched at least one egg. During incubation, daily survival rate was 0.938, corresponding to 22.8% success to hatching (nest success). For broods, daily survival was 0.991, or 74.0% success from hatching to fledging. Productivity in the Cape Romain region is primarily being lost during the incubation phase, when nests are exposed to overwash and predation. Mobile chicks may, however, be able to avoid f...

【 授权许可】

CC BY