Title -- Copyright -- Dedication -- Contents -- Preface and Acknowledgments -- Part I Evolutionary Relationships, Anatomy and Morphology, and Breeding Biology -- 1 Introduction -- Diversity and Distribution -- Varied Ecomorphology -- Diverse Social Systems -- Globe-Trotting Migrants -- Wetland Dependence -- Conservation and Management -- Rationale for and Organization of This Book -- 2 Systematics, Phylogeny, and Phylogeography -- Fossil History -- A Brief History of Shorebird Systematics -- Phylogeography -- Hybridization in Shorebirds -- Biogeography and Communities -- Conservation Implications -- 3 Morphology, Anatomy, and Physiology -- Skeletal and Muscle System -- Integumentary System -- Sensory Apparatus, Foraging, and Digestion -- Digestive System -- Energetics and Thermoregulation -- Osmoregulation -- Reproductive System -- Conservation Implications -- 4 Mating Systems -- Defining a Mating System -- The Role of Ecological Factors -- Social versus Genetic Relationships -- Parental Care Patterns -- Evolution of Polyandry -- Variance in Reproductive Success -- Size Dimorphism -- Sex Ratios -- Conservation Implications -- 5 Breeding Biology -- Philopatry, Breeding Site Fidelity, and Dispersal -- Spring Arrival Schedules -- Courtship Behavior -- Breeding Densities -- Selection of a Breeding Site -- Eggs -- Incubation -- Hatching -- Chick Growth and Development -- Conservation Implications -- Part II Nonbreeding Ecology and Demography -- 6 Migration -- Origins and Evolution -- Migration Strategies -- Physiology of Migration -- Hop, Skip, and Jump -- Populations and Flyways -- Conservation Implications -- 7 Foraging Ecology and Habitat Use -- Diets -- Foraging Maneuvers and Habitat Use -- Acquiring Energy -- Food Availability -- Individual Variation -- Conservation Implications -- 8 Shorebirds as Predators.

Shorebird Predators and Their Prey -- Predicting Wetland Use -- Competition and Food Limitation -- Prey Reduction -- Community Ecology -- Conservation Implications -- 9 Spatial Ecology and Winter Social Organization -- Quantifying Spatial Distributions -- A Range of Social Organization -- Roosts -- Conservation Implications -- 10 Population Biology -- Demography -- Survival -- Productivity -- Population Sizes and Trends -- Monitoring Programs -- Limiting Factors -- Human Impacts -- Conservation Implications -- Part III Management and Conservation -- 11 Habitat Conservation and Management -- Decision Making in Wildlife Management -- Wetland Conservation -- Conservation Planning and Implementation -- Wetland Management -- Agricultural Lands -- Salt Ponds -- Sandy, Ocean-Fronting Beaches -- Conservation Implications -- 12 Managing Predators -- Ethical Considerations and Decision Making -- Do Predators Limit Shorebird Populations? -- Methods of Control -- Conservation Implications -- 13 Managing Human Disturbance -- Definitions of Human Disturbance -- Characterizing Disturbance -- Responses to Disturbance -- Managing Disturbance -- Conservation Implications -- 14 Education and Outreach -- Professional Groups -- Environmental Education -- Ecotourism and Birding Festivals -- Books and Online Resources -- Conservation Implications -- Appendix -- Index.