GLENWOOD HOUSE THE AFRICAN BLACK OYSTERCATCHER WHAT IS THE ROLE OF THE AFRICAN BLACK OYSTERCATCHER IN THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT? CHRISTAN BOTES MATRIC LIFE SCIENCES 2016 There has been a noticeable increase in the populations of African Black Oystercatchers (Haemotopus moquini) in the area of coast between Mossel Bay and Gouritzmond within the past 20 years. This is due to increased conservation efforts and the introduction of a new food source in the habitat of the Black Oystercatcher. The Oystercatcher plays an extremely important role of keeping the balance within the food cycle of a coastal environment and is very sensitive to human interference within a habitat. The local populations of African Black Oystercatchers suffered a great decline due to human interference, but due to conservation efforts the populations have recovered, and the re-established populations have assisted in bringing balance back to the local ecosystems and therefore play a vital role in coastal ecosystems. Table of Contents OBSERVATIONS: 2 RESEARCH TOPIC: 3 HYPOTHESIS: 3 LITERARY RESEARCH: 3 …show more content…
They are shorebirds 42-45 cm in length, with black plumage and vividly coloured red legs, eyes and chisel-shaped beaks. They are monogamous, and live for 30-40 years; refusing to breed with another bird should their partner predecease them. They breed once in the months of summer in the Southern Hemisphere and do not breed again till the next season, provided that their first hatchling was successful. It is this slow breeding rate and the nature of their nesting habits that make the birds so vulnerable to human activity on the local beaches. The birds construct very simple nests, mere depressions in the sand dunes, and therefore the nests are immediately destroyed when a vehicle is driven on the beaches, or domestic dogs destroy the