The 40 or so species of beach-loving plovers (genus Charadrius) comprise a diverse group of shorebirds found around the world. Most of these species are challenged by changing climates and other human-related development activities, yet they provide key insights into basic ecological and evolutionary processes. The expert international contributors take a comparative approach, presenting examples from many worldwide plover studies and synthesizing the group’s most pressing and important topics. The book further presents an emphasis on full life-cycle biology, including the importance of examining migratory connectivity issues, even for non-migratory plovers.

Table of Contents: Introduction & Overview. Biogeography & Evolutionary History. Population Genetics. Physiology, Anatomy & Morphology. Comparative Breeding Biology. Mating Systems. Migration Ecology. Nonbreeding Ecology. Population Biology. Anthropogenic Change. Managing Habitat. Predator Control. Conclusions.