Effect of endocrine disrupting chemicals on avian life cycles

点击翻译按钮获取中文摘要

Recently, concern has focused on the potential effects on the endocrine system from a range of Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals (EDCs) - synthetic and natural chemicals that disrupt normal hormonal function. While most studies on EDCs to date have focused on physiological changes in animals associated with reproductive hormones, I plan to extend this work to look at ecological effects that are central to an animal's life cycle - their ability to respond to environmental, physical and social cues that are essential to survival and population stability. Timing of exposure particularly during early development may affect the behaviours which control migration, reproduction and their ability to cope with other environmental stressors- all of which are closely regulated by hormones.