Effect of endocrine disrupting chemicals on avian life cycles

最近，人们的关注集中在一系列内分泌干扰物(EDCs)对内分泌系统的潜在影响上，EDCs是一种破坏正常荷尔蒙功能的合成和天然化学物质。虽然到目前为止，大多数关于内分泌细胞的研究都集中在与生殖激素相关的动物的生理变化上，但我计划扩大这项工作的范围，以研究动物生命周期的核心生态效应-它们对环境、物理和社会线索的反应能力，这些线索对生存和种群稳定至关重要。暴露的时机，特别是在发育早期，可能会影响控制迁徙、繁殖和它们应对其他环境应激源的行为--所有这些都受到荷尔蒙的密切调控。 通过人工饲养的模式雀鸟的实验室研究，我将使用甲状腺、卵黄原蛋白和应激激素测量，结合迁徙和繁殖行为的可观察变化来评估在不同生命阶段(胚胎、孵化后和成年)暴露的内分泌细胞对鸟类的影响。利用野外和圈养的实验室研究，我将评估对动物生命周期至关重要的关键终点，这些终点也取决于荷尔蒙控制，例如对繁殖能力和繁殖行为的影响，以及迁徙的时间和调节(定向、导航、育肥)。进一步的研究将评估暴露在空气中的鸟类如何应对额外的自然压力，如食物供应短缺，以及与气候变化相关的温度波动或风暴事件。 行业和监管机构都将直接受益于这项工作，因为它提供了关于全球发现的这种环境污染物如何潜在地影响野生动物种群的关键信息，不仅在它们的生理方面，而且在种群的生态和生存能力方面。此外，由于鸟类和人类都有相似的EDC污染物暴露模式，因此对认知和学习的任何影响都将适用于人类健康。

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. Through the use of captive laboratory studies on model passerines, I will use thyroid, vitellogenin and stress hormone measurements in combination with observable changes in migratory and reproductive behaviour to evaluate effects of EDCs to birds exposed during different life stages (embryo, post-hatch and adult). Using both field and captive lab studies, I will assess key endpoints that are critical to the animal's life cycle that are also dependent on hormonal controls such as impacts on reproductive capability and breeding behaviour as well as timing and regulation of migration (orientation, navigation, fattening). Further studies will evaluate how exposed birds respond to additional natural stressors such as shortages of food supply but also fluctuations in temperature or storm events associated with climate change. Both industry and regulators will directly benefit from this work as it provides key information on how this class of environmental pollutants found globally are potentially affecting wildlife populations, not just in terms of their physiology but also with respect to the ecology and viability of populations. Furthermore, since birds and humans share similar patterns of exposure to EDC contaminants, any effects on cognition and learning will have applications for human health.