Birds and Persistent Organic Pollutants

Synthesizing up-to-date findings from multiple continents and disciplines, Birds and Persistent Organic Pollutants fills a critical gap in ecotoxicology, providing the first comprehensive volume dedicated solely to birds and persistent organic pollutants (POPs).

POPs continue to pose a significant and long-term threat to ecological systems worldwide, with birds serving as some of the most informative indicators of environmental contamination. This book examines how these chemicals move through ecosystems, accumulate in avian species, and influence physiological processes, population dynamics, and conservation outcomes. Spanning a diversity of habitats—from Arctic marine systems to agricultural landscapes in the tropics—it provides a global perspective on how POPs interact with avian ecology under both historical and emerging contaminant scenarios.

Integrating mechanistic, ecological, and applied perspectives, the chapters collectively explore real-world exposure pathways, species-specific responses, and the broader implications for biomonitoring and environmental management. The book also highlights the continued relevance of legacy pollutants alongside emerging chemical concerns, offering a nuanced view of contaminant risk in a changing world.

Key Features:

• Integrates ecotoxicological mechanisms with field-based avian studies across multiple ecosystems
• Includes diverse case studies on seabirds, raptors, terrestrial birds, and agricultural species
• Explores physiological impacts such as endocrine disruption, oxidative stress, and bioaccumulation dynamics
• Examines birds as biomonitors for tracking spatial and temporal trends in POP contamination
• Links contaminant exposure to conservation challenges and ecosystem-level risk assessment.

An essential resource for researchers, graduate students, and professionals in ecotoxicology, ornithology, environmental science, and conservation biology, this also serves as a valuable reference for those involved in environmental monitoring, risk assessment, and policy development related to persistent pollutants.