Bird and Reptile Species in Environmental Risk Assessment Strategies

Description

With the expansion of human settlements and the environmental changes brought on by human activity and pollutants, toxicology and risk assessment of bird and reptile species is becoming increasingly of interest to toxicologists involved in environmental research. This book focuses specifically on environmental risk assessment in non-conventional bird and reptile species. Bird and Reptile Species in Environmental Risk Assessment Strategies will be an ideal companion to toxicologists and ecologists interested in risk assessment in the environments of birds and reptiles, particularly those with an interest in the impact introduced by human activity. The book will also be of interest to those working in conservation biology, biological invasion, biocontrol and habitat management. Cover Preface Contents Chapter 1 General Aspects – Current and Further Perspectives Chapter 2 Development of Aquatic Bird Indicators of Sub-lethalMercury Exposure and Risk in Wild Populations of Water Birds in the Everglades (Florida, United States of America) 2.1 Background and Study Area Description 2.1.1 Mercury: Local Emissions, Worldwide Contamination 2.1.2 The Everglades 2.1.3 Mercury Contamination in the Everglades 2.1.4 Development of a Field Sampling Protocol 2.1.5 Development of Mercury Exposure Indicators – Tissues 2.2 Results 2.2.1 Sub-lethal Effects: Results from Experimental Studies 2.2.2 Evidence of Mercury Effects in Field Conditions 2.3 General Discussion, Lessons Learnt and Pros and Cons of Our and Alternative Approaches 2.3.1 Evidence and Estimation of Hg Effects in Natural Populations 2.3.2 Indicator Tissues: Comparative Advantages, Limitations and Uncertainty 2.4 Conclusion and Advice for Similar Cases or Final Remarks Acknowledgements References Chapter 3 The Importance of Ecological Traits in Assessing Seabird Vulnerability to Environmental Risks 3.1 Introduction 3.2 Failings of the Standard Approach 3.3 Vulnerability to Anthropogenic and Natural Risks 3.4 Challenges for an Observational Study 3.5 A Trait-based Approach 3.5.1 An Ecological Dimension Reduction Technique 3.5.2 Useful Traits for Ecological Risk Evaluation 3.5.3 Trait-based Prediction 3.6 Other Challenges 3.6.1 Correlation vs. Causation 3.6.2 The Default of No Risk 3.6.3 Ecological Regulation 3.6.4 Climate Change and Variability 3.6.5 Other Approaches Disclaimer Acknowledgements References Chapter 4 A Review of the Levels and Distribution Patterns of Organochlorine Pesticides in the Eggs of Wild Birds in India 4.1 Introduction 4.1.1 Organochlorine Pesticides 4.1.2 Organochlorine Pesticides – Marketing and Consumption 4.2 Pesticides – Indian Scenario 4.3 Impact of Pesticides in Eggs of Wild Birds in India 4.3.1 OCP Residues in Birds' Eggs 4.3.2 Variation in Residue Levels Based on Species and Food Habits 4.3.3 Eggshell Thinning and Reproductive Impairment 4.4 Conclusions and Further Recommendations References Chapter 5 Impacts of Agricultural Intensification on Farmland Birds and Risk Assessment of Pesticide Seed Treatments 5.1 The Intensification of Agriculture 5.2 Agricultural Intensification and Bird Declines 5.3 Impact of Pesticides on Birds: Direct vs. Indirect Effects 5.3.1 Direct Effects 5.3.2 Indirect Effects 5.4 Seed Treatment With Pesticides: Impacts on Birds 5.4.1 Agricultural Intensification Through Seed Treatment 5.4.2 Bird Exposure to Pesticide-treated Seeds 5.5 Assessment of Risks of Pesticide-treated Seeds to Birds 5.5.1 Regulatory Environmental Toxicity Testing 5.5.2 Tier I Risk Assessment 5.5.3 Refinements and Weight-of-evidence Risk Assessment 5.5.4 Future Directions References Chapter 6 Teratological Effects of Pesticides in Reptiles – A Review 6.1 Introduction 6.2 Reptiles as Sentinel Species 6.3 Teratological Effects of Pesticides on Reptiles 6.3.1 Order Testudinata 6.3.2 Order Rhynchocephalia 6.3.3 Order Crocodilia 6.3.4 Order Squamata 6.4 Final Remarks 6.5 Conclusion Acknowledgements References Chapter 7 Combined Impact of Pesticides and Other Environmental Stressors on Reptile Diversity in Irrigation Ponds Compared to Other Animal Taxa 7.1 Introduction 7.2 Biological Communities in Irrigation Ponds 7.2.1 Biological Communities 7.2.2 Reptiles 7.3 Combined Impact of Multiple Stressors on Reptile Diversity Compared to Other Animal Taxa 7.4 Impact of Each Stressor on Reptile Diversity Compared to Other Animal Taxa 7.4.1 Concrete Bank Protection, Water Depth Reduction and Macrophyte Decline 7.4.2 Eutrophication and Pesticide Pollution 7.4.3 Invasive Alien Species 7.5 Perspective: Usefulness of Turtles as Bioindicators 7.6 Conclusion Acknowledgements References Chapter 8 Current Progress in Developing Standardized Methods forReptilian Toxicity Testing to Inform Ecological Risk Assessment 8.1 Background on Reptile Toxicity Testing 8.1.1 Lack of Reptile Toxicity Data in the Literature 8.1.2 Lack of Standardized Methods 8.2 Progress in Standardized Methods for Reptile Ecotoxicology/Ecological Risk Assessment 8.2.1 Early Efforts in Reptile Toxicology 8.2.2 Oral Dosing Methods Using Gelatin Capsules to Accommodate Small Reptiles 8.2.3 Standardization of Methods and Developing Breeding Assay Using Anolis Species in Reptile Ecotoxicology 8.2.4 Moving Beyond Oral Exposure Dosing: ThePotential Importance of Dermal Exposure and Toxicity 8.3 Conclusions Acknowledgements References Chapter 9 Morphological and Molecular Evidence of Active PrincipleGlyphosate Toxicity on the Liver of the Field Lizard Podarcis siculus 9.1 Introduction 9.2 Lizards in Contaminated Environments 9.3 Effects of Pure GLY on the Liver of P. siculus Specimens 9.4 GLY-induced Changes in P. siculus Liver Histology 9.5 GLY-induced Changes in the Expression and Synthesis of Proteins in the P. siculus Liver 9.6 Conclusion Acknowledgements References Chapter 10 What Is Caiman latirostris Teaching Us About Endocrine Disruptors? 10.1 Ecophysiological Characteristics of the Broad-snouted Caiman (Caiman latirostris) 10.1.1 Sex Determination 10.1.2 Reproduction 10.1.3 Hatchling Growth and Development 10.1.4 Feeding Habits, Social Behavior and Longevity 10.1.5 Sexual Dimorphism 10.2 Endocrine-disrupting Chemicals 10.2.1 Mechanism of Action of EDCs 10.2.2 Types of EDCs 10.3 Caiman latirostris as a Sentinel of Environmental Pollution 10.4 EDCs and Their Effects on Reproductive Features 10.4.1 Natural Exposure 10.4.2 Experimental Exposure 10.5 EDCs and Their Effects on the Thyroid Histofunctional Characteristics 10.6 Conclusions Acknowledgements References Chapter 11 The Broad-snouted Caiman (Caiman latirostris): A ModelSpecies for Environmental Pesticide Contamination Assessment Through Molecular Markers 11.1 Caiman latirostris: Life History Characteristics and Population Situation in Argentina 11.1.1 Geographical Distribution and Sustainable Use Programs 11.1.2 Environmental Problems Associated WithAgricultural Expansion and the Use of Pesticides 11.2 Why Use C. latirostris as a Sentinel of Pesticide Contamination? 11.2.1 Evidence of Pesticide Effects on the Broad-snouted Caiman 11.2.2 Identification and Development of Gene Expression Markers 11.3 Future Perspectives Acknowledgements References Chapter 12 Epilogue and Final Remarks Reference Subject Index