Behavioural Ecotoxicology »

Behavioural ecotoxicology is an emerging field dealing with the effects of environmental pollutants on the behaviour of animals. Behavioural techniques derived from experimental psychology, behavioural pharmacology and neurotoxicology are applied to detect and characterise changes in animals living in the environment exposed to various pollutants. Behavioural effects are then interpreted in an ecological context considering the long-term relevance of these changes at both the individual and population level.

Booknews

Recent research on the impact of environmental pollutants on animal behavior is described. The book presents studies on the short- and long-term effects of the main classes of toxicants at the level of individuals and populations, and describes procedures used to detect and measure behavioral alterations in invertebrate and vertebrate species in both aquatic and terrestrial environments. Discussion encompasses the advantages and limitations of the behavioral approach for monitoring exposure and the relationship between behavior and other bioindicators of exposure to pollutants. Case studies are included. Dell'Omo is in the Division of Neuroanatomy and Behavior at the Institute of Anatomy at the University of Zurich, Switzerland. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)