Insights into the impacts of four current environmental problems on flying birds

Abstract

A wide variety of substances and agents are released into the atmosphere due to anthropogenic activities. Higher levels of such entities have given rise to four major environmental problems: air, light and noise pollution and global warming, all of which severely affect birds and other animals. These four issues have been overlooked, although climate change is receiving increasing attention. The four challenges often occur simultaneously and are likely to exert composite impacts. Most studies have focused on the effects of a specific problem at a particular time and have never taken into account their cumulative consequences. This review tries to address this shortcoming. It aims to evaluate the composite impacts of the problems on flying birds beyond an understanding of their individual impacts. The review initially sheds light on the individual impacts based on existing scientific literature. Composite impacts were then estimated by assigning suitable scores to the literature to convert it into empirical data. Scores were then analysed. Through this assessment, it was found that the health of birds is highly vulnerable to the composite effects of the problems. Additionally, statistical analysis revealed that the effects of all problems on different aspects of avian biology are likely to be magnified simultaneously in the future. Thus, the impact of these problems on birds should not be neglected, and further studies should be conducted to understand their mechanisms.

Assessing the combined threats of artificial light at night and air pollution for the world’s nocturnally migrating birds

“…This outcome suggests that evidence for a positive effect of improved air quality for bird populations is likely to continue, at least within the Americas flyway (Liang et al., 2020). By determining where and when migratory birds are encountering different combinations of environmental pollution, we can provide a better understanding of the broader implications of global change for these species (Dutta, 2017). Our findings emphasize the need to explore how different forms and sources of environmental pollution act in combination to affect nocturnally migrating birds, especially during migratory flight and stopover.…”

The Potential Role of Migratory Birds in the Rapid Spread of Ticks and Tick-Borne Pathogens in the Changing Climatic and Environmental Conditions in Europe

“…This may result in respiratory malfunction, organ failure, growth retardation, reduced reproductive performance, disturbed egg development and hatching, and abandonment of eggs or chicks by adults. Additionally, these contaminants trigger changes in habitats, thereby reducing food resources for migratory birds [94,95]. Means of land and air transport and even recreational activity of people in birds' resting and feeding ground may induce stress responses and greater consumption of energy required for migration, survival, and breeding [96].…”

Utilization of Advanced Technologies for in-situ Remediation of Polluted Soil to avoid Ecological Risks: A Review

“…It causes habitat loss of several herbivores in turn other animals that are dependent on them [66]. As soil pollution negatively affects vegetation thus causes migration of birds in search of food and shelter [67]. Toxins, pollutants, bacteria etc.…”