摘要
Urban-dwelling birds have the potential to serve as powerful biomonitors that reveal the impact of environmental change due to urbanization. Specifically, urban bird populations can be used to sur- vey cities for factors that may pose both public and wildlife health concerns. Here, we review evi- dence supporting the use of avian biomonitors to identify threats associated with urbanization, including bioaccumulation of toxicants and the dysregulation of behavior and physiology by related stressors. In addition, we consider the use of birds to examine how factors in the urban en- vironment can impact immunity against communicable pathogens. By studying the behavior, physiology, and ecology of urban bird populations, we can elucidate not only how avian popula- tions are responding to environmental change, but also how unintended consequences of urban- ization affect the well-being of human and non-human inhabitants.
