TO EVALUATE THE IMPACT OF POLLUTION ON BIRDS POPULATION IN VIEW OF THE PROTECTION OF ENDANGERED SPECIES.

THE STUDY OF THE EFFECTS OF POLLUTION ON BIRDS HAS BEEN QUITE INTENSE IN THE LAST TWO OR THREE DECADES. A MODERATE AMOUNT OF INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE FOR NORTHERN EUROPE; BUT SOUTHERN EUROPE LAGS SADLY BEHIND (THERE ARE ONLY 6 REPORT ON MARINE BIRDS, 20 SPECIMENS ALTOGETHER, IN THE MEDITERRANEAN AREA).

THE AIM OF THE PROPOSED RESEARCH IS:

A) TO CLOSE THE GAP BETWEEN THESE TWO AREAS;

B) TO COMPARE POLLUTANTS CONCENTRATIONS IN VARIOUS SPECIES FROM DIFFERENT AREAS, BY DIFFERENT LABORATORIES, IN ORDER TO FIND A SUITABLE AND VALID "BIO-INDICATOR" SPECIES;

C) TO EVALUATE THE IMPACT OF THE ANTHROPOGENIC CONTAMINANTS (MERCURY, LEAD, CHLORINATED HYDROCARBONS, ETC.) ON BIRD LIFE AND ESPECIALLY, ON THOSE SPECIES UNDER TOO MUCH PRESSURE AND ALREADY IN DANGER BECAUSE OF:
1)FAILURE OR REDUCTION OF REPRODUCTIVE SUCCESS DUE TO THE HIGH CONTENT OF CONTAMINANTS IN THE BODY, BLOOD, EGGS, ETC.;
2) REDUCED AVAILABILITY OF PROPER HABITATS SUCH AS LAGOONS, MARSHES, ETC.;
3) HIGH HUNTING PRESSURE IN SOME COUNTRIES;
4) THE NUMEROUS OTHER MAN-PRODUCED MODIFICATIONS OF THE ENVIRONMENT.