Bjedov Dora, Mikuška Alma, Velki Mirna
Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek, Department of Biology, Osijek, Croatia.
Arh Hig Rada Toksikol. 2025 Mar 31;76(1):1-15. doi: 10.2478/aiht-2025-76-3958. eCollection 2025 Mar 1.
White storks ( L., 1758) and their nestlings have emerged as valuable bioindicators of environmental pollution, particularly in ecosystems affected by human activities. This review explores the role of white storks in biomonitoring, focusing on the use of biomarkers and pollutant analysis to understand the physiological consequences of environmental stressors. Key biomarkers, such as oxidative stress markers, immune responses, and hormonal alterations provide insight into the effects of pollutants like heavy metals, pesticides, and other toxic compounds. The biomarkers are typically measured in matrices such as blood, feathers, eggs, and tissues, each offering unique advantages in assessing pollutant exposure. However, ethical concerns regarding wildlife monitoring and the potential harm caused by invasive sampling techniques call for non-invasive methods. Future research should explore novel non-invasive techniques and employ long-term monitoring programmes to understand the cumulative effects of pollution. Despite challenges such as biological variability and environmental factors, white storks remain reliable indicators of ecological change and pollutant burden, providing critical data that can guide pollution management policies, inform conservation strategies, and protect both wildlife and human health from current environmental threats.
白鹳（学名：Ciconia ciconia，1758年命名）及其雏鸟已成为环境污染的重要生物指示物，尤其是在受人类活动影响的生态系统中。本综述探讨了白鹳在生物监测中的作用，重点关注生物标志物的应用以及污染物分析，以了解环境压力源的生理影响。关键生物标志物，如氧化应激标志物、免疫反应和激素变化，有助于深入了解重金属、农药和其他有毒化合物等污染物的影响。这些生物标志物通常在血液、羽毛、蛋和组织等基质中进行测量，每种基质在评估污染物暴露方面都具有独特优势。然而，野生动物监测的伦理问题以及侵入性采样技术可能造成的潜在危害，促使人们寻求非侵入性方法。未来的研究应探索新型非侵入性技术，并采用长期监测计划，以了解污染的累积影响。尽管存在生物变异性和环境因素等挑战，但白鹳仍然是生态变化和污染物负担的可靠指标，提供的关键数据可指导污染管理政策、为保护策略提供信息，并保护野生动物和人类健康免受当前环境威胁。
