The endocrine system: can homeostasis be maintained in a changing world?

This chapter examines the effects of environmental changes on the endocrine system. It first looks into the vital role of the endocrine system and outlines the consequences that changes may have for species survival and the evolutionary process. With a particular reference to avian examples, it discusses the potential for anthropogenic change to affect endocrine mechanisms and the capacity of the endocrine system to maintain a homeostatic balance. It considers the impact of climate change on phenology, the impacts of urbanization on endocrine systems, and the role of endocrine-disrupting chemicals in affecting change. It also determines the endocrine system's response to anthropogenic change by the magnitude of the anthropogenic effects and the speed of change.