Sublethal illness effects

Observation of deaths of organisms and resultant declines in populations, though straightforward and unequivocal, are often insufficient to fully explain the effects of toxic substances on ecosystems. It is also important to consider sublethal effects, which may cause ill effects in populations without directly killing individuals. Exposure to toxicants can lower reproductive rates of organisms and affect rates of survival of juveniles to adulthood. Ability to avoid predators may be curtailed,... 

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