Includes bibliographical references and index.

I. Hierarchical ecotoxicology. The hierarchical science of ecotoxicology -- II. Organismal ecotoxicology. The organismal ecotoxicology context -- Biochemistry of toxicants -- Cells and tissues -- Organs and organ systems -- Physiology -- Bioaccumulation -- Models of bioaccumulation and bioavailability -- Lethal effects -- Sublethal effects -- Conclusion -- III. Popoulation ecotoxicology. The population ecotoxicology context -- Epidemiology : the study of disease in populations -- Toxicants and simple population models -- Toxicants and population demographics -- Phenogenetics of exposed populations -- Population genetics : damage and stochastic dynamics of the germ line -- Population genetics : natural selection -- Conclusion -- IV. Community ecotoxicology. Introduction to community ecotoxicology -- Biotic and abiotic factors that regulate communities -- Biomonitoring and the responses of communities to contaminants -- Experimental approaches in community ecology and ecotoxicology -- Application of multimetric and multivariate approaches in community ecotoxicology -- Disturbance ecology and the responses of communities to contaminants -- Community responses to global and atmospheric stressors -- Effects of contaminants on trophic structure and food webs -- Conclusions -- V. Ecosystem ecotoxicology. Introduction to ecosystem ecology and ecotoxicology -- Overview of ecosystem processes -- Descriptive approaches for assessing ecosystem responses to contaminants -- The use of microcosms, mMesocosms, and field experiments to assess ecosystem responses to contaminants and other stressors -- Patterns and processes : the relationship between species diversity and ecosystem function -- Fate and transport of contaminants in ecosystems -- Effects of global atmospheric stressors on ecosystem processes -- VI. Ecotoxicology : a comprehensive treatment--conclusion -- Conclusion.