Summary
According to new research, baby fish exposed to hormone-laden manure from Indian farms are more likely to mature as males. Conducting
experiments using fathead minnow embryos, by placing them in natural and synthetic hormone contaminated water from runoff, they found
that 60% of them were male. Normally, fish have a relatively equal amount of females and males. This skew in the gender of the fish can cause
population numbers to go down and an experiment like this was long over due because of the mighty consequences that can come from
population decreases. Although fish sex skewing is tough to pin it on one thing, hormone run off can be a huge factor; as well as temperature,
nutrients, and pesticides. Scientists conducted another experiment comparing the fish population of a pond that experienced heavy manure
runoff, and a clean creek experiencing now runoff. What they found was that, while the contaminated pond had an increased population of males
(60% males), there were only 48% males in the uncontaminated creek. Thus, showing us that there is a factor in runoff causing this difference in the
fish gender numbers.
According to new research, baby fish exposed to hormone-laden manure from Indian farms are more likely to mature as males. Conducting
experiments using fathead minnow embryos, by placing them in natural and synthetic hormone contaminated water from runoff, they found
that 60% of them were male. Normally, fish have a relatively equal amount of females and males. This skew in the gender of the fish can cause
population numbers to go down and an experiment like this was long over due because of the mighty consequences that can come from
population decreases. Although fish sex skewing is tough to pin it on one thing, hormone run off can be a huge factor; as well as temperature,
nutrients, and pesticides. Scientists conducted another experiment comparing the fish population of a pond that experienced heavy manure
runoff, and a clean creek experiencing now runoff. What they found was that, while the contaminated pond had an increased population of males
(60% males), there were only 48% males in the uncontaminated creek. Thus, showing us that there is a factor in runoff causing this difference in the
fish gender numbers.
Reflection
I think this article was really interesting to read about. Fish are often put aside, because of people's belief that there is an abundance of them within
the ocean's seafloor. That is a reason why overfishing is dangerous, and why a lot of research is not being conducted on fish populations. The fact that
scientists' were able to connect an issue with fish populations is enough proof that we, as a society, tend to put off these aquatic organisms. I do think
it is very strange that fish are not born a certain gender, or that the gender can be changed by exposure to hormones. I also think it was really interesting
to read about the trenbolone hormone, which was mentioned in a previous ScrAPES I did. It was referred to as the vampire hormone. And the fact that it is mentioned here, to be skewing animal's gender numbers shows how dangerous such a hormone can be, and it should definitely not be exposed to the
animals we consume.
I think this article was really interesting to read about. Fish are often put aside, because of people's belief that there is an abundance of them within
the ocean's seafloor. That is a reason why overfishing is dangerous, and why a lot of research is not being conducted on fish populations. The fact that
scientists' were able to connect an issue with fish populations is enough proof that we, as a society, tend to put off these aquatic organisms. I do think
it is very strange that fish are not born a certain gender, or that the gender can be changed by exposure to hormones. I also think it was really interesting
to read about the trenbolone hormone, which was mentioned in a previous ScrAPES I did. It was referred to as the vampire hormone. And the fact that it is mentioned here, to be skewing animal's gender numbers shows how dangerous such a hormone can be, and it should definitely not be exposed to the
animals we consume.