Suburbanization, estrogen contamination, and sex ratio in wild amphibian populations

We focus on a critical issue, the influence of human-derived contaminants on wildlife populations. Endocrine disrupting chemicals that act through hormonal pathways are capable of having large influences even when concentrations are relatively low. While there is evidence that such endocrine disruption can result from the application of agricultural pesticides and through exposure to wastewater effluent, we have identified a diversity of endocrine disrupting chemicals within suburban neighborhoods. Sampling populations of a local frog species, we found a strong association between the degree of landscape development and frog offspring sex ratio. Our study points to rarely studied contamination sources, like vegetation landscaping and impervious surface runoff, that may be associated with endocrine disruption environments around suburban homes.