Subtle sabotage: endocrine disruption in wild populations

• DOI: 10.15517/rbt.v54i1.26824
• Publication Date: 2006-01-01
• Authors: Ann Oliver Cheek
• Keywords: Feminization (sociology); Animal sexual behaviour

How important is endocrine disruption as a threat to wildlife populations? This review applies causal criteria existing studies of wild populations fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals answer three questions: (1) Have endocrine-mediated effects contaminant exposure been documented? (2) individual adverse that could lead population (3) level In the possibility inferred from impaired fertility. Substantial evidence directly links fertility impairment disruption. declines are occurring worldwide causes may vary among regions, with contaminant-induced sexual being one many insults stymie growth. local alligators have dramatically reduced by direct toxicity recovery has probably slowed disruption, particularly feminization induced chronic exposure. contrast, heavily contaminated snapping turtles display feminized secondary sex characteristics, disrupted development, but densest at most site. decline linked p,p’-DDE-mediated eggshell thinning subsequent banning parent compound DDT in US Europe. Regional predatory birds still suffer chick mortality related PCB burdens, no link processes demonstrated. mammals, contaminant- hormonal derangements seals polar bears documented, clear declines. Although will rarely be sole cause failing recruitment or decreased abundance, it subtly sabotage ratio, metabolic compensation for environmental stress. Endocrine unlikely extirpate species over its entire range, combination other stressors such habitat loss, over-harvesting, global climate change, contribute extinctions. Rev. Biol. Trop. 54(Suppl. 1): 1-19. Epub 2006 Sept. 30.