Highlights from the afternoon seminars:
D. Schlenk, "Estrogenic activities in marine wildlife: potential causes and population impacts"
Dr. Schlenk has been studying the estrogenic effects of Bifenthrin, a pyrethroid insectide in fish populations. He observed that male fish exposed to this chemical actually show an increase in vitellogenin, which is important in the development of eggs in female fish. More importantly, other pesticides, including Befenthrin, and alpha polyethoxylate (APEO) chemicals have been detected in the San Francisco Bay and may be related to declines in the fish populations.
T. Hayes, "Reproductive effects of pesticide exposure in amphibians"
Dr. Hayes has been studying estrogenic effects of Atrazine in African frogs. He has published work in this area showing that atrazine exposure leads to a decrease in testosterone as well as development of functional ovaries in male frogs. These exposed frogs not only were not able to compete with untreated males, but were not as capable as producing viable offspring.
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