Gator Hormones Out Of Control

[togetherwecan]

He believes years of farming on the shores of Lake Apopka are having a direct result on the gators' sexual development. In a nutshell, boy gators are turning into girlie gators.

"Our best lakes for example, 80 percent to 85 percent of the embryos produce viable offspring. Lake Apopka, sometimes 20,30,40 percent," said Dr. Guillette.

For years, Guillette has braved Lake Apopka at night to study the reptiles. Under-developed sex organs in male gators are just one of Guillette's observations. He's also found problems in the ovaries of female gators. He says the problem is especially bad in Lake Apopka.

http://www.wftv.com/news/12293668/detail.html


Modified excerpt to comply with quoting guidelines. -- LIT

[Emerald]

Unlike humans, an alligator's birth sex depends on the temperature of egg incubation. Within the nest, temperatures of 30 °C (86°F) produce all females, 34 °C (93°F) yields all males. The temperature-sensitive period is between 7 and 21 days of incubation. Natural nests constructed on embankments are hotter than those constructed on wet marsh, thus the former hatch males and the latter females.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alligator#Reproduction

-Emerald