NPR: Study: Gender-Bending Fish Widespread In U.S.

[OKIsItJustMe]

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=112888785

Study: Gender-Bending Fish Widespread In U.S.

by Christopher Joyce
September 16, 2009

A survey of fish in rivers and streams around the country shows that a large percentage of male bass have acquired feminine characteristics.

Scientists say it's the biggest survey of this gender-bending condition in U.S. waters. And while they can't be sure of the cause, they suspect industrial and pharmaceutical chemicals are the culprit.

Jo Ellen Hinck of the U.S. Geological Survey spent nine years catching fish to see if there was anything strange about their gender. Gender changes in male fish are not new, but its cause has puzzled scientists.

"Our work is really the first to show the widespread occurrence of intersex in fish across the United States," Hinck says. "Intersex" in this case means a male fish having immature egg cells growing in its testes.

…

(Follow link for transcript and audio.)

[DCKit]

1. Coming soon to a stream near you....

[madokie]

2. Ahhh, I remember my days of chasing after that all too elusive giant large mouth bass

and the great times I had doing it but I never paid much attention to their sex except during the spawn when I tried to avoid the places where the female laid her eggs. Yes those were the days. Sorry about not having anything to add to your op, just the mention of a large mouth bass does this to me

[OKIsItJustMe]

3. Quite alright

I remember fishing for "rock bass" in a pond with crystal clear water. It was the only time I'd ever been able to watch fish come right up and grab my bait…