• Question: How will polution affect species reproduction?

    Asked by imy to Carolyn, Peter, Richard, Sara, Siana on 15 Nov 2015.
    • Photo: Siana Jones

      Siana Jones answered on 15 Nov 2015:

      This is an excellent question, I have no idea what the answer is! 🙂

      One of the guys in my office is looking at the spread in cardiovascular disease across urban/rural areas and there have certainly been links found between increase pollution levels and risk of cardiovascular disease but I’m not sure how it translates to reproduction.

    • Photo: Richard Unwin

      Richard Unwin answered on 16 Nov 2015:

      Hi Imy,

      Do you mean our species or others? Either way, I’m not sure that pollution impacts on reproduction specifically, although it can affect populations is a pollutant is poisonous, or if it causes damage to DNA which can cause deformed offspring.
      Pollution can help reproduction as well – massive algae growth (algal blooms) are thought to be caused in part by pollution, and although they are bad for the fish and microbes that line in the water, its an example of increased reproduction as a result (in part) of pollution.

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