Rising temperatures may impact male fertility
- 5 years ago
UNITED KINGDOM — New research has found that sperm counts in male beetles are affected by warmer temperatures.
Researchers used red flour beetles as a proxy for humans. They subjected them to five-day "heatwave" conditions of above average temperatures. This damaged male reproductive potential and halved male fertility, according to the study published in Nature Communication.
Even if the male beetles were able to procreate in that climate, their offsprings tend to have shorter than average lifespans, according to the researchers. Female beetles were largely unaffected.
The researchers also found that successive heatwaves could nearly sterilize males.
Researchers used red flour beetles as a proxy for humans. They subjected them to five-day "heatwave" conditions of above average temperatures. This damaged male reproductive potential and halved male fertility, according to the study published in Nature Communication.
Even if the male beetles were able to procreate in that climate, their offsprings tend to have shorter than average lifespans, according to the researchers. Female beetles were largely unaffected.
The researchers also found that successive heatwaves could nearly sterilize males.