Question

Populations of amphibians, including frogs and toads, have been plagued by disease and high rates of deformity. A recent study investigated whether problems among the populations have arisen due to poisons from chemicals associated with agriculture. Biologists from the University of Florida collected local adult cane toads (Bufo marinus) from more than 20 different locations. Toads were collected from areas close to agriculture; both large-scale and small-scale farms as well as from suburbs. At collection sites where 50-97% of the adjacent land was farmed, males showed high levels of feminization. Feminized male toads were similar in color to females and had lower levels of testosterone and often also deformed gonads. These changes can lead to sterile males or changes in behavior that prevent mating from occurring. Which of the following statements would be considered a hypothesis for this study?

Answer 1

Agricultural chemicals cause deformities and feminization amongst cane toads.

Step-by-step explanation:

Pesticides are the chemicals used to kill the harmful pests that can harm the main crops of the land. The pesticides can cause the environmental pollution as well.

The study explained in the question shows that the agriculture chemicals can harm the organisms of the different trophic levels. The agricultural chemicals is responsible for the feminization and can cause health deformites in the cane toads.

Thus, the answer is agricultural chemicals cause deformities and feminization amongst cane toads.