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Heatwaves cause male insect fertility to plummet

472 views · Published 19 December 2018 · 0:50 · Indexed 14 November 2026

Channel: News Direct · 2018 · Education

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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.

RUNDOWN SHOWS:
1. Dry ground, thermometer, male sperm
2. Red flour beetles being subject to heat wave conditions
3. Flash red on the beetle
4. Successive heatwaves on the beetle

VOICEOVER (in English):
"As rising temperatures result in more heatwaves, it turns out male sperm count could be affected."

"Researchers used red flour beetles as a proxy for humans. They subjected them to a five-day 'heatwave' conditions of above average temperatures."

"According to the study published in Nature Communication, the heatwaves damaged male reproductive potential and halved male fertility."

"Female beetles were largely unaffected."

"The researchers also found that successive heatwaves could nearly sterilize males."

SOURCES: The Guardian, The New York Times, BBC News, Nature Communication,
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/nov/13/heatwaves-wipe-out-male-insect-fertility-beetles-study
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/11/13/science/sperm-infertility-insects-heat.html
https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-46194383
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-018-07273-z

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Heatwaves cause male insect fertility to plummet

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