In_II field_NN1 or_CC backyard_NN1 ,_, frogs_NN2 face_VV0 threats_NN2 Amphibians_NN2 and_CC other_JJ sensitive_JJ groups_NN2 encounter_VV0 chemicals_NN2 across_II the_AT landscape_NN1 Providence_NP1 ,_, R.I._NP1 --_JJ Frogs_NN2 in_II the_AT pond_NN1 have_VH0 become_VVN canaries_NN2 in_II the_AT coal_NN1 mine_NN1 ._. 
As_CSA amphibian_JJ populations_NN2 have_VH0 declined_VVN worldwide_RL ,_, concerns_NN2 have_VH0 risen_VVN about_II the_AT potential_JJ environmental_JJ effects_NN2 of_IO agricultural_JJ pesticides_NN2 and_CC other_JJ chemicals_NN2 ._. 
And_CC recent_JJ work_NN1 is_VBZ challenging_VVG existing_JJ ideas_NN2 of_IO what_DDQ environs_NN2 and_CC organisms_NN2 are_VBR at_II risk_NN1 ._. 
After_CS almost_RR a_AT1 decade_NNT1 of_IO hot_JJ debate_NN1 over_II whether_CSW atrazine_NN1 ,_, a_AT1 common_JJ agricultural_JJ weed_NN1 killer_NN1 (_( SN_NN1 :_: 2/27/10_MF ,_, p._NN1 18_MC )_) ,_, is_VBZ creating_VVG frogs_NN2 with_IW both_RR male_JJ and_CC female_JJ characteristics_NN2 ,_, some_DD scientists_NN2 have_VH0 taken_VVN a_AT1 step_NN1 back_RP to_TO survey_VVI such_DA intersex_NN1 frogs_NN2 in_II a_AT1 wide_JJ variety_NN1 of_IO landscapes_NN2 ,_, including_II pristine_JJ woodlands_NN2 ,_, urban_JJ areas_NN2 and_CC suburbia_NN1 ._. 
Ecologist_NP1 David_NP1 Skelly_NP1 of_IO Yale_NP1 University_NN1 ,_, for_REX21 example_REX22 ,_, has_VHZ found_VVN that_CST --_JJ counter_NN1 to_II usual_JJ assumptions_NN2 --_JJ percentages_NN2 of_IO mixed-sex_JJ green_JJ frogs_NN2 may_VM be_VBI higher_JJR in_II the_AT suburbs_NN2 than_CSN on_II agricultural_JJ lands_NN2 ._. 
From_II 24_MC wetlands_NN2 within_II such_DA various_JJ landscapes_NN2 in_II the_AT Connecticut_NP1 River_NNL1 Valley_NN1 ,_, researchers_NN2 checked_VVD 233_MC frogs_NN2 for_IF one_MC1 telling_VVG trait_NN1 :_: eggs_NN2 growing_VVG in_II testes_NN2 ._. 
The_AT researchers_NN2 did_VDD find_VVI more_DAR of_IO these_DD2 intersex_VV0 frogs_NN2 in_II agricultural_JJ lands_NN2 than_CSN in_II woodlands_NN2 :_: 6_MC percent_NNU versus_II none_PN ._. 
Yet_RR 21_MC percent_NNU of_IO the_AT green_JJ frogs_NN2 tested_VVN in_II suburbia_NN1 had_VHD eggs_NN2 in_II their_APPGE testes_NN2 too_RR ,_, as_CSA did_VDD 16_MC percent_NNU of_IO urban_JJ frogs_NN2 ._. 
"_" That_DD1 's_VBZ news_NN1 because_CS that_DD1 's_VBZ not_XX what_DDQ you_PPY would_VM have_VHI presumed_VVN before_II hearing_VVG this_DD1 ,_, "_" Skelly_RR says_VVZ ._. 
At_II the_AT Joint_JJ Meeting_NN1 of_IO Ichthyologists_NN2 and_CC Herpetologists_NP1 ,_, held_VVN in_II Providence_NP1 in_II July_NPM1 ,_, Skelly_NP1 presented_VVD a_AT1 more_RGR detailed_JJ look_NN1 at_II intersex_NN1 frogs_NN2 in_II suburbia_NN1 ._. 
In_II Avon_NP1 ,_, Conn._NP1 ,_, a_AT1 leafy_JJ place_NN1 of_IO trees_NN2 and_CC gardens_NN2 ,_, Skelly_NP1 and_CC colleagues_NN2 found_VVD that_CST 15_MC of_IO 16_MC backyard_NN1 ponds_NN2 had_VHD at_RR21 least_RR22 one_MC1 intersex_NN1 green_JJ frog_NN1 ._. 
Of_IO the_AT total_NN1 188_MC Avon_NP1 frogs_NN2 tested_VVD ,_, 18_MC percent_NNU had_VHD mixed-up_JJ testes_NN2 ._. 
"_" We_PPIS2 do_VD0 n't_XX know_VVI if_CSW it_PPH1 's_VBZ unusual_JJ or_CC not_XX because_CS as_CS31 far_CS32 as_CS33 we_PPIS2 know_VV0 we_PPIS2 're_VBR the_AT first_MD people_NN to_TO look_VVI at_II this_DD1 ,_, "_" Skelly_NP1 said_VVD ._. 
Earlier_RRR outdoor_JJ surveys_NN2 typically_RR focused_VVN on_II farmlands_NN2 --_JJ high-exposure_JJ sites_NN2 for_IF agricultural_JJ chemicals_NN2 --_NN1 instead_II21 of_II22 looking_VVG at_II the_AT whole_JJ landscape_NN1 ,_, Skelly_NP1 said_VVD ._. 
Though_CS his_APPGE approach_NN1 presumes_VVZ nothing_PN1 about_II what_DDQ might_VM cause_VVI intersex_NN1 frogs_NN2 ,_, his_APPGE talk_NN1 did_VDD inspire_VVI speculation_NN1 ._. 
A_AT1 wildlife_NN1 biologist_NN1 who_PNQS has_VHZ studied_VVN snakes_NN2 ,_, Jennifer_NP1 Adams_NP1 of_IO the_AT Federal_JJ Energy_NN1 Regulatory_JJ Commission_NN1 in_II Washington_NP1 ,_, D.C._NP1 ,_, noted_VVD that_CST a_AT1 lot_NN1 of_IO weed_NN1 killers_NN2 such_II21 as_II22 atrazine_NN1 end_VV0 up_RP on_II suburban_JJ lawns_NN2 and_CC city_NN1 green_JJ spaces_NN2 ._. 
Another_DD1 possibility_NN1 :_: Wastewater_NN1 that_CST leaks_VVZ out_II21 of_II22 septic_JJ systems_NN2 or_CC sewer_NN1 pipes_NN2 almost_RR certainly_RR contains_VVZ traces_NN2 of_IO contraceptives_NN2 or_CC other_JJ potent_JJ compounds_NN2 that_CST might_VM disrupt_VVI normal_JJ hormone_NN1 function_NN1 in_II wildlife_NN1 ,_, says_VVZ herpetologist_NN1 Bob_NP1 Brodman_NN1 of_IO Saint_NP1 Joseph_NP1 's_GE College_NN1 in_II Rensselaer_NP1 ,_, Ind_NN1 ._. 
Skelly_RR did_VDD find_VVI evidence_NN1 that_CST ponds_NN2 in_II Avon_NP1 were_VBDR contaminated_VVN by_II wastewater_NN1 of_IO some_DD sort_NN1 ._. 
Traces_NN2 of_IO caffeine_NN1 typically_RR indicate_VV0 that_DD1 wastewater_NN1 is_VBZ seeping_VVG in_RP ,_, and_CC he_PPHS1 found_VVD caffeine_NN1 in_II 14_MC of_IO 16_MC ponds_NN2 ._. 
Gender-flipping_JJ frogsA_NN1 study_NN1 of_IO 233_MC frogs_NN2 revealed_VVD that_CST the_AT feminizing_JJ effects_NN2 previously_RR seen_VVN mostly_RR near_II farms_NN2 were_VBDR even_RR more_RGR common_JJ in_II urban_JJ and_CC suburban_JJ habitats_NN2 ._. 
(_( Percent_NNU of_IO intersex_NN1 frogs_NN2 shown_VVN ._. )_) 
E._NP1 Feliciano_NP1 Contamination_NN1 was_VBDZ n't_XX a_AT1 problem_NN1 just_RR near_II houses_NN2 with_IW septic_JJ systems_NN2 ,_, he_PPHS1 says_VVZ ._. 
Homes_NN2 in_II Avon_NP1 that_CST relied_VVD on_II the_AT municipal_JJ sewer_NN1 system_NN1 were_VBDR just_RR as_RG likely_JJ to_TO have_VHI intersex_NN1 frogs_NN2 nearby_RL ._. 
For_IF a_AT1 next_MD step_NN1 ,_, Skelly_NP1 and_CC colleagues_NN2 are_VBR looking_VVG for_IF signs_NN2 that_CST contraceptives_NN2 or_CC other_JJ estrogen-mimicking_JJ substances_NN2 from_II wastewater_NN1 are_VBR affecting_VVG frogs_NN2 in_II a_AT1 typical_JJ Avon_NP1 wetland_NN1 ._. 
If_CS the_AT cause_NN1 of_IO intersex_NN1 frogs_NN2 there_RL turns_VVZ out_RP to_TO be_VBI estrogen_NN1 mimics_VVZ in_II the_AT wastewater_NN1 ,_, then_RT more_DAR than_CSN one_MC1 contaminant_NN1 may_VM be_VBI contributing_VVG ._. 
Revelations_NN2 about_II intersex_NN1 frogs_NN2 in_II suburbia_NN1 do_VD0 not_XX mean_VVI scientists_NN2 have_VH0 less_DAR concern_NN1 now_RT about_II amphibians_NN2 in_II farmlands_NN2 ._. 
For_REX21 example_REX22 ,_, one_MC1 of_IO the_AT most_RGT widely_RR used_JJ fungicides_NN2 on_II crops_NN2 in_II the_AT United_NP1 States_NP1 ,_, chlorothalonil_VV0 ,_, raises_VVZ mortality_NN1 rates_NN2 among_II frog_NN1 tadpoles_NN2 at_II low_JJ concentrations_NN2 ,_, Taegan_NP1 McMahon_NP1 of_IO the_AT University_NN1 of_IO South_ND1 Florida_NP1 in_II Tampa_NP1 reported_VVD at_II the_AT meeting_NN1 ._. 
And_CC by_II "_" low_JJ ,_, "_" she_PPHS1 means_VVZ one_MC1 ten-thousandth_MD of_IO the_AT exposure_NN1 expected_VVN after_II a_AT1 farmer_NN1 treats_VVZ a_AT1 field_NN1 near_II the_AT tadpoles_NN2 '_GE wetland_NN1 ._. 
A_AT1 computer_NN1 model_NN1 predicts_VVZ that_CST waterways_NN2 near_II a_AT1 field_NN1 will_VM pick_VVI up_RP 164_MC micrograms_NN2 per_II liter_NN1 of_IO the_AT fungicide_NN1 from_II runoff_NN1 ,_, McMahon_NP1 said_VVD ._. 
When_RRQ tadpoles_NN2 of_IO southern_JJ leopard_NN1 frogs_NN2 and_CC green_JJ tree_NN1 frogs_NN2 were_VBDR put_VVN in_II water_NN1 tainted_VVN with_IW that_DD1 level_NN1 of_IO chlorothalonil_NN1 ,_, all_DB 18_MC died_VVD within_II 24_MC hours_NNT2 ._. 
(_( Another_DD1 species_NN ,_, the_AT Cuban_JJ tree_NN1 frog_NN1 ,_, proved_VVD more_RGR resilient_JJ ._. )_) 
When_CS she_PPHS1 let_VVD testing_VVG run_NN1 for_IF a_AT1 month_NNT1 ,_, tadpoles_NN2 exposed_VVN to_II just_RR 0.0164_MC micrograms_NN2 per_II liter_NN1 also_RR perished_VVD in_II greater_JJR numbers_NN2 than_CSN those_DD2 in_II clean_JJ water_NN1 ._. 
Other_JJ research_NN1 has_VHZ documented_VVN risks_NN2 to_TO fish_VVI and_CC toads_NN2 ,_, but_CCB McMahon_NP1 said_VVD that_CST as_RG far_RR she_PPHS1 knows_VVZ ,_, she_PPHS1 and_CC her_APPGE colleagues_NN2 are_VBR the_AT first_MD to_TO test_VVI chlorothalonil_NN1 's_GE effects_NN2 on_II frog_NN1 tadpoles_NN2 ._. 
Mixing_VVG predatory_JJ cues_NN2 What_DDQ happens_VVZ when_RRQ tadpoles_NN2 encounter_VV0 another_DD1 pollutant_NN1 in_II runoff_NN1 ,_, the_AT weed_NN1 killer_NN1 glyphosate_NN1 ,_, has_VHZ proved_VVN challenging_VVG to_TO analyze_VVI in_II a_AT1 realistic_JJ way_NN1 ._. 
In_II a_AT1 series_NN of_IO lab_NN1 experiments_NN2 ,_, Rick_NP1 Relyea_NP1 of_IO the_AT University_NN1 of_IO Pittsburgh_NP1 had_VHD added_VVN the_AT scent_NN1 of_IO predators_NN2 such_II21 as_II22 dragonflies_NN2 to_II water_NN1 spiked_VVN with_IW glyphosate_NN1 ,_, familiar_JJ in_II the_AT many_DA2 formulations_NN2 of_IO the_AT herbicide_NN1 Roundup_NN1 ._. 
Death_NN1 rates_NN2 of_IO tadpoles_NN2 were_VBDR higher_JJR in_II the_AT scented_JJ water_NN1 than_CSN in_II a_AT1 plain_JJ glyphosate_JJ bath_NN1 ._. 
That_DD1 work_NN1 has_VHZ raised_VVN the_AT concern_NN1 that_CST earlier_JJR findings_NN2 in_II lab_NN1 tests_NN2 without_IW predators_NN2 might_VM not_XX have_VHI captured_VVN the_AT full_JJ impact_NN1 of_IO runoff_NN1 ._. 
More_RGR recently_RR ,_, however_RR ,_, Relyea_NP1 and_CC colleagues_NN2 have_VH0 turned_VVN those_DD2 earlier_JJR results_NN2 topsy-turvy_JJ ._. 
The_AT team_NN1 repeated_VVD the_AT same_DA basic_JJ experiment_NN1 as_CSA part_NN1 of_IO a_AT1 series_NN of_IO tests_NN2 in_II large_JJ outdoor_JJ tubs_NN2 offering_VVG more_RGR realistic_JJ circumstances_NN2 ._. 
Addressing_VVG whether_CSW the_AT results_NN2 were_VBDR the_AT same_DA ,_, at_II the_AT meeting_NN1 Relyea_NP1 flashed_VVD an_AT1 image_NN1 of_IO an_AT1 outraged_JJ baby_NN1 on_II the_AT screen_NN1 with_IW the_AT word_NN1 "_" NO_UH "_" for_IF a_AT1 caption_NN1 ._. 
In_II larger_JJR tubs_NN2 ,_, adding_VVG a_AT1 caged_JJ predator_NN1 near_II the_AT water_NN1 surface_NN1 actually_RR increased_JJ survival_NN1 rates_NN2 rather_II21 than_II22 reducing_VVG them_PPHO2 ._. 
What_DDQ happens_VVZ in_II the_AT deeper_JJR ,_, more_RGR realistic_JJ tubs_NN2 ,_, Relyea_NP1 said_VVD ,_, is_VBZ that_DD1 predator_NN1 cues_NN2 scare_VV0 the_AT tadpoles_NN2 into_II hiding_VVG down_RP deep_RR in_II the_AT water_NN1 ._. 
And_CC the_AT outdoor_JJ tubs_NN2 have_VH0 enough_DD sunlight_NN1 and_CC water_NN1 to_TO stratify_VVI ,_, so_CS the_AT majority_NN1 of_IO the_AT glyphosate_JJ concentrates_NN2 in_II the_AT warm_JJ upper_JJ layer_NN1 and_CC a_AT1 substantially_RR lighter_JJR dose_NN1 stays_VVZ in_II the_AT cooler_JJR bottom_JJ layer_NN1 ._. 
In_II the_AT new_JJ study_NN1 ,_, the_AT scared_JJ tadpoles_NN2 spent_VVD most_DAT of_IO their_APPGE time_NNT1 near_II the_AT bottom_NN1 with_IW its_APPGE less_RGR dangerous_JJ concentration_NN1 ._. 
The_AT work_NN1 does_VDZ n't_XX mean_VVI that_DD1 glyphosate_JJ runoff_NN1 is_VBZ safe_JJ for_IF amphibians_NN2 ;_; Relyea_NP1 has_VHZ shown_VVN that_CST it_PPH1 can_VM kill_VVI tadpoles_NN2 ._. 
Yet_RR the_AT experiment_NN1 shows_VVZ how_RRQ difficult_JJ it_PPH1 can_VM be_VBI to_TO design_VVI realistic_JJ lab_NN1 tests_NN2 for_IF physiological_JJ and_CC behavioral_JJ responses_NN2 ._. 
Do_VD0 n't_XX forget_VVI snakes_NN2 If_CS amphibians_NN2 have_VH0 become_VVN canaries_NN2 in_II the_AT coal_NN1 mine_NN1 ,_, then_RT reptiles_NN2 have_VH0 become_VVN ecotoxicology_NN1 's_GE elephant_NN1 in_II the_AT living_NN1 room_NN1 ,_, a_AT1 looming_JJ topic_NN1 that_CST does_VDZ n't_XX get_VVI a_AT1 lot_NN1 of_IO overt_JJ attention_NN1 ._. 
Snakes_NN2 swimming_VVG through_II tainted_JJ water_NN1 have_VH0 scales_NN2 to_TO offer_VVI some_DD protection_NN1 ,_, unlike_JJ frogs_NN2 '_GE notoriously_RR permeable_JJ skin_NN1 ._. 
Yet_RR water_NN1 snakes_NN2 eat_VV0 mostly_RR fish_NN ,_, and_CC fish_NN can_VM accumulate_VVI pollutants_NN2 in_II their_APPGE bodies_NN2 ,_, says_VVZ Lorin_NP1 Neuman-Lee_NP1 of_IO Eastern_JJ Illinois_NP1 University_NN1 in_II Charleston_NP1 ._. 
Neuman-Lee_NP1 ,_, along_II21 with_II22 Stephen_NP1 Mullin_NP1 and_CC other_JJ Eastern_JJ Illinois_NP1 colleagues_NN2 ,_, is_VBZ beginning_VVG to_TO look_VVI at_II the_AT possible_JJ effects_NN2 of_IO atrazine_NN1 on_II northern_JJ water_NN1 snakes_NN2 ._. 
The_AT researchers_NN2 did_VDD not_XX find_VVI evidence_NN1 of_IO a_AT1 widely_RR proposed_JJ effect_NN1 of_IO atrazine_NN1 :_: revving_VVG up_RP an_AT1 enzyme_NN1 called_VVN aromatase_NN1 ._. 
But_CCB in_II a_AT1 study_NN1 of_IO 24_MC female_JJ snakes_NN2 with_IW developing_JJ embryos_NN2 ,_, "_" we_PPIS2 had_VHD some_DD very_RG strange_JJ things_NN2 happen_VV0 ,_, "_" Neuman-Lee_NP1 said_VVD at_II the_AT meeting_NN1 ._. 
An_AT1 unusual_JJ proportion_NN1 of_IO the_AT offspring_NN were_VBDR stillborn_JJ (_( water_NN1 snakes_NN2 do_VD0 n't_XX lay_VVI eggs_NN2 but_CCB give_VV0 birth_NN1 to_II fully_RR formed_VVN young_JJ )_) ._. 
Also_RR ,_, with_IW all_DB the_AT talk_NN1 about_II atrazine_NN1 's_GE possible_JJ role_NN1 in_II feminizing_VVG male_JJ amphibians_NN2 ,_, Neuman-Lee_NP1 said_VVD she_PPHS1 would_VM not_XX have_VHI been_VBN surprised_JJ to_TO see_VVI a_AT1 lot_NN1 of_IO girls_NN2 in_II the_AT litters_NN2 of_IO baby_NN1 snakes_NN2 ._. 
But_CCB only_RR 16_MC percent_NNU of_IO the_AT babies_NN2 from_II the_AT atrazine-laden_JJ moms_NN2 turned_VVD out_RP to_TO be_VBI girls_NN2 ,_, when_CS normally_RR the_AT ratio_NN1 would_VM approach_VVI 50-50_MCMC ._. 
The_AT skew_NN1 might_VM be_VBI a_AT1 sign_NN1 of_IO some_DD kind_NN1 of_IO disruption_NN1 ,_, but_CCB Neuman-Lee_NP1 said_VVD much_DA1 more_DAR work_NN1 needs_VVZ to_TO be_VBI done_VDN to_TO understand_VVI the_AT effect_NN1 ._. 
Figuring_VVG out_RP all_DB that_DD1 's_VBZ going_VVG on_RP with_IW herps_NN2 and_CC chemical_JJ pollutants_NN2 is_VBZ going_VVGK to_TO take_VVI a_RR21 lot_RR22 more_DAR study_NN1 ._. 
Maybe_RR there_EX will_VM someday_RT be_VBI iconically_RR vulnerable_JJ snakes_NN2 in_II coal_NN1 mines_NN2 too_RR ._. 
