Former Director Lee Jeong-mo of National Gwacheon Science Museum, SBS Interview
Not Due to Male Preference in Toads
One Female Toad, Ten Male Toads Imbalance
"This year’s survey found that for every female toad, there are about 10 males being observed."
Lee Jeong-mo, former director of the National Gwacheon Science Museum, said this in an interview with 'SBS Radio Kim Tae-hyun’s Political Show' on the 20th. This indicates a serious imbalance in the sex ratio of toads.
Lee said, "What we can reasonably infer is that it is due to abnormal climate. In fact, because of climate change, the spawning period is getting earlier. So, climate change is altering spawning behavior. Also, if you look at reptiles like crocodiles or turtles, they have nests during spawning. The sex ratio varies greatly depending on the sand temperature," he explained.
Lee explained, "For turtles, when the temperature rises, females tend to be born, and when the temperature is lower, males tend to be born. For crocodilians, if the nest temperature is between 33 degrees Celsius plus or minus 0.5, males are born, but if it is below 32.5 or above 33.5 degrees, females are born," he said.
Lee added, "Just as climate affects the sex ratio of reptiles, we can hypothesize that amphibians like toads are similarly influenced. However, more time is needed to find scientific evidence," he said.
Lee also diagnosed that the mass disappearance of honeybees is related to climate change. He said, "Compared to a year ago, the number of honeybees has almost halved. In terms of numbers, over 13 billion bees have disappeared in South Korea alone," and added, "It’s unlikely that pesticides were suddenly sprayed so heavily. Ultimately, we have to consider climate change as the cause," he said.
On May 20, when the '2018 Seoul Rose Festival' was in full swing, a honeybee was collecting nectar from the blooming roses. Photo by Dongju Yoon doso7@
Lee pointed out, "To collect one teaspoon of honey, 12 honeybees have to gather nectar throughout their lifetime, just for one spoonful. The problem is not that the honey we eat is getting more expensive, but that many plants are unable to be pollinated. The decline in honeybees inevitably leads to issues with our food supply."
Lee also found the cause of the increase in wildfires related to climate change. He said, "This year alone, the number of wildfires has increased by 1.5 times compared to the same period last year. When temperatures rise, droughts worsen, droughts cause wildfires, which then lead to floods and landslides. The greatest challenge facing humanity now seems to be the climate crisis," he said.
Lee said, "Climate variability has increased, making it harder to predict. Even when it rains, it pours heavily all at once; droughts become more severe; heat becomes more intense; cold becomes harsher. The climate we have known for thousands of years is no longer our climate. Summer, which used to start in June, now begins in May. Winter, which used to start in November, now begins in December," he explained.
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