Abstract
The relationship between average monthly air temperature and sex ratios at birth (SRB) was analyzed for children born in Germany during the period 1946–1995. Both the absolute temperature and – more markedly – the monthly temperature deviations from the overall mean were significantly positively correlated with the SRB (P<0.01) when temperatures were time-lagged against the SRB data by –10 or –11 months. It is concluded that the sex of the offspring is partially determined by environmental temperatures prior to conception.
Similar content being viewed by others
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Received: 26 August 1998 / Accepted in revised form: 18 February 1999
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Lerchl, A. Sex Ratios at Birth and Environmental Temperatures. Naturwissenschaften 86, 340–342 (1999). https://doi.org/10.1007/s001140050630
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s001140050630