Male Amphibians, Including Frogs and Toads, Have Been Plagued by Feminization

Male amphibians, including frogs and toads, have been plagued by feminization, deformity, behavioral abnormalities and sterility. Biologists from the University of Floridainvestigated whether reproductive problems among populations of cane toads ( Bufo marinus) arecaused by poisons from chemicals associated with agriculture. The biologists collected local adult cane toadsfrom 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 that are nonagricultural areas. Which of the following statements would be the best hypothesis for this study?

A) Amphibian populations are facing problems due to agricultural chemicals.
B) Toxins are capable of causing diseases and deformities within many amphibian populations.
C) Toads collected from suburbs had fewer deformities compared to toads collected from agricultural areas.
D) Agricultural chemicals can cause deformities and feminization amongst cane toads.
E) More male toads from the large-scale agricultural areas showed signs of feminization.