The invention is a method for assessing whether or not reproductive health
effects are present in terrestrial ecological receptors inhabiting
contaminated sites. Adult male rodents are concurrently trapped at the
contaminated site of interest and at a matched non-contaminated reference
location. In at least some embodiments, the sperm analysis can be
corroborated with additional data to further increase the accuracy of the
comparison. For a given small rodent species, three sperm parameters, all
of which are barometers of reproductive success (a high concern
ecological risk assessment toxicological endpoint), are compared in the
animals trapped at the contaminated site and the animals trapped at the
reference location. Where one or more of the sperm parameter thresholds
are exceeded in the site rodents, and the difference is found to be
statistically significant, the interpretation is that site terrestrial
receptors are being reproductively compromised.