As a Person from the south (Louisiana, about as south as you can get without leaving the US) I haven't seen any decline in the rate of births. I was born in Louisiana 3 kids in 3 years. I have a total of 6 sisters and 1 brother. I am not a doctor or scientist ....Well, my husband is a Rocket Scientist(smile) and I have an Nuclear background. We are in the middle of the bible belt. I live in (Baton Rouge) where most are Catholic so if there is a diminished rate of birth or slowing of sperm count. I haven't seen it.... especially in my family. (Now Boys are rare in the Coates and Griggs side). I did raise dogs and I know we had litter after litter (9-11 per litter) with no problem in genetic make up. The average litter is 7-10 so I saw no slowing of this breed by the heat.My breed was quite pure and markings were all uniformed markings.I had no mutations in the pups structure or form. (No genetic carry over of hip,ear or head shape)..though my dogs had no genetic history of these problems.They are all problems in that breed of animal.The dogs I raised were Alaskan Malamutes (cold bloods) so I would think it would effect their birth rate as mammals just as it would Humans. Though....My pups were very large....We just figured it must be the Cajun Food. Now...We do have some rather strange looking folks at Mardi Gras....(grin) Happy Easter! Robbie