PARENT SESSION
PT4 - Multiple Stressors
Tuesday, 19 November 2002
8:00 AM to 6:30 PM
Exhibit Hall
(P592a) Acute toxicity of pesticides to lobster larvae: Influence of temperature.
McElroy, Anne*,1, Brownawell, Bruce1, Zulkosky, Ann1, Ruggieri, Joseph1, 1 State University of New York, Stony Brook, NY, U.S.A.
ABSTRACT- Pesticides have been implicated in the mass lobster mortality observed in Western Long Island Sound during the fall of 1999. The die-off coincided with extensive pesticide application used to combat West Nile virus, and tropical storm Floyd, which caused excessive rainfall and mixing that is probably responsible for an approximately 2 oC temperature anomaly observed in bottom waters at that time. To help assess the likelihood that some combination of pesticide application and/or elevated temperature contributed to the decline in lobster health observed, we are conducting dose/response studies to determine the relative toxicity of three groups of pesticides used, Malathion, Sumethrin, and Methoprene, to stage II Homarus americanus larvae at stressful (24 oC) and non-stressful (18 oC) temperatures. Concentrations of these pesticides will also be determined in coastal waters after spraying and run-off events to better understand potential risks of current pesticide use. practices.
Key words: pesticides, Homarus americanus, temperature, toxicity