Technical Reports and Proceedings Citations and Abstracts

This study compared in situ, field and laboratory toxicity testing results for several insecticides (azinphosmethyl - an organophosphate; endosulfan - an organochlorine, and fenvalerate - a synthetic pyrethroid) with ecotoxicological biomonitoring results from the macropelagic, estuarine tidal creek community in pristine habitats and in areas receiving significant insecticide runoff from agriculture. Field studies were conducted over a four-year period (1985-88) at several coastal field sites on Wadmalaw (Leadenwah Creek) and Johns (unnamed tidal creek near Kiawah Island) Island, coastal sea islands located just south of Charleston, South Carolina. Results indicated that laboratory and field toxicity testing and biomonitoring methodologies should be integrated to provide holistic environmental risk assessments for pesticides. Laboratory toxicity tests provide the initial bench mark for estimating toxic effects. In situ, field toxicity tests provide a mechanism to validate initial laboratory tests and expand their design to test differences in formulations, life history stages, pulsed versus continuous dose, salinity interactions, and pesticide mixtures for more realistic estimations of effects of field exposures. Application of this method in the environmental risk assessment for three classes of pesticides (organochlorines-endosulfan, pyrethroids-fenvalerate, and organophosphates-azinphosmethyl) has been demonstrated in assessing the effects of nonpoint source agricultural runoff on sensitive estuarine tidal creek fauna in South Carolina. Over a three year period of study, the integration of this approach has provided significant data to assist environmental regulators trying to control recurrent problems of agricultural runoff effects in Leadenwah Creek and other areas of the state. Future studies should be expanded to broaden our understanding of the usefulness of this integrated approach in better assessing pesticide runoff in other aquatic ecosystems throughout the U.S.

Harvey, James E. and Foster L. Mayer. 1994. Proceedings: Integrated Research Planning Meeting for Gulf of Mexico Estuaries. EPA/600/R-94/013. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Environmental Research Laboratory, Gulf Breeze, FL. 88 p. (Avail. from NTIS, Springfield, VA: PB94-157799)

This report summarizes a planning meeting organized by Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to develop an Aquatic Ecological Criteria Research Program for Gulf of Mexico estuaries. The meeting was held on November 2-3, 1993, at the EPA Environmental Research Laboratory in Gulf Breeze, Florida, to develop and field test a diagnostic protocol to assess and characterize the ecological condition of Gulf of Mexico estuaries. Participants included EPA scientists and cooperators and advisors from academia. Federal and state agencies, and private corporations.

Sun, Kai, Gary F. Krause, Foster L. Mayer, Jr., Mark R. Ellersieck and Asit P. Basu. 1994. Predicting Chronic Toxicity Based on the Theory of Accelerated Life Testing. EPA/600/R-94/058. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Environmental Research Laboratory, Gulf Breeze, FL. 33 p.

A method for modeling aquatic toxicity data based on the theory of accelerated life testing and a procedure for maximum likelihood fitting the proposed model is presented. The procedure is computerized as software, which can predict chronic lethality of chemicals using data from acute toxicity tests. A data base of a variety of chemicals and fish species was analyzed. When the calculated values of prediction were compared to the maximum acceptable toxicant concentrations obtained from actual chronic toxicity experiments, the new technique provided accurate predictions. Problems in using the 'maximum acceptable toxicant concentration' and applications of the proposed method are discussed.

Macauley, John M., J. Kevin Summers, Virginia D. Engle, P. Thomas Heitmuller, Gary T. Brooks, Maureen Babikow and A. Matt Adams. 1994. Statistical Summary: EMAP-Estuaries Louisianian Province - 1992. EPA/620/R-94/002. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Environmental Research Laboratory, Gulf Breeze, FL. 80 p. (Also avail. from NTIS, Springfield, VA: PB94-174752)

Regional demonstration projects are an integral part of the Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Program (EMAP), which is a joint effort of the Office of Modeling, Monitoring Systems, and Quality Assurance and the Office of Environmental Processes and Effects Research with the Office of Research and Development. EMAP is a long-term interagency commitment to monitor the ecological condition of the nation's ecological resources. The 1992 Statistical Summary of the Louisianian Province is the second annual statistical summary of EMAP-Estuaries monitoring data. The 1992 project involved 159 sampling locations throughout the estuaries of the Gulf of Mexico. The preliminary assessment of the second year data of estuarine conditions in the Louisianian Province continued to identify differences in the degree of degradation among estuarine types throughout the province.

Neckles, Hilary A. 1994. Indicator Development: Seagrass Monitoring and Research in the Gulf of Mexico. EPA/620/R-94/029. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Environmental Research Laboratory, Gulf Breeze, FL. 64 p. (Avail. from NTIS, Springfield, VA: PB95-1921910)

Seagrass habitats in the Gulf of Mexico have declined precipitously during the past 50 years. Most habitat losses can be attributed to effects of coastal population growth and accompanying municipal, industrial, and agricultural development. Although proximate causes of local declines can sometimes be identified, the majority of habitat loss has resulted from widespread deterioration of water quality. Restoration and preservation of these important habitats depend foremost on improving scientific understanding of the complex causal relationships between anthropogenic stress and seagrass ecosystem persistence, and on developing scientifically based management programs for seagrass conservation. In January 28-29, 1992, approximately 60 researchers, State and Federal regulators, and environmental managers met at Mote Marine Laboratory in Sarasota, Florida, to address monitoring strategies, research programs and mapping of submerged aquatic vegetation resources in the Gulf of Mexico. This report summarizes the results of the workshops, emphasizing the recommendations of participants in an attempt to guide development of a comprehensive seagrass conservation program in the Gulf of Mexico.