An evaluation of a submitochondrial bioassay, Mitoscan, as a cost effective technique to monitor estuarine habitat quality: A two year investigation of the accumulation of chlorinated hydrocarbon and mosquito control pesticides in crabs, oysters and semipermeable membrane devices in Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve. 2000 - 2002.

Abstract

This report describes a pesticide contamination study that was carried out at Mote Marine Laboratory. The purpose of the study was to determine the concentrations of pesticides in oysters (as the primary sentinel organism), in crabs feeding on the oyster larvae (as indicators of food chain transfer) and in semipermeable membrane devices to test the reliability of these passive samplers as surrogates for affected estuarine organisms. This information will be correlated with the pesticide concentrations found in sediment and with the biochemical changes observed in the crabs to provide cause and effect relationships necessary for evaluation of the MitoScan bioassay technology. The pesticides monitored included the recalcitrant chlorinated hydrocarbon pesticides that persist in the soil and sediment for decades, and also those currently in use, such as fenthion and naled. Three estuaries in Florida were sampled, these were Naples Bay, Henderson Creek and Blackwater River.