Meeting Abstract

P3-90  Tuesday, Jan. 6 15:30  Non-target effects of mosquito control pesticides on the sub-lethal stress response of the reef-building coral Porites astreoides BLADOW, RA*; ROSS, C; OLSEN, K; PIERCE, R; University of North Florida, 1 UNF Drive, Jacksonville, FL 32224, United States; University of North Florida, 1 UNF Drive, Jacksonville, FL 32224, United States; Smithsonian Marine Station, 701 Seaway Drive, Ft. Pierce, FL 34949, United States; Mote Marine Laboratory, 1600 Ken Thompson Parkway, Sarasota, FL 34236, United States rachel.bladow@unf.edu

The declining health of coral reefs is intensifying worldwide at an alarming rate due to the combined effects of land-based sources of pollution and climate change. Despite the persistent use of mosquito control pesticides in coastal populated areas, studies examining the physiological impacts on non-targeted organisms such as corals are limited. In order to better understand the effects of mosquito control pesticides on adult corals, specimens of Porites astreoides were exposed to ecologically relevant concentrations of two major pesticide ingredients, naled and permethrin. Following an acute exposure period of 24 hours, specimens were allowed to recover for either zero, one, or two days. Coral samples were assessed for photosynthetic efficiency and sub-lethal signs of stress using cellular biomarker assays. Biomarker and photosynthetic responses to pesticide exposure were variable and contingent upon the pesticide type as well as the specific biomarker being employed. Furthermore, the time of recovery usually had a significant impact on the endpoints examined. The importance of considering the complexity and differential responses encountered with this resilient species of coral will be discussed.