SCOTT, G.I.; FULTON, M. H.; DAUGOMAH, J.D.; LEIGHT, A.K.; WIRTH, E.F.; HOLLAND, F.; CHANDLER, G.T.; PORTER, D; NOAA/NOS, CCEHBR and HML, Charleston, SC; NOAA/NOS, CCEHBR and HML, Charleston, SC; NOAA/NOS, CCEHBR and HML, Charleston, SC; NOAA/NOS, CCEHBR and HML, Charleston, SC; NOAA/NOS, CCEHBR and HML, Charleston, SC; NOAA/NOS, CCEHBR and HML, Charleston, SC; University of South Carolina, School of Public Health; University of South Carolina, School of Public Health: Agricultural and Urban NPS Runoff Effects on Grass Shrimp Population Life History Dynamics
The grass shrimp, Palaemonetes pugio, is the dominant pelagic macrofauna found in estuarine ecosystems of the southeastern Atlantic and Gulf coast of the US. Several watersheds in coastal SC have been monitored for grass shrimp population dynamics for > 15 years, including two agricultural watersheds, several urban sites and two reference sites. One agricultural site (TRT) is highly managed (IPM, BMPs and retention ponds) and the other site (KWA) is unmanaged and has changed land use from an agriculture to a golf course. Biomonitoring endpoints measured at each site include abundance, biomass, size-frequency, sex ratios and clutch size. Results indicated that grass shrimp abundance and biomass were adversely affected at agricultural sites following acute periods of significant pesticide runoff (endosulfan, fenvalerate & azinphosmehtyl). Management techniques employed at TRT agricultural site resulted in Ahealthier@ grass shrimp populations dynamics, with effects shifting from acute toxicity to more chronic effects (altered reproduction and sex ratio). The transition from agricultural areas to golf course did not result in improved grass shrimp population dynamics at KWA, rather reduced population abundances were noted. Reference site (CTL & NIOL) grass shrimp population dynamics varied annually, based on long term natural factors (temperature and rainfall). Results clearly indicate the importance of long term monitoring data in assessing contaminant effects on grass shrimp reproduction.
