title: Temephos distribution and persistence in a southwest Florida salt marsh community.
abstract: The distribution and persistence of the mosquito larvicide temephos was monitored throughout an intertidal salt marsh community in southwest Florida following routine aerial applications of Abate 4-E (43% temephos) from 1988 through 1993. Temephos was found to be more highly concentrated in the surface water microlayer than in mid-depth water, exhibiting a mean of 330 micrograms/liter at the surface and 12 micrograms/liter at mid-depth from 1 fl. oz./acre applications and 120 micrograms/liter in the surface and 4.5 micrograms/liter in mid-depth water for 0.5 fl. oz./acre applications. Concentrations at both surface and mid-depth diminished rapidly within the first 24 hours. Mangrove leaves provided the most persistent reservoir for temephos, remaining more than 7 days. Temephos residues also were observed in select salt marsh organisms, including the sheepshead minnow (Cyprinodon variegatus), adult fiddler crabs (Uca rapax) and the ribbed mussel (Geukensia sp.).
authors.affiliation: Mote Marine Laboratory, Sarasota, FL 34240, USA.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pierce
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Henry
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kelly
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sherblom
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Kozlowsky
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Wichterman
authors.forename: T W
authors.initials: TW
authors.lastname: Miller
mesh_terms: D005431:Florida; D007306:Insecticides; D010573:Pesticide Residues; D006109:Poaceae; D000002:Temefos; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical
chemical_list: D007306:Insecticides; D010573:Pesticide Residues; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D000002:Temefos