Impact of elevated UVB radiation on marine biota: a meta‐analysis

Abstract

Aim The emission of chlorofluorocarbon compounds eroded the ozone layer, raising incident ultraviolet B radiation to levels that affect biota. However, the role of UVB radiation (280–315 nm), which remains elevated to date, as a possible driver of the widespread global deterioration of marine ecosystems has not yet been fully quantified. In this paper we assess the magnitude of the impacts of elevated UVB radiation and evaluate the relative sensitivity to UVB across marine taxa and processes. Location The analyses presented are based on 1784 experimental assessments of the impacts of UVB performed with natural radiation and organisms from different geographical areas, as well as with artificial radiation and cultured organisms at many laboratories around the world. Methods First we compiled the published literature concerning experimental evaluation of the impacts of UVB on marine biota. Then a meta‐analysis was conducted with the data set obtained to evaluate the responses of marine organisms and processes to enhanced and reduced UVB levels. Results Increased UVB radiation leads to a sharp increase in mortality rates across marine taxa, with protists, corals, crustaceans and fish eggs and larvae being most sensitive. A general relationship between relative changes in UVB doses and mortality rates was developed. This relationship can help assess the effects of changes in incident UVB radiation (past, present or future) on marine organisms. Main conclusions This meta‐analysis demonstrates that mortality rates of marine biota increase rapidly in response to elevated UVB radiation. The enhanced mortality rates associated with currently elevated UVB levels may represent a major threat to marine biota, possibly underlying recent widespread declines in the abundance of marine organisms ranging from corals to fish and krill.

Bottom-up regulation of a pole-ward migratory predator population

“…Nonetheless, as both a warming of the Southern Ocean and the positive SAM phase shift are predicted to continue as long as the ozone hole remains open and greenhouse gas emissions continue to increase [59][60][61], it can be reasonably expected that there will be ongoing changes in the structure and function of the Southern Ocean ecosystem. Such changes are likely to further affect productivity of the polar marine ecosystem [62] and mid-to high-order predator populations, some of whom will prosper while others struggle.…”

Contrasting Responses of Marine and Freshwater Photosynthetic Organisms to UVB Radiation: A Meta-Analysis

“…Our analysis focused on micro-and macro-algae due to their comparable and relatively large datasets, as data on responses of aquatic angiosperms are sparse. The resulting dataset of marine photosynthetic organisms included previous compilations [Agustí et al (2015) and Llabrés et al (2013), microalgae: n = 454, macroalgae: n = 432] and additional data published from April 2013 to July 2015 (microalgae: n = 633, macroalgae: n = 461) by a search on Web of Science and Google Scholar for the relevant keywords: UV radiation, aquatic and marine. Agustí et al (2015) and Llabrés et al (2013) reported data only for marine photosynthetic organisms, so the dataset on freshwater photosynthetic organisms, was produced entirely from reports retrieved from searches in the Web of Science and Google Scholar from 1950s to July 2015.…”

“…Photosynthetic organisms are more resistant than non-photosynthetic organisms to UVB (Llabrés et al, 2013;Agustí et al, 2015), suggesting that photoprotective and reparatory systems designed to counter UVB exposure operate efficiently in photosynthetic organisms. However, UVB radiation causes negative effects on the photosynthetic performance of micro-and macro-algae by reducing their photosystem II efficiency (e.g., Jiang and Qiu, 2005;Jin et al, 2013;Zhang et al, 2013), electron transport rate (e.g., Figueroa et al, 2014;Zhu et al, 2015) as well as photosynthetic carbon fixation rate (e.g., Villafañe et al, 2007;Helbling et al, 2008;Li et al, 2012).…”

“…Bancroft et al (2007) reported an overall negative effect of UVB on both survival and growth across species differing in life history, trophic position, and habitat. Similarly, a meta-analysis of experimental results showed that the mortality rates of marine biota increased rapidly in response to increased UVB radiation, with protists, corals, crustaceans, fish eggs, and larvae the most sensitive in marine ecosystems to increased UVB radiation (Llabrés et al, 2013).…”

Short term effect of UVR on vertical distribution of Cyrtograpsus altimanus and Alexandrium tamarense from Atlantic Patagonia

“…Solar radiation reaching the surface of the water column includes visible light (PAR, wavelengths between 400 and 700 nm) and ultraviolet radiation (UVR, 280-400 nm) which in turn comprises ultraviolet A (UVA, 315-400 nm) and ultraviolet B (UVB, 280-315 nm) radiation. In general, UVR has detrimental effects on plankton (Gonçalves et al, 2010;Llabrés et al, 2013) and several species are able to detect and avoid high-UVR surface waters (Speekmann et al, 2000;Richter et al, 2007a;Cohen & Forward Jr., 2009). An exposure of a few hours under UV radiation may produce negative effects on crab larvae (Morgan & Christy, 1996;Hovel & Morgan, 1999;Hernández-Moresino & Helbling, 2010;Hernández-Moresino et al, 2011).…”