Ultraviolet Radiation Levels During the Antarctic Spring

Frederick, John E.; Snell, Hilary E.

doi:10.1126/science.241.4864.438

Cited by 121 publications

(54 citation statements)

References 5 publications

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“…It has been suggested that the variation in recruitment success for Antarctic benthic invertebrates is on decadal time scales and is caused by variations in current regime, the extension of sea ice cover, or the formation of anchor ice (Dayton 1989;Brey et al 1995;Gutt 2000). During the mid 1980s the annual ''ozone hole'' had already begun to occur with its increase in Austral spring UVB irradiances equivalent to those measured during the Austral summer (Frederick and Snell 1988). The infrequent recruitment events in McMurdo Sound could also be affected by exposure to UVB during springtime ozone depletions, with its potential to cause significant mortality of embryos and larvae in the plankton and further reduce settlement and recruitment to the adult population.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Transmission of ultraviolet radiation through the Antarctic annual sea ice and its biological effects on sea urchin embryos

Lesser

Lamare

Barker

2004

Limnology & Oceanography

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Stratospheric ozone depletion over Antarctica is expected to continue for the next 50 years, with increases in ecologically damaging ultraviolet radiation (UVR: 290-400 nm), specifically the ultraviolet-B (UVB: 290-320 nm) portion of the spectrum. Most of coastal Antarctica is covered with 2-3 m of annual sea ice during the occurrence of the ''ozone hole.'' This physical barrier to UVR transmission has long been assumed to provide complete protection from the biologically damaging effects of UVR, especially for the planktonic developmental stages of the benthic invertebrate fauna. We found that short-wavelength UVB (down to 304 nm) is transmitted through the Austral spring annual ice of McMurdo Sound, and causes significant mortality and DNA damage in the embryos of the sea urchin Sterechinus neumayeri. Although mortality of sea urchin embryos has been reported for the open waters of the Antarctic, this is the first documentation of mortality and DNA damage for embryos under the annual sea ice. The degree of mortality and DNA damage was dependent on both year and depth, with higher mortality and DNA damage at 1 m depth below the ice compared to 3 m and 5 m. Greater DNA damage occurred in 2003 compared to 2002 despite the thicker annual ice (3.1 m vs. 2.5 m). Although the thickness of the annual ice was greater, the severity of the ozone hole, 230 Dobson units (DU) versus 320 DU, and the ratio of UVB to visible radiation was greater in 2003. Embryo and larval mortality from exposure to UVR under the annual ice should be considered as another abiotic factor potentially affecting the temporally episodic recruitment of invertebrates that occur in this benthic ecosystem.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Transmission of ultraviolet radiation through the Antarctic annual sea ice and its biological effects on sea urchin embryos

Lesser

Lamare

Barker

2004

Limnology & Oceanography

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“…First detected over the Antarctic by Farman et al (1985), seasonal ozone depletion has now also been documented above the Arctic and mid-latitudes (north and south) (e.g. Frederick & Snell 1988, Roy et al 1990, Stolarski et al 1992, Kerr & McElroy 1993. Of immediate concern to this expanding global problem are the potential threats to biological ecosystems (Calkins 1982).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Occurrence of UVA- and UVB-absorbing compounds in 152 species (206 strains) of marine microalgae

Jeffrey¹,

Mactavish²,

Dunlap³

et al. 1999

Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser.

203

133

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Marine microalgae (152 species, 206 strains) from 12 classes were exam~ned for the presence of UVA-and UVB-absorbing compounds. Cultures were grown under white fluorescent light without supplementary UVA or UVB radiation and were extracted after harvest m tetrahydrofuran:methanol (20:80, v/v). Ratios of UV absorbance (280 to 390 nm) to chlorophyll a (chl a) (665 nm) obtained by spectrophotometry ranged from 0.18 to 6.75. Three groups of species were distinguished: those with low UV:chl a ratios (0.18 to 0.9, diatoms, green algae, cyanophytes, euglenophytes, eustlgmatophytes, rhodophytes, some dinoflagellates, some prymnesiophytes], those with intermed~ate ratlos (0.9 to 1.4, chrysophytes, some prasinophytes, some prymnesiophytes) and those with very high ratios (1.4 to 6.75, surface bloom-forming dinoflagellates, cryptoinonads, prymnesiophytes and raphidophytes). UV-absorbing pigments varied across species of the same algal class and strains of the same species. HPLC analysis of extracts of 5 species (1 diatom, 2 bloom-forming raphidophytes and 2 bloomforming dinoflagellates) showed suites of mycosporine-like amino acids in 4 of them, which included mycosporine-glycine, asterina-330, shinorme, porphyra-334 and palythine. The dinoflagellate Gymnodin~um catenatum also contained major quantities of unknown UV-absorbing compounds.

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“…Stratospheric ozone concentration during spring commonly falls below 50 % and may decline below 30 % of pre-ozone-hole values (Weiler & Penhale 1994). As a result, Antarctic UVB irradiances during spring are at least as high as at the summer solstice (Frederick & Snell 1988). Ozone depletion persists until February (Jones & Shanklin 1995), leading to a 50 to 100% increase in UVB around the summer solstice (Frederick & Lubin 1994).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Exposure of natural Antarctic marine microbial assemblages to ambient UV radiation: effects on bacterioplankton

Davidson¹,

Heijden²

2000

Aquat. Microb. Ecol.

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Seasonal ozone depletion over Antarctica leads to enhanced UVB (280 to 320 nm) radiation throughout the period of greatest biological production. The effect of UV radiation on bacterioplankton has received little attention, and its effects on marine microheterotrophs and viruses, which mediate bacterial biomass, are poorly understood. This study examined the impact of ambient solar W radiation on bacterioplankton in natural Antarctic microbial communities. Following a lag of 2 d, bacterial concentrations increased all light treatments. Inhibition of bacterial growth increased with increasing UV irradiance and duration of exposure, reaching 27 % inhibition in hlgh UV treatments (c2.0 m equivalent depth) compared to controls after 7 d exposure. Bacterioplankton growth rates declined in all treatments during post-UV incubation, particularly at lower UV irradiances (23.0 m equivalent depth), indicating UV-induced inhibition of bacterial mortality during irradiation. Positive bacterial growth coincided with both phytoplankton mortality and increased microheterotroph concentrations following exposure to high UV irradiances. Exposure of Antarctic microbial communities to ambient UV is likely to increase microbial respiration of carbon in surface waters and reduce vertical carbon flux.

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Ultraviolet Radiation Levels During the Antarctic Spring

Cited by 121 publications

References 5 publications

Transmission of ultraviolet radiation through the Antarctic annual sea ice and its biological effects on sea urchin embryos

Transmission of ultraviolet radiation through the Antarctic annual sea ice and its biological effects on sea urchin embryos

Occurrence of UVA- and UVB-absorbing compounds in 152 species (206 strains) of marine microalgae

Exposure of natural Antarctic marine microbial assemblages to ambient UV radiation: effects on bacterioplankton

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