| 1. |
- Björn, Lars Olof, et al.
(författare)
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Effects of ozone depletion and increased ultraviolet-B radiation on northern vegetation
- 1999
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Ingår i: Polar Research. - : Norwegian Polar Institute. - 0800-0395 .- 1751-8369. ; 18:2, s. 331-337
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The stratospheric ozone layer has been depleted at high and mid-latitudes as a consequence of man's pollution of the atmosphere, and this results in increasing ultraviolet-B radiation at ground level. We investigate the effects of further radiation increases on plants and ecosystems by irradiating natural sub-Arctic and Arctic vegetation with artificial W-B radiation in field experiments extending over several years. Our experimental sites are located at Abisko, in northern Sweden (68 degrees N), and Adventdalen, on the island of Spitsbergen (78 degrees N). Additional UV-B induced interspecific differences in plant response in terms of reduced (or, in one case, increased) growth, changed morphology and changed pigment content. In some cases effects seem to be accumulated from one year to another. Plant litter decomposition is retarded. We are also studying how UV-B enhancement may affect the interaction between species. In some experiments we combine UV-B enhancement with changes in other factors: carbon dioxide concentration, water availability, and temperature. In some cases the effect of radiation enhancement is modified, or even reversed, by such changes. Over a four year period we did not find any significant radiation induced change in species composition, but based on the effects on individual plant species, such changes can be expected to take place over a longer time.
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| 2. |
- Björn, Lars Olof, et al.
(författare)
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The problem of ozone depletion in northern Europe
- 1998
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Ingår i: Ambio: a Journal of Human Environment. - 0044-7447. ; 27:4, s. 275-279
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Ozone in the atmosphere, mainly in the stratosphere, absorbs most of the ultraviolet-B (wavelength 280-315 nm) radiation from the sun, which can destroy DNA and other biologically important molecules and, thereby, damage living organisms. Due to the pollution of the atmosphere by humans, the ozone layer is presently being depleted, more rapidly at higher latitudes than at lower, and more rapidly over Scandinavia than over most geographical regions at corresponding latitudes. Ultraviolet-B radiation is generally more intense in mountain regions than at sea level. We have experiments in progress in which we simulate the effects of further ozone depletion on terrestrial ecosystems (mountain heaths, bogs, tundra) by irradiating them with artificial ultraviolet-B radiation. Effects on the growth of dwarf-shrubs and mosses and on plant litter decomposition are described.
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| 3. |
- Taulavuori, E, et al.
(författare)
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Long-term exposure to enhanced ultraviolet-B radiation in the sub-arctic does not cause oxidative stress in Vaccinium myrtillus
- 1998
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Ingår i: New Phytologist. - : Wiley. - 1469-8137 .- 0028-646X. ; 140:4, s. 691-697
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The aim of this work was to assess whether or not oxidative stress had developed in a dwarf shrub bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus L.) under long-term exposure to enhanced levels of ultraviolet-B (u.v.-B) radiation. The bilberry plants were exposed to increased u.v.-B representing a 15 stratospheric ozone depletion for seven full growing seasons (19911997) at Abisko, Swedish Lapland (68N). The oxidative stress was assessed on leaves and stems by analysing ascorbate and glutathione concentrations, and activities of the closely related enzymes ascorbate peroxidase (EC 1.11.1.11) and glutathione reductase (EC 1.6.4.2). The affects of autumnal leaf senescence and stem cold hardening on these variables were also considered. The results showed that the treatment caused scarcely any response in the studied variables, indicating that u.v.-B flux representing a 15 ozone depletion under clear sky conditions is not sufficient to cause oxidative stress in the bilberry. It is suggested that no strain was evoked since adaptation was possible under such u.v.-B increases. The studied variables did, however, respond significantly to leaf senescence and especially to stem cold hardening.
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