Studies on the effects of UV-B radiation on phytoplankton of Sub-Antarctic lakes and ponds

• Experiments were performed to determine the effects of UV-B (ultraviolet, 280–320 nm) radiation on motility and growth of phytoplankton from lakes and ponds in South Georgia. After 4 h of solar radiation and 4h artificial radiation (UV-BBE 11.6 kJ m-2 day-1, UV-B lamps) the swimming velocity of Cryptomonas sp. decreased. The growth rate of Botryococcus, Lyngbya sp. and Stauraslrum sp. did not show any significant variations between the different light conditions. The UV-B component was reduced by filtering solar radiation through glass bottles und cellulose acetate. Cloudy days had only 30% of the radiation of clear days in both the PAR (photosynthetic active radiation) and UV-B regions. The ponds contained large amounts of humic substances, which are responsible for the absorbance in the UV region.

Subject headings

NATURVETENSKAP  -- Biologi (hsv//swe)

NATURAL SCIENCES  -- Biological Sciences (hsv//eng)

Keyword

ultraviolet radiation

Biology

Biologi

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

art (subject category)