Increased ultraviolet radiation has caused a sharp rise in the deaths of marine species, scientists have found.
An international team gathered information from previous studies looking at the effects of ultraviolet B (UVB) radiation on marine life.
Their work shows a close link between UVB levels and death rate, particularly in algae, corals and crustaceans.
The team believe this is the first time the effect of UVB on the health of marine ecosystems has been calculated.
"In our study, mortality is the biological response which showed the greatest sensitivity to UVB radiation," said lead author, Dr Moira Llabres from the Catholic University of Chile in Santiago, who worked with the University of Western Australia on the paper.
The article is published in the journal Global Ecology and Biogeography.
"Ultraviolet B radiation has caused a steep increase in deaths among marine animals and plants," said Dr Llabres.
UVB radiation is known to impair photosynthesis, nutrient absorption, growth and reproductive rates in certain species but this is thought to be the first attempt to quantify the damage it does to marine ecosystems.
"The organisms most affected are protists, such as algae, corals, crustaceans and fish larvae and eggs," she said.
Posts
