Strong sensitivity of Red Sea zooplankton to UV-B radiation

by Al-Aidaroos, A.M., M. M. O. El-Sherbiny, S. Satheesh, G. Mantha, S. Agustí, B. Carreja, C. M. Duarte
Year: 2015

Bibliography

Al-Aidaroos, A.M., M. M. O. El-Sherbiny, S. Satheesh, G. Mantha, S. Agustī, B. Carreja  and C. M. Duarte. 2015. Strong sensitivity of Red Sea zooplankton to UV-B radiation. Estuaries and Coasts 38, 846-853​

Abstract

​The impacts of UV-B radiation to Red Sea coastal zooplankton was assessed experimentally at the time (May/June) of peak UV-B radiation, using the most abundant zooplankton species in the community (eight copepod genera, a cladoceran, an ostracod, a cumacean, and two meroplankton, including crab zoeae and megalopa). Mortality rates increased greatly in the presence of ambient UV-B radiation for all species tested except for LabidoceraMacrosetella, and the crab megalopa larvae. Mortality rates declined, on average, threefold when UV-B radiation was removed. These results provide evidence that Red Sea zooplankton are highly vulnerable to ambient levels of UV-B radiation.​

Keywords

UV-B Impacts Copepods Holoplankton Meroplankton Red Sea