Socioeconomic
Data and Applications Center
Environmental Effects of Ozone Depletion 1998 Assessment |
Significant changes of solar UV on
aquatic ecosystems may result in decreased biomass productivity. The impact
of this decrease would be reflected through all levels of the intricate
food web, resulting in reduced food production for humans (Häder et
al., 1995; Häder, 1997e; Häder and Worrest, 1997), reduced sink
capacity for atmospheric carbon dioxide (Ducklow et al., 1995; Takahashi
et al., 1995, 1997), as well as changes in species composition and ecosystem
integrity. The role of oceanic carbon dioxide uptake in global warming
is of high significance (Sarmiento and Le Quéré, 1996; Thomson,
1997). However, the potential impact of ozone depletion on atmospheric
carbon dioxide, mediated through inhibition of marine primary production,
is uncertain and a more rigorous and detailed analysis is urgently needed.
Research has been intensified over the last few decades to evaluate UV-B
related damage of aquatic ecosystems (Nolan and Amanatidis, 1995). Important
reviews on various aspects of UV effects on aquatic ecosystems include:
aquatic ecosystes in general (Häder 1997c; Häder and Worrest,
1997); the role of MAA‘s in marine organisms (Dunlap and Shick, 1998);
phytoplankton (Cullen and Neale, 1997a,b; Häder, 1997a); microalgae
(Franklin and Foster, 1997; Häder and Figueroa, 1997); corals and
coral bleaching (Shick et al., 1996; Lesser, 1996); lake acidification
and UV penetration (Williamson, 1995, 1996).
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