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The influence of UV-B radiation on light-dependent photosynthetic performance in Sanionia uncinata (Hedw.) Loeske in Antarctica

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Abstract

Photosynthetic activity of the moss Sanionia uncinata (Hedw.) Loeske was investigated on Léonie Island (67°35'S, 68°20'W, Antarctic Peninsula) in response to short-term changes of UV-B radiation. The UV-environment of natural mat formations dominated by S. uncinata was altered using filter screens. Two filter experiments were conducted in the Antarctic summers 1998 and 1999. A third filter experiment was conducted during springtime ozone depletion in October 1998. Photosynthetic activity of S. uncinata was mainly determined by photosynthetically active photon flux density (PPFD). Light response of relative electron transport rate through photosystem II (rel ETR=ΔF/Fm'×PPFD) remained unaffected by ambient summer levels of UV-B radiation. The same was found for net photosynthesis and dark respiration. In October 1998, S. uncinata was mainly metabolically inactive due to low temperatures. No significant levels of DNA-damage measured as cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers (CPDs) were induced by ambient summer levels of UV-B. Artificially enhanced UV-B radiation supplying a Setlow-DNA-dose of 8.7 kJ m−2 day−1 UV-B led to formation of 7±3 CPD (106 nucleotides)–1. It is concluded that current ambient summer levels of UV-B radiation do not affect photosynthetic activity in S. uncinata.

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Acknowledgements

The results described in this paper form part of a joint British-Dutch research programme, with participation by the British Antarctic Survey, Cambridge, UK, the University of Groningen and the Netherlands Institute of Ecology, Centre for Estuarine and Coastal Ecology, Yerseke, the Netherlands. This study was funded by the Netherlands Antarctic Programme (NAAP), administered by the Research Council for Earth and Life Sciences (ALW), part of the Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research (NWO), who are gratefully acknowledged. The authors thank everyone at Rothera Research Station for their friendship and support. A. Buma, W. vd Poll and P. Boelen, University of Groningen, are thanked for their help with DNA damage analysis. This is publication number 3114 of the Netherlands Institute of Ecology.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centre for Estuarine and Marine Ecology, Netherlands Institute of Ecology, P.O. Box 140, 4400 AC , Yerseke, The Netherlands

    D. Lud, M. Schlensog, B. Schroeter & A. H. L. Huiskes

  2. Botanical Institute, University of Kiel, Olshausenstr. 40, 24098 , Kiel, Germany

    M. Schlensog & B. Schroeter

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  1. D. Lud
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  2. M. Schlensog
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  3. B. Schroeter
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  4. A. H. L. Huiskes
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Correspondence to A. H. L. Huiskes.

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Lud, D., Schlensog, M., Schroeter, B. et al. The influence of UV-B radiation on light-dependent photosynthetic performance in Sanionia uncinata (Hedw.) Loeske in Antarctica. Polar Biol 26, 225–232 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00300-003-0480-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00300-003-0480-5

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