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Studies on the effects of UV-B radiation on phytoplankton of sub-antarctic lakes and ponds

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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.

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Ekelund, N.G.A. Studies on the effects of UV-B radiation on phytoplankton of sub-antarctic lakes and ponds. Polar Biol 12, 533–537 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00238193

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00238193

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