Chapter 15: Ecological impacts of ultraviolet-B radiation on marine ecosystems

Ultraviolet B radiation (UVBR, 280–320 nm), the most biologically damaging portion of the solar spectrum reaching the Earth, received considerable scientific attention after the discovery of the spring stratospheric ‘ozone hole’ in the late 1970s over Antarctica. Recently, similar low ozone conditions were observed over the Arctic and occasionally at lower latitudes. Furthermore, expected increases in ocean acidification, surface water temperatures, and modifications in the structure of the water column due to global change exacerbated general concerns about the potential impact that such changes may have on the structure of marine food webs. In this chapter, we review the effects of ultraviolet- B radiation (UVBR) on various marine ecosystems. We start by providing a description of factors that influence the UVBR intensity, including latitude, season, stratospheric ozone layer thickness, and penetration within the water column. Then, we depict the effects of UVBR on the food webs of some important marine ecosystems such as polar oceans, coastal waters, fronts and upwellings, oceanic gyres, and benthic ecosystems. Finally, we investigate the potential interactions of enhanced UVBR along with other climate change stressors such as global warming and ocean acidification.