Physiological Ecology of UV-Absorbing Compunds in Antarctic Organisms

这项研究将有助于我们全面了解海洋生物保护自己免受紫外线辐射的天然“防晒霜”。由于对全球臭氧耗竭造成的入射紫外线增加的担忧，评估这一大气现象对南极洲生物系统的生态影响至关重要。类真菌菌素氨基酸（MAAs）吸收太阳光谱紫外线部分的辐射，通常存在于海洋物种中。从MAAs获得的科学信息将进一步加深我们对海洋生物如何应对紫外线照射并继续在其生态系统中发挥作用的理解。对于浮游植物中MAAs产生的调控机制以及这些化合物在动物组织中积累的方式，人们知之甚少。Karentz博士建议确定MAA浓度的变化是否代表了对紫外线照射的适应性反应，并检查初级生产者和消费者中MAA含量之间的可能关系。该研究将通过比较在每年春天白昼长度增加和臭氧消耗的不同时间，在不同的生命周期阶段，以及在受控的光和食物条件下，选定的藻类和无脊椎动物物种的MAA浓度来完成。

This study will contribute to our understanding of the full range of natural "sunscreens" that marine organisms have to protect themselves against ultraviolet (UV) radiation. With concerns about increased incident UV caused by global ozone depletion, it is crucial to evaluate the ecological effects of this atmospheric phenomenon on biological systems in Antarctica. Mycosporine-like amino acids (MAAs) absorb radiation from the UV portion of the solar spectrum and are commonly found in marine species. Scientific information obtained on MAAs will further our understanding of how marine organisms deal with UV exposure and continue to function within their ecosystems. Little is known about the regulatory mechanism of MAAs production in phytoplankton or the mode by which such compounds accumulate in animal tissue. Dr. Karentz proposes to determine if changes in MAA concentration represents an adaptive response to UV exposure and to examine the possible relationships between MAA content in primary producers and their consumers. The research will be accomplished by comparing MAA concentrations in selected algal and invertebrate species at different times during the annual springtime gradients of increasing day length and ozone depletion, during different life cycle stages, and under controlled light and food conditions.