Effects of Ultraviolet Radiation on the Biology of Caribbean Reef Corals

紫外线辐射对加勒比礁珊瑚生物学的影响

• 批准号: 9301750
• 负责人: Gerard Wellington
• 金额: $ 26.01万
• 依托单位: University of Houston
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Continuing Grant
• 财政年份: 1993
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 1993-05-15 至 1997-04-30
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=9301750&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Effects; Ultraviolet; Radiation; Biology; Caribbean

Recent studies indicate that ultraviolet radiation can penetrate to considerable depths on tropical reefs. Persistent high levels of UV penetration, resulting from extended periods of calm sea conditions, have been shown to induce stress leading to the loss of symbiotic zooxanthellae (i.e., bleaching) in reef-building corals. These conditions may have contributed significantly to the regional mass coral bleaching events observed in the Caribbean during 1987 and 1990. This project will continue monitoring penetration of UV radiation, sea temperatures, and recovery of coral exposed to UV radiation. In addition, the project will be expanded to evaluate the effects of UV radiation on the early life-history stages, namely planula larvae and newly-recruited juveniles, of predominant coral species. While increases in UV radiation are predicted to be minimal at low latitudes, increased frequency of calm sea conditions predicted by global warming will lead to enhanced water column clarity and high UV penetration with subsequent negative effects on reef corals. This project, by experimentally defining the maximum UV intensities that can be tolerated by larval and juveniles corals, will provide insight into the role that current intensities of UV radiation play in limiting recruitment and shaping subsequent coral community structure.

最近的研究表明，紫外线辐射可以穿透到热带珊瑚礁的相当深的地方。由于长时间的平静海况，持续的高水平紫外线穿透已被证明会诱发压力，导致珊瑚礁建造珊瑚中共生的虫黄藻丧失(即漂白)。这些条件可能是1987年至1990年在加勒比观察到的区域大规模珊瑚白化事件的重要原因。该项目将继续监测紫外线辐射的穿透情况、海洋温度以及暴露在紫外线辐射下的珊瑚的恢复情况。此外，将扩大该项目，以评估紫外线辐射对主要珊瑚物种的早期生活史阶段，即浮萍幼体和新招募的幼体的影响。虽然紫外线辐射的增加预计在低纬度地区微乎其微，但全球变暖所预测的平静海况的频率增加将导致水柱更透明，紫外线穿透率更高，从而对珊瑚礁产生负面影响。该项目通过实验确定幼体和幼体珊瑚可耐受的最大紫外线强度，将深入了解目前的紫外线辐射强度在限制珊瑚招募和塑造随后的珊瑚群落结构方面所起的作用。