The Effect of Increased Ultraviolet Radiation on Marine Ecosystems

906 Words2 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Links between ozone layer depletion and global warming

The Effect of Increased Ultraviolet Radiation on Marine Ecosystems

Abstract

Nearly 80 percent of the Earth's surface is covered with water, nearly all of it being in the form of oceans. Therefore, any environmental changes that are sensed on a global scale are certainly expressed in aquatic ecosystems. The purpose of this paper is to explore the nature by which one aspect of the changing environment, ultraviolet radiation, affects the sensitive balance of the oceans. Specifically, the focus will be on the relationship between increasing ultraviolet radiation and the survival of phytoplankton, fish, and other aquatic animals.

Ozone Depletion

Ozone is one of the Earth's natural means of protection from the Sun's damaging rays. It is found primarily in a very thin layer existing in the stratosphere, the area seen in the diagram to the right between 40 and 110 km from the Earth's surface. The ozone layer allows the proper amount of the sun's energy to pass into the Earth's inner atmosphere so that an equilibrium suitable for life may be established. However, due mainly to man's production of industrial compounds called CFC's (chlorofluorocarbons), a decrease in ozone in the stratosphere has occured. In fact, since 1978, it is estimated that the ozone layer has been lessened by more than 3 percent. There has been extensive documentation of a hole in the ozone layer existing over Antarctica. A decrease in ozone means that more harmful UV rays are allowed to reach the earth's surface. The outcome of such an occurance has been seen in the increasing incidence of skin cancer in humans and damage to some agricultural products. Some effects can also be seen, however, quite clearly in the Earth's oceans.

Phytoplankt...

... middle of paper ...

...smith01/node18.html

Armstrong, Dr. R. "Effects of Ultraviolet Radiation on Mangroves, Seagrass Beds and Coral Reefs." http://tcess.uprm.edu/ultrav.htm

Atmospheric Research and Information Center. "Ozone Depletion and Aquatic Life." http://www.doc.mmu.ac.uk/aric/ace/oz_14.html

Connor, Tim. "Under the Ozone Hole, Antarctic Life Is Threatened." http://www.edf.org/pubs/EDF-Letter/1989/Oct/n_antartica.html

Environmental Protection Agency. "The Effects of Ozone Depletion." http://www.epa.gov/spdpublc/science/effects.html

GLY1033 Electronic Tutor. http://ess.geology.ufl.edu

SeaWiFS Project. "Phytoplankton: A Little Link in a Big Chain." http://seawifs.gsfc.nasa.gov/SEAWIFS/LIVING_OCEAN/TEACHER3.html

Walworth, Garret L. "UV Radiation, Periphyton, and Western Toads: food web relationships." http://dalton.lssu.edu/srthesis/srth9596/WALWORAB.TXT

Show More
Related

  • Ocean Acidification: Impact of CO2 on Ocean Water

    1068 Words  | 3 Pages

    Ocean acidification is the decrease of pH in the oceans due to absorption of CO2 in the atmosphere (Fabry, 2008). Over the past three hundred million years ocean pH levels have been 8.3, however in the past 200 years the pH level of oceans’ have reduced to 8.1, an increase of 25% in the acidity level (Bednaršek, 2012). The CO2 in the ocean reacts with water to form carbonic acid and consume carbonate ions. As a result a lot of marine species are suffering high mortality rate, lower reproduction and the disruption of ecosystems and food chains. Moreover, over 22 million tons of carbon dioxide goes to the ocean every day (Buffie and Carr, 2010). If the rate of CO2 emission in the ocean is not reduced, the predicted ocean CO2 concentration will be 200% by the end of this century (Buffie and Carr, 2010). This paper will explain two major lines of evidence for ocean acidification. The first evidence is based on the impacts of acidity of ocean on calcifying organisms and the second one is acidosis and impact of CO2 on the physiological process of marine species (Silver Sunbream Fish). Lastly the paper will also touch on the potential pitfall correlated with the conducted experiments, which might have hindered t...

    Read More

  • Coral Bleaching Research Paper

    1008 Words  | 3 Pages

    Imagine living in paradise where the sky is blue, the ocean is a beautiful light blue color and the coral reef is filled with magnificent colors and it is healthy as can be. That's how the coral used to be but because of us humans now, the coral is bleached and it is close to dying. Coral reefs play a very important role in the marine life community. If the coral reefs die, then that mess with the food chain for everyone. This research paper will be talking about the background on coral bleaching, the effects of coral bleaching, and solutions for coral bleaching.

    Read More

  • UV Radiation: A Leading Cause of Skin Cancer

    595 Words  | 2 Pages

    Scientists have performed many different tests and studies to learn more about high exposure to UV. Close observation of cells have shown that sunlight, natural or artificial, can cause mutations or DNA damage in cells. This can lead to further damage which will then be passed down through generations. Another study scientists perform is on animals. Scientist will expose your typical lab animals to UV rays, and this test typically results in skin cancer on the animal. These studies have been performed with UVA, UVB, and UVC, and they have all proven

    Read More

  • Negative Effects Of Coral Bleaching

    1116 Words  | 3 Pages

    Due to global warming, the frequency of coral bleaching is predicted to continue to increase (Baker et al., 2008; Spillman et al., 2013) Numerous reefs across the world experience coral bleaching rather than just one reef. Coral bleaching can have a devastating effect on a region 's tourism industry and can cause not only coral mortality, but the death of other animals that rely on coral to survive. Higher ocean temperatures not only result in more frequent coral bleaching, but can increase other threats to the survival of coral. Furthermore, repeated bleaching increases the chance of fatal bleaching events (Baker et al., 2008). Moreover, despite coral surviving higher sea temperatures in the past, there are many other factors contributing to coral bleaching. Coral recovery depends on how often bleaching events occur and global warming increases this and worsens conditions for reproduction which is essential to survival. Coral bleaching due to global warming is more concerning than many people

    Read More

  • The Implications of Ozone Depletion on Human Health

    1357 Words  | 3 Pages

    Stratospheric ozone absorbs 97-99% of ultraviolet radiation. As this protective layer continues to dissentigrate, human health will suffer. One American dies every hour from skin cancer, a direct result of ozone depletion by anthropogenic chemicals, primarily CFCs, which damage the ozone layer. Alternate chemicals are now being used in the place of CFCs that will not damage statospheric ozone, and there is international recognition of the importance of developing these chemicals. The Montreal Protocol is an international treaty which limits the production of ozone depleting substances. Still, human health is at risk from the deletion of ozone, and the risk factor will continue to rise unless people and industries become more aware of the implications connected with everyday use of chemicals which destroy stratospheric ozone.

    Read More

  • Coral Reef Conservation in Different Oceans

    846 Words  | 2 Pages

    Coral reefs in the flower banks garden are in good condition today due to conservation efforts but without them they would be losing health rapidly, and we would lose many important spawnin...

    Read More

  • What's Causing Ocean Acidification?

    1024 Words  | 3 Pages

    Guinotte, J. M. and Fabry, V. J. (2008), Ocean Acidification and Its Potential Effects on Marine Ecosystems. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, 1134: 320–342. doi: 10.1196/annals.1439.013

    Read More

  • The Effects of Global Warming on the Great Barrier Reef

    948 Words  | 2 Pages

    A. Global Warming kills Great Barrier Reef coral. http://www.usyd.edu.au/su/exterel/news/981008News/8.10.coral.html. Coral bleaching http://www.uvi.edu/coral.reefer/bleach.htm Coral Reef http://encarta.msn.com/find/Concise.asp?z=1&pg=2&ti=050FE000 Coral reefs in peril worldwide. http://usatoday.com/life/science/environ/lse011.htm Coral'stress' worsening, expert says.

    Read More

  • Coral Reef Essay

    1970 Words  | 4 Pages

    A big change that has occurred in the oceans all over the world is the Coral Reefs are dying and are predicted to be dead by the end of the century due to the rising acidity of the oceans caused by many different threats to marine ecosystems. Coral reefs cover less than 0.2% of our oceans but they contain 25% of the world’s marine fish species according to Endangered: Biodiversity on the brink, 2010: pg.45). If this is the case that means by the time the end of the century comes around we will have lost close to 25% of the worlds marine ecosystems.

    Read More

  • Preserving the Great Barrier Reef Amidst Human Threats

    1424 Words  | 3 Pages

    Due to rising ocean temperatures the coral on the reef is dying and becoming bleached.

    Read More

  • Ocean Acidification: The Ocean's Effect On The Oceans

    1508 Words  | 4 Pages

    The major composition of the ocean chemistry that is affected by atmospheric CO2 are understood for the most part and can be calculated accurately. However there is much uncertainty of the biological effects caused by ocean acidification and how it will vary amongst organisms; some may cope better than others. Even though the research on ocean acidification is still very young, there is already evidence of biological impacts due to changes in the chemistry of the ocean. The greatest evidence of the impactions of ocean acidification on marine ecosystems can be seen in experiments on calcifying organisms. When seawater is acidified to various amounts the formation and dissolution of calcium carbonate shells and skeletons in marine organisms such as reef-building corals, oysters and mussels, and phytoplankton and zooplankton which for the base for marine food webs (“Ocean Acidification: A National Strategy…”,

    Read More

  • Annotated Bibliography Of Coral Reef Bleaching

    1269 Words  | 3 Pages

    This article discusses how important the organisms symbiotic with coral reefs are, as well as how important coral reefs are to our environment. Also explained is how natural and non natural things things like hurricanes and overfishing affects them. A study is quoted about how water acidity also plays a role in the bleaching of corals. Lastly, restoration and conservation efforts are discussed and how we could possibly help our oceans.

    Read More

  • Depletion Of The Ozone Layer

    1057 Words  | 3 Pages

    In 1970, Crutzen first showed that nitrogen oxides produced by decaying nitrous oxide from soil-borne microbes react catalytically with ozone hastening its depletion. His findings started research on "global biogeochemical cycles" as well as the effects of supersonic transport aircraft that release nitrogen oxide into the stratosphere.2 In 1974, Molina and Rowland found that human-made chlorofluorocarbons used for making foam, cleaning fluids, refrigerants, and repellents transform into ozone-depleting agents.3 Chlorofluorocarbons stay in the atmosphere for several decades due to their long tropospheric lifetimes. These compounds are carried into the stratosphere where they undergo hundreds of catalytic cycles with ozone.4 They are broken down into chlorine atoms by ultraviolet radiation.5 Chlorine acts as the catalyst for breaking down atomic oxygen and molecular ozone into two molecules of molecular oxygen.

    Read More

  • Oceans in Crisis

    1833 Words  | 4 Pages

    Oceans are such so vast that people underestimate the impact their actions —seeming so insignificant— have on them. Humans have by and large taken the oceans for granted; not considering how important a healthy ocean is to our survival. A popular mind-set is that the oceans are a bottomless supply of fish, natural resources, and an infinite waste dump. There are myriad reasons why the oceans should be saved and the most obvious one is marine life. With 71% of the Earth being covered by water, it is obvious that sea creatures are predominant form of life, making up 80% of the species of life on Earth. However, as important as marine life is, that is not the only reason why saving the oceans is crucial. The ocean floor provides natural resources such as, oil, natural gas, petroleum, minerals, medications, and ingredients for foods and products. The economic benefits of the oceans are huge and significant, as well. Fishing and fish products have provided employment to 38 million people and have generated about $124 billion in economic benefits. However, oceans are on the verge of crisis, marine life, natural resources, transportation, the economy, and important ingredients are at risk due to overfishing, pollution, and acidification. Thus, in this essay I will argue that, oceans are not impervious to human activity and threatening the health of the ocean threatens the health of humanity, since oceans key to our survival.

    Read More

  • Final Essay

    1475 Words  | 3 Pages

    These results agree with the hypothesis that our “untouched and super-productive world” is affecting marine life ecosystems (Vannela, 2012). All of these results combined confirm the overall hypothesis that pollution is getting worse in the ocean and more marine life ecosystems are being affected, but there

    Read More

More about The Effect of Increased Ultraviolet Radiation on Marine Ecosystems

Open Document