Strong Sensitivity of Red Sea Zooplankton to UV-B Radiation

Ali M. Al-Aidaroos, Mohsen M.O. El-Sherbiny, Sathianeson Satheesh, Gopikrishna Mantha, Susana Agustī, Beatriz Carreja, Carlos M. Duarte*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

16 Scopus citations

Abstract

The impacts of UV-B radiation to Red Sea coastal zooplankton was assessed experimentally at the time (May/June) of peak UV-B radiation, using the most abundant zooplankton species in the community (eight copepod genera, a cladoceran, an ostracod, a cumacean, and two meroplankton, including crab zoeae and megalopa). Mortality rates increased greatly in the presence of ambient UV-B radiation for all species tested except for Labidocera, Macrosetella, and the crab megalopa larvae. Mortality rates declined, on average, threefold when UV-B radiation was removed. These results provide evidence that Red Sea zooplankton are highly vulnerable to ambient levels of UV-B radiation.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)846-853
Number of pages8
JournalEstuaries and Coasts
Volume38
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - May 1 2015

Keywords

  • Copepods
  • Holoplankton
  • Meroplankton
  • Red Sea
  • UV-B impacts

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics
  • Aquatic Science
  • Ecology

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