Abstract
The effects of natural intensities of ultraviolet A (UVA, 320 to 400 nm) and B (UVB, 280 to 320 nm) radiation on planktonic planula larvae of the reef-building coral Agaricia agaricites (Linnaeus) were investigated through field experiments. Survival, chlorophyll concentrations, and solubilized protein concentrations were determined for larvae spawned from colonies at 3 and 24 m depth and subjected to one of three light regimes at 3, 10, or 24 m depth for 72 h: PAR (photosynthetically active radiation, 40- to 700 nm) only, PAR+UVA, or PAR+UVA+UVB. At 3 m depth, larvae in the PAR+UVA+UVB treatment showed lower survivorship than larvae exposed to either PAR alone or PAR+UVA. Within the PAR+UVA+UVB treatment at 3 m depth, larvae from colonies at 24 m depth suffered higher mortality than those from 3 m. Differences in survivorship between larvae originating from 3 and 24 m depth corresponded with tissue concentrations of UVB-protective mycosporine-like amino acids: larvae from 3 m had higher concentrations of mycosporine-glycine (λmax=310nm) and palythine (λmax=320nm) than those from 24 m depth. Chlorophyll concentrations were inversely correlated with PAR intensities, but variation in this parameter did not appear to be detrimental. These results show that sensitivity to high intensities of UVB radiation may affect survival of A. agaricites larvae in shallow reef-waters.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Baker K, Smith RC, Green AES (1980) Middle ultraviolet reaching the ocean surface. Photochem Photobiol 32: 367–374
Behrenfeld M, Hardy J, Gucinski H, Hanneman A, Lee II H, Wones A (1993) Effects of ultraviolet-B radiation on primary production along latitudinal transects in the South Pacific ocean. Mar envirl Res 35: 349–363
Bradford MM (1976) A rapid and sensitive method for the quantitation of microgram quantities of protein utilizing the principle of protein-dye binding. Analyt Biochem 72: 248–254
Carlon DB, Olson RR (1993) Larval dispersal distance as an explanation for adult spatial pattern in two Caribbean reef corals. J exp mar Biol Ecol 173: 247–263
Cullen JJ, Lesser MP (1991) Inhibition of photosynthesis by ultraviolet radiation as a function of dose and dosage rate: results for a marine diatom. Mar Biol 111: 183–190
Damkaer DM (1982) Possible influences of solar UV radiation in the evolution of marine zooplankton. In: Calkins J (ed) The role of solar ultraviolet in marine ecosystems. Plenum Press, New York, pp 701–706
Damkaer DM, Dey DB, Heron GA (1981) Dose/dose rate responses of shrimp larvae to UV-B radiation. Oecologia 48: 178–182
Damkaer DM, Dey DB, Heron GA, Prentice EF (1980) Effects of UV-B radiation on near-surface zooplankton of Puget Sound. Oecologia 44: 149–158
Dunlap WC, Chalker BE (1986) Identification and quantification of near-UV absorbing compounds (S-320) in a hermatypic scleractinian. Coral Reefs 5: 155–159
Dunlap WC, Chalker BE, Oliver JK (1986) Bathymetric adaptations of reef-building corals at Davies Reef, Great Barrier Reef, Australia. 3. UV-B absorbing compounds. J exp mar Biol Ecol 104: 239–248
Dunlap WC, Williams DM, Chalker BE, Banaszak AT (1989) Biochemical photoadaptation in vision: UV-absorbing pigments in fish eye tissues. Comp Biochem Physiol 93B: 601–607
Falkowski PG, Dubinsky Z (1981) Light-shade adaptation of Stylophora pistillata, a hermatypic coral from the Gulf of Eilat. Nature, Lond 289: 172–174
Fleischmann EM (1989) The measurement and penetration of ultraviolet radiation into tropical marine water. Limnol Oceanogr 34: 1623–1629
Garcia-Pichel F, Wingard CE, Castenholz RW (1993) Evidence regarding the UV sunscreen role of a mycosporine-like compound in the cyanobacterium Gleocapsa sp. Appl envirl Microbiol 59: 170–176
Gleason DF (1993) Differential effects of ultraviolet radiation on green and brown morphs of the Caribbean coral Porites astreoides. Limnol Oceanogr 38: 1452–1463
Gleason DF, Wellington GM (1993) Ultraviolet radiation and coral bleaching. Nature, Lond 365: 836–838
Goenaga C, Vicente VP, Armstrong RA (1989) Bleaching induced mortalities in reef corals from La Parguera, Puerto Rico: a precursor of change in the community structure of coral reefs. Caribb J Sci 25: 59–65
Green AES, Miller JH (1975) Measures of biologically effective radiation in the 280–340 nm region. in: Impacts of climatic changes on the biosphere. US Department of Transportation, Washington, DC (CIAP Monogr No. 5)
Harrison PL, Wallace CC (1990) Reproduction, dispersal and recruitment of scleractinian corals. In: Dubinsky, Z (ed) Ecosystems of the world. No. 25. Elsevier, New York, pp 133–207
Helbling EW, Villafañe V, Ferrario M, Holm-Hansen O (1992) Impact of natural ultraviolet radiation on rates of photosynthesis and on specific marine phytoplankton species. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 80: 89–100
Hodgson G (1985) Abundance and distribution of planktonic coral larvae in Kaneohe Bay, Oahu, Hawaii. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 26: 61–71
Hunter JR, Kaupp SE, Taylor JH (1981) Effects of solar and artificial ultraviolet-B radiation on larval northern anchovy, Engraulis mordax. Photochem Photobiol 34: 477–486
Hunter JR, Taylor JH, Moser HG (1979) Effect of ultraviolet irradiation on eggs and larvae of the northern anchovy, Engraulis mordax, and the Pacific mackerel, Scomber japonicus, during the embryonic stage. Photochem Photobiol 29: 325–338
Ito S, Hirata Y (1977) Isolation and structure of a mycosporine from the zoanthid Palythoa tuberculosa. Tetrahedron Lett 28: 2429–2430
Jeffrey SW, Humphrey G (1975) New spectrophotometric equations for determining chlorophylls a, b, c1 and c2 in higher plants, algae and natural phytoplankton. Biochem Physiol Pfl 167: 191–194
Jerlov NG (1968) Optical oceanography. Elsevier, New York
Jokiel PL (1980) Solar ultraviolet radiation and coral reef epifauna. Science, NY 207: 1069–1071
Jokiel PL, York RH (1984) Importance of ultraviolet radiation in photoinhibition of microalgal growth. Limnol Oceanogr 29: 192–199
Karanas JJ, Van Dyke H, Worrest RC (1979) Midultraviolet (UV-B) sensitivity of Acartia clausii Giesbrecht (Copepoda). Limnol Oceanogr 24: 1104–1116
Karanas JJ, Worrest RC, Van Dyke H (1981) Impact of UV-B radiation on the fecundity of the copepod Acartia clausii. Mar Biol 65: 125–133
Karentz D, McEuen FS, Land MC, Dunlap WC (1991) Survey of mycosporine-like amino acid compounds in Antarctic marine organisms: potential protection from ultraviolet exposure. Mar Biol 108: 157–166
Larkum AWD, Wood WF (1993) The effect of UV-B radiation on photosynthesis and respiration of phytoplankton, benthic macroalgae and seagrasses. Photo Res 36: 17–23
Lee TN, Rooth C, Williams E, McGowan M, Szmant AF, Clarke ME (1992) Influence of Florida Current, gyres and wind-driven circulation on transport of larvae and recruitment in the Florida Keys coral reefs. Contin Shelf Res 12: 971–1002
Lesser MP, Shick JM (1989) Effects of irradiance and ultraviolet radiation on photoadaptation in the zooxanthellae of Aiptasia pallida: primary production, photoinhibition, and enzymic defenses against oxygen toxicity. Mar Biol 102: 243–255
Lesser MP, Stochaj WR, Tapley DW, Schick JM (1990) Bleaching in coral reef anthozoans: effects of irradiance, ultraviolet radiation, and temperature on the activities of protective enzymes against active oxygen. Coral Reefs 8: 225–232
Pennington JT, Emlet RB (1986) Ontogenetic and diel vertical migration of planktonic echinoid larva, Dendraster excentricus (Eschscholtz): occurrence, causes, and probable consequences. J exp mar Biol Ecol 104: 69–95
Richmond RH (1982) Energetic considerations in the dispersal of Pocillopora damicornis (Linnaeus) planulae. Proc 4th int coral Reef Symp 2: 153–156 [Gomez ED et al. (eds) Antenne Museum-EPHE, Moorea, French Polynesia]
Richmond RH (1987) Energetics, competency, and long-distance dispersal of planula larvae of the coral Pocillopora damicornis. Mar Biol 93: 527–533
Rogers CS, Fitz III HC, Gilnack M, Beets J, Hardin J (1984) Scleractinian coral recruitment patterns at Salt River submarine canyon, St. Groix, U.S. Virgin Islands. Coral Reefs 3: 69–76
Setlow RB (1974) The wavelengths in sunlight effective in producing skin cancer: a theoretical analysis. Proc natn Acad Sci USA 71: 3363–3366
Siebeck O (1988) Experimental investigation of UV tolerance in hermatypic corals (Scleractinia). Mar Ecol Prog Ser 43: 95–103
Simpson CJ, Cary JL, Masini RJ (1993) Destruction of corals and other reef animals by coral spawn slicks on Ningaloo Reef, Western Australia. Coral Reefs 12: 185–191
Smith RC, Baker KS (1979) Penetration of UV-B and biologically effective dose-rates in natural waters. Photochem Photobiol 29: 311–323
Smith RC, Baker KS (1982) Assessment of the influence of enhanced UV-B on marine primary productivity. In: Calkins J (ed) The role of solar ultraviolet in marine ecosystems. Plenum Press, New York, pp 509–537
Takano S, Uemura D, Hirata Y (1978) Isolation and structure of a new amino acid, palythine, from the zoanthid Palythoa tuberculosa. Tetrahedron Lett 26: 2299–2300
Thinh LV (1991) Photo-adaptation in two species of Acropora grown under controlled conditions. Photosynthetica 25: 365–371
Wilkinson L (1990) SYSTAT: the system for statistics. SYSTAT, Inc., Evanston, Illinois, USA
Wood WF (1987) Effect of solar ultra-violet radiation on the kelp Ecklonia radiata. Mar Biol 96: 143–150
Worrest RC (1982) Review of literature concerning the impact of UV-B radiation upon marine organisms. In: Calkins J (ed) The role of solar ultraviolet in marine ecosystems. Plenum Press, New York, pp 429–457
Worrest RC, Häder DP (1989) Effects of stratospheric ozone depletion on marine organisms. Envir Conserv 16: 261–263
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Communicated by N.H. Marcus, Tallahassee
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Gleason, D.F., Wellington, G.M. Variation in UVB sensitivity of planula larvae of the coral Agaricia agaricites along a depth gradient. Marine Biology 123, 693–703 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00349112
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00349112