The Effects of UV Radiation on Phytoplankton


by Evelyn Okafor (CA), Shirley Williams (AL),
Dr. Alice Gao Yu (Rutgers) and Router, Beverly Kawamura (HI),
and Marcia Zableckis (CA) and Emma Calderon-Julia (PR)



Background Information
Phytoplankton are the primary producers of the aquatic food web and are largely comprised of single cell plants that float near the surface of water. These plants are important in regulating ocean chemistry and the light environment in the water. They provide 90% of the ocean food and is used in various industries. Like terrestrial plants they can not survive without light. Yet, light to them is not always yummy food, but sometimes can be the fatal Trojan Horse. Global thinning of the stratosphere ozone layer results in an increase in the amount of ultraviolet light reaching the earth surface. This radiation is highly energetic and can disrupt DNA and proteins which are critical for life. Increased ultraviolet light has been shown to be detrimental to plankton and potentially to all of the Earth's living systems. This project takes a look at the impact of the ultraviolet light on the phytoplankton and will discuss its implications to health and environmental issues.

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