Biotic Responses to UV-B Radiation in Antarctica

So far studies on Antarctic terrestrial organisms are few. The aim of the project is to determine how cryptogams and phanerogams (terrestrial algae, lichens mosses, the grass Deschampsia antarctica) in Antarctic coastal habitats respond to Global Environmental Change (especially UV-B radiation).

The project comprises three parts: a. Monitoring changing environmental conditions - with particular emphasis on ultraviolet - and photosynthetically active radiation and temperature - in an area beneath the spring Antarctic ozone 'hole', by establishing a measuring station able to measure these environ-mental parameters over prolonged periods (5 years or more); b. Monitoring possible changes in Antarctic coastal vegetation by selective exclusion of UV - B form the natural irradiation and increased temperature in comparison with the vegetation under natural circumstances over prolonged periods (> 10 years); c.