Summary

Antarctic vegetation is exposed to elevated levels of UV-B radiation (UVBR) as a result of ozone depletion. Three species of co-occurring Antarctic bryophytes, Bryum pseudotriquetrum, Grimmia antarctici and Ceratodon purpureus were irradiated with artificial UV-B or UVA radiation in either a fully hydrated or desiccated state. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays found DNA damage in the form of cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers and 6,4-photoproducts to be specific to UVBR, and DNA damage was significantly higher in the endemic moss, G.antarctici, than the other 2 species. In all species, desiccated moss accumulated less damage than hydrated moss. In a season of low ozone depletion, field samples of the 3 species exposed to ambient levels of UV-BR were collected at noon. There was no evidence that DNA damage accumulated in response to field levels of UV-BR. This study demonstrates that desiccation can confer protection from UV-B induced DNA damage in all three species but that G.antarctici is potentially more vulnerable to elevated UV-BR than the other 2 species. Continuing ozone depletion events may thus have consequences for the endemic’s future competitiveness.

Authors:Turnbull J.D. Leslie S.J. Wasley J. Robinson S.A. Published in: 2005 Category 3: Poster Program area: Biology
Turnbull J.D., Leslie S.J., Wasley J., Robinson S.A. (2005) Susceptibility of Antarctic Mosses to UV-B induced DNA damage, Abstracts of the International Botanical Congress, Vienna, July 2005 (poster presentation);

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