This study allows to know the influence of the spectrum of solar radiation on water communities from four Andalusian ecosystems: pools of Padul, Antequera, Cordova and Sierra Nevada. The research work involves an experimental analysis “in situ” by using certain areas of these water systems where the quality of solar radiation will be manipulated and changes in living creatures will be analyzed.
The research work is carried out in collaboration with the team Photobiology and Biotechnology of seaweeds of the University of Malaga. Team members, leaded by Félix López Figueroa, have a wide experience in similar works. The Project may open new horizons of research in global change and pollution.
The first part of the Project has been carried out during the summer in the province of Granada, Ander the direction of Presentación Carrillo, professor of Biology of the UGR. In a pool located at a height of 3,050 m, they have carried out ten enclosed water masses (mesocosmos) with 3,000 l each. Half these small artificial ecosystems have received natural radiation. The rest has been covered with big Plexiglas filters which prevent ultraviolet radiation from entering. Therefore, in such a case, harmful, negative radiation is removed.
The comparation of the results of both experimental groups will help to determine the effect of ultraviolet rays on high mountain ecosystems. According to this Professor from Granada, “this way we could determine on a medium-long time scale the effects of the different qualities of light in primary and bacterial production of planktonic organisms”.
UGR scientist says that “we will know which are the mechanisms of protection and adaptation of the different components of the trophic network against high ultraviolet radiation intensities in these extreme ecosystems”. Carrillo points out the value of these communities for their special sensitivity to atmospheric changes. “These ecosystes are usuallly undervalued because of the lack of general knowledge about their sensitivity to environmental changes”, she says.
Saharan Nutrients
The entry of nutrients into pools of Sierra Nevada is due to atmospheric transport from Sahara, rather than to human activity. “The so-called red rain is just a fall of dust from the Sahara desert. It is an important source of nutrients, especially phosphorus; it even goes as far as Caribbean, fertilizing the environment”, Professor Carrillo points out. Her research team has observed the consequences of this arrival to Granada´s ecosystem. Furthermore, it shows the relation between these atmospheric transport processes of nutrients and the different radiation levels.
The final objective of the project is to lead structural and functional changes which pelagic trophic networks may suffer depending on changes in ultraviolet rays’ intensity. “We intend to know if a modification in species composition has an important reflect in the functioning of the ecosystem”, she concludes.
Dictionary:
– ULTRAVIOLET RADIATION: Rank of the solar Radiation Spectrum with a wavelength below 400 nanometres.
– EUTROPHICATION: Cultural eutrophication refers to the entry of inorganic nutrients, specially nitrogen and phosphorus, owing to human activity.
– PELAGIC: Refers to water habitats in open waters.
Further information: Prof. Presentación Carrillo Lechuga
Department of Animal Biology and Ecology of the University of Granada
Phone number: 958 24 61 66. E-mail: pcl@ugr.es
