Acanthophora spicifera (M.Vahl) Børgesen is a macroalga of great economic importance. This study evaluated the antioxidant responses of two algal populations of A. spicifera adapted to different abiotic conditions when exposed to ultraviolet-A+ultraviolet-B radiation (UV-A+UV-B). Experiments were performed using the water at two collection points for 7 days of acclimatization and 7 days of exposure to UVR (3 h per day), followed by metabolic analyses. At point 1, water of 30 AE 1 practical salinity unit (psu) had concentrations of 1.06 AE 0.27 mM NH þ 4 , 8.47 AE 0.01 mM NO À 3 , 0.17 AE 0.01 mM PO À3 4 and pH 7.88. At point 2, water of 35 AE 1 psu had concentrations of 1.13 AE 0.05 mM NH þ 4 , 3.73 AE 0.01 mM NO À 3 , 0.52 AE 0.01 mM PO À3 4and pH 8.55. Chlorophyll a, phycobiliproteins, carotenoids, mycosporins, polyphenolics and antioxidant enzymes (catalase, superoxide dismutase and guaiacol peroxidase) were evaluated. The present study demonstrates that ultraviolet radiation triggers antioxidant activity in the A. spicifera. However, such activation resulted in greater responses in samples of the point 1, with lower salinity and highest concentration of nutrients.