Effects of ultraviolet radiation removal on algal communities in three high-elevation Brazilian (ultra)oligotrophic lakes

Scientists' warning of threats to mountains

“…Colored dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and phytoplankton may attenuate the penetration of UV underwater, shielding freshwater species from negative effects of this radiation (Sommaruga et al, 1999). Variability in UVR reaching mountain freshwaters depends on factors such as cloud cover and air pollution (Brooks et al, 2005;de Oliveira et al, 2021;Diamond et al, 2005;Obertegger and Flaim, 2021;Sommaruga, 2001). Long-term changes in UV-B in turn are due to changes in atmospheric ozone levels, and despite the recovery of atmospheric ozone layers since the Montreal protocol was implemented (Barnes et al, 2019), new reports of ongoing lower stratospheric ozone depletion (Ball et al, 2018) and new ozone depleting agents in the atmosphere have been issued (Fang et al, 2019).…”