A field methodology to study effects of UV radiation on fish larvae

There is a considerable lack of in situ specific information about the effects of UV-B radiation on limnic animals studied in the field. We exposed larval pike (Esox lucius L.) in two types of cuvettes (glass and quartz) placed at different depths (5 or 15 cm) to natural solar UV or to artificially enhanced UV-B (lamps on 3 h per day), simulating the scenarios for coming decades. Dose realism and comparability with earlier laboratory experiments was the main purpose, and therefore UV-B irradiances to the surface as well as underwater irradiances were directly measured. Result showed that UV-B dose rates in natural waters are low even though DOC concentration was low (4.8 mg/l) in our study lake. A slight increase in ambient UV-B dose rates was enough to cause neurobehavioral symptoms in pike larvae. However, the dose rates applied were inadequate to affect superoxide dismutase (SOD) or HSP70. While assessing the suggested risks due to increased UV, conclusions emphasize the importance of conducting field UV studies as supplements to laboratory experiments. We also recommend direct measurements of UV-radiation at sites where the target organisms are actually exposed.