9530334 Demers This proposal requests support for two meetings on the effects of UV-B radiation on aquatic ecosystems, both in high and low latitudes, and in both fresh- and salt-water environments. The first workshop, to be held in late 1996 in Ensenada, Mexico, will have as its products the following: a state of the art review, to be compiled and produced as a book, a discussion of the principal research themes for the group, and the division of labor between working groups for the production of a Phase II proposal to the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI). The second workshop, to be held in early 1997 in Buenos Aires, Argentina, will consist of a smaller group that meets to integrate the results of the working groups and draft the actual Phase II proposal. The preliminary comprehensive objective for a Phase II project is a latitudinal comparison of the effects of the variations in incident UV radiation at the individual, population, community, and ecosystem levels. This goal will be achieved through the following sub-objectives: the characterization of subsurface UV spectral irradiance; the quantification of the impact of environmental UV on biogeochemical processes with respect to spectral composition, intensity and duration of exposure; the quantification of the impact of UV-B radiation on the biology and bio-diversity of marine planktonic ecosystems up to decadal exposure times, with emphasis on phytoplankton and pelagic primary production, and measurements of possible UV-induced photoinhibition; and finally the training of local personnel to carry out a coordinated program of measurements and analysis. The proposed program would identify key areas of study at different levels in the ecosystems; coordinate efforts, sampling, and methods to be used for inter-site comparisons; and take advantage of existing ecosystem study sites (e.g. the Palmer LTER site). Facilities belonging to the following institution s might be used during Phase II: Argentine Antarctic Institute; Austral Center for Scientific Research, Argentina; Autonomous University of Baja California, Mexico; Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences, Canada; Center for Scientific Research and Higher Education of Ensenada, Mexico; National Autonomous University of Mexico in Yucat=E1n; National Institute fo= r =46isheries Development, Chile; National Institute for Fisheries Research an= d Development, Argentina; National Scientific Research Institute of the University of Qu=E9bec, Canada; Oceanographic Institute, University of Sao Paulo, Brazil; Scripps Institute of Oceanography, in the United States; Smithsonian Institute (facilities in Belize, C.A., and Maryland); and the University of San Francisco, USA. These institutions are all principally located in countries that are members of the IAI, a United States initiative to stimulate global change research among the scientific institutions of the Americas. The National Science Foundation is the designated U.S. Government agency to carry out the U.S. responsibilities within the IAI. %%% This proposal requests support for two international scientific meetings on the effects of ultra-violet radiation on aquatic ecosystems. The first workshop, to be held in late 1996 in Ensenada, Mexico, will have as its products the following: a state of the art review, to be compiled and produced as a book, a discussion of the principal research themes for the group, and the division of labor between working groups for the production of a Phase II proposal to the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI). The second workshop, to be held in early 1997 in Buenos Aires, Argentina, will consist of a smaller group that meets to integrate the results of the working groups and draft the actual Phase II proposal. The preliminary comprehensive objective for a Phase II project is a comparison of the effects of UV radiation on ecosystems at variou s levels. The proposed program would identify key areas of study, coordinate methods to be used for inter-site comparisons, and take advantage of existingecosyst em study sites (e.g. the Long Term Ecological Research sites). Facilities belonging to the following institutions might be used during Phase II: Argentine Antarctic Institute; Austral Center for Scientific Research, Argentina; Autonomous University of Baja California, Mexico; Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences, Canada; Center for Scientific Research and Higher Education of Ensenada, Mexico; National Autonomous University of Mexico in Yucat=E1n; National Institute for Fisheries Development, Chile; National Institute for Fisheries Research and Development, Argentina; National Scientific Research Institute of the University of Qu=E9bec, Canada= ; Oceanographic Institute, University of Sao Paulo, Brazil; Scripps Institute of Oceanography, in the United States; Smithsonian Institute (facilities in Belize, C.A., and Maryland); and the University of San Francisco, USA. These institutions are all principally located in countries that are members of the IAI, a United States initiative to stimulate global change research among the scientific institutions of the Americas. The National Science Foundation is the designated U.S. Government agency to carry out the U.S. responsibilities within the IAI. ***
