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Krill susceptible to UV light

Australian scientists have stumbled across a disturbing legacy of the hole in the ozone layer.

They have found krill, which lie at the heart of the Antarctic food chain, are highly susceptible to harmful ultra-violet light.

Researchers at the Australian Antarctic Division made the discovery while studying the genetics of krill.

Marine scientist Steve Nicol says under laboratory conditions, krill die when they are exposed to dangerous UV rays.

He says if the same occurs in the Southern Ocean, the main food source for seals, whales, penguins and fish will be diminished.

Dr Nicol says the discovery is deeply troubling.

"What we hope is that eventually the hole in the ozone layer will repair itself," he said.

"The trouble is that these things have awfully long time lags and the effects of these physical changes are largely on the biological systems.

"Most of the work that has been done to date has been looking at what effect the increase in ultra violet light will have on the plants of the ocean but what we have been doing is looking at the animals in the middle of the food, the krill, and it seems to be at this level we are likely to see an awful lot of effects."

Tags: marine-biology, cloning-and-dna