Ecological roles of solar UV radiation: towards an integrated approach

Research into the effects of ultraviolet (UV) radiation on terrestrial ecosystems remains a relatively new discipline that is currently split into two broad themes: the effects of increased UV-B radiation resulting from ozone depletion, and the role of UV radiation (largely UV-A) in the vision of many animals. Increases in UV-B radiation can damage many organisms, but the effects of solar UV on many ecological processes also depend on the use of UV-B and UV-A by microbes, plants and animals as a source of information about their environment. With few exceptions, the interface between UV vision and broader UV effects, such as altered plant chemistry and pigmentation, which can influence plant–animal interactions, remain unexplored. By considering the diversity of the effects of solar UV radiation on terrestrial ecosystems, we identify areas of common interest at the interface of the two areas of existing UV research.