UV absorption reveals mycosporine-like amino acids (MAAs) in Tatra mountain lake phytoplankton

Enhanced absorption of UV radiation, an effect characteristic of mycosporine-like amino acids (MAAs), is reported in samples of phytoplankton from six lakes in the Tatra Mountains National Park (Poland). It was demonstrated that the mass-specific UV absorption coefficients for the phytoplankton in these lakes increased with altitude above sea level. Based on a comparison with the phytoplankton of Alpine lakes, investigated earlier by other authors (cited in this paper), it may be inferred that the phytoplankton of Tatra mountain lakes produce MAAs, which protect plant cells from UV light, the intensity of which increases with altitude.