Estación de Fotobiología Playa Unión
What subjects are involved in Photobiology?
Why is Photobiology so important?
Do you research about the ‘ozone hole’? Do you work with the ozone layer?
What are the applications of Photobiology?
What do I need for being a photobiologist?
What is the photobiologist job like? (what do you do at EFPU?)
Where can I learn Photobiology?
What can I read about Photobiology? (books, articles, links, etc.)
What is the importance of EFPU in this zone?
Who supports EFPU activities (funding)?
What is the Playa Unión Foundation?
Are there other institutions like EFPU?
Does the EFPU have cooperation agreements with other institutions?
Can I start a new cooperation agreement with the EFPU?
Can I (or my group) make a visit to the EFPU?
Which equipment / instrumental does the EFPU have?
If you have further questions, do not hesitate to ask us.
Photobiology is the study of the effects of solar radiation on different organismas and ecosystems.
The sun provides the electromagnetic radiation which has the energy that keeps functioning terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, based in the photosynthetic process. Solar radiation, is therefore determinant to regulate both natural cycles (seasons, day and night) and other factors (altitude and latitudinal gradients of vegetation, vertical stratification, etc.). However, the same radiation which makes possible life on Earth, ca be deleterious in some cases.
Especially that range of radiation called ultraviolet radiation (UVR, 280-400 nm). Photosynthetic organisms are the ones which are affected first because they receive and use solar radiation directly and are the first step in the food web.
Since the discovery of ozone ‘hole’ over the antarctic continent, much advances has been achieved in UVR photobiolgy. Nowadays UVR is known to be one of the most important environmental factors that determine several ecosystem aspects, such as distribution, behaviour, presence of UV-protective compounds, and other adaptations.
Photobiology is mainly a branch of biology. However, we use currently some basic concepts from physics (most referred to caracteristics and types of electromagnetic radiation) and from chemistry (interactions between electromagnetic radiation and the different chemical structures).
Solar radiation sustains almost all biological activity on Earth.
A key step to understand fhe functioning of nature is to study the effects of solar radiation on different organisms and ecosystems. This give us valuable tools which can be useful in both in basic long-term research (like the effects of natural variations of solar radiation: seasonal cycles, diel cycles, solar cycles, etc.), and short-term applied research, more immediate for human society, like for example the effects caused by man (variations of the radiation reaching Earth surface: Antarctic ozone 'hole', little ozone 'holes' in the northern hemisphere).
In addition, Photobiology field also contributes to try to understand the interaction between several phenomena in relation to global climatic change (ozone depletion, UVR increase, raising of CO2 and temperature, etc.).
What we do at EFPU is not focused specifically on the ozone ‘hole’, in the sense that in general we do not perform climatological studies, nor atmospheric chemistry or physics.
There is , however, a direct or indirect relationship with the ozone layer or the decrease in stratospheric ozone when your work is researching about the effects of the UVR on living organisms, which is basically what we do at EFPU.
Results from research in Photobiology have applications in several fields, such as human health, aquaculture, resistance of out-door materials exposed to the sun, etc., and they provide practical and conceptual tools to assess the potencil effects of climatic change on natural communities.
This give us valuable tools which can be useful in both in basic long-term research (like the effects of natural variations of solar radiation: seasonal cycles, diel cycles, solar cycles, etc.), and short-term applied research, more immediate for human society, like for example the effects caused by man (variations of the radiation reaching Earth surface: Antarctic ozone 'hole', little ozone 'holes' in the northern hemisphere).
In addition, Photobiology studies also contribute to try to understand the interactions between several phenomena in relation to global climatic change (ozone depletion, UVR increase, raising of CO2 and temperature, etc.).
In general, phtobiologists are graduated in some career related to Biolgical Sciences, or they have graduated in other fields but are very interested in biology-related issues.
It is also advisable to have some basic knowledge on Physics, Chemistry and Maths.
The Estación de Fotobiología Playa Unión (EFPU) was created with the object of performing scientific studies about the effects of solar radiation on several organisms. This institution is unique in this zone, and it combines scientific research and educational activities through the Interpretation Center open to general public.
The EFPU is supported by a non-profit organization, the Playa Unión Foundation.
One of the main objects of EFPU is to carry on research activities in the field of Photobiology. In this sense, we have proyects and works in progress, together with other institutions, both national and international. In addition, we form part of cooperation agreements and networking which permit scientific interchange between EFPU staff and other institution researchers/students.
Activities in Estación de Fotobiología Playa Unión have a strong experimental orientation. Large amounts of time are invested in elaborating projects, proposals, planning and set-up, previous to experiments. After experiments, data is analysed and prepared to be shown or communicated in the form of scientific writings, which are later published in specialized high-quality jounals and books.
The experiments can be done inside culture chambers (artificial radiation and controlled conditions), tanks or outdoor containers (natural radiation and controlled conditions), or in situ experiments - in the same place where the natural process that you want to simulate occurs (natural radiation and other conditions like temperature, etc.).
Therefore, experimental science implies the necessity for measuring natural variables (e.g., radiation intensity, amount of hours of light, etc.) so to interpret and put in perspective the results of a set of experiments. For example, both radiation on water suface and in the water column are very important, which implies tu use a submergible sensor from a boat or ship.
In sum , this job has "office" work, which includes handling computers and instruments, writing a lot, data analysis, and "field" work, which includes obviously field trips, experiments in land and water, water (freshwater and marine) sampling, etc. We can not deny it's interesting!!
Photobiology is quite specific, thus it is advisable to get some training on biology or physics first, and then get in touch with some institution which is working on these studies. You can find some of those in the cooperations list.
You might want to have a look at our publications. Usually basic introductions in zoology and botany come with a chapter about external stimuli which should include something related to light.
Studies about ultraviolet radiation in aquatic organisms and time-series of radiation measurements in Patagonia are relatively scarce. The Estación de Fotobiología Playa Unión is the only institution of this type in central patagonic coast. The importance of EFPU for the zone is based on several points, such as the following:
- permanent measurement and storage of solar radiation data, using common protocols with other international centers for measuring solar radiation (e.g. ELDONET), determining processes related to decrease in stratospheric ozone (i.e., due to ozone reduction).
- closeness to the antarctic ozone ‘hole’,
- experimentation and studies with native patagonic species, exposed to periodic events of reduction of stratospheric ozone concentration,
- international scientific interchange with researchers of several universities and high-level institutes in different countries,
- human resources formation,
- organization of scientific meetings and events.
We obtain money through competing for research projects which are financed by some national and international institutions whish support scientific activities in different issues.
According to the rules of each funding institution, proposals are evaluated and selected by a specialised group of reviewers, and the winning project is total or parcially funded. With this money, equipment and materials can be bought for research. The EFPU has participated in several projects, due to the quality of our works. Other source of funding for the EFPU is the Playa Unión Foundation, which suppports the general manteinance costs. The Playa Unión Foundation also gives parcial grants to students and supports activities, field trips and travelling costs of visiting researchers.
In addition, the EFPU staff receives salary or grants from CONICET.
The Playa Unión Foundation is a non-profit organization (created in January 1997) which has the objective of supporting the activities performed by the EFPU staff, and to share knowledge on cultural, scientific and educational activities in the region.
If you want to know more about Playa Unión Foundation, please click here.
The Estación de Fotobiología Playa Unión - EFPU - was created in November 1996 with the support and interest of the people of the zone to support investigative work and to spread knowledge related to the effects of solar radiation in organisms. Since then, there is a rich and fluid interchange of ideas and researchers between EFPU and other international research institutes.
The Estación de Fotobiología Playa Unión is located on the atlantic patagonic coast, in a small city (Playa Unión, 43º19' S 65º03' W), on the southwest of South America (Chubut province), Republic of Argentina. At this latitude, the only neighbor country is Chile, to the west, across Los Andes mountains.
Around the world, there are several research teams working on different issues, related for exapmple to the ultraviolet radiation (UVR), the effects of UVR on terrestrial and aquatic organisms (both marine and freshwater), the decrease of ozone layer thickness, etc.
In Argentina there are just a few Research Centers dedicated exclusively to study the effectos of UVR on aquatic ecosystems.
You can see some other institutions which work with this subject on our cooperationspage.
Yes in deed. Currently there are activities in cooperation with national and international entities, and the possibility to start new agreements with other research teams is always present.
At this moment, and in the context of these agreements, the EFPU staff is working with several universities from Bolivia, Holland, Spain, Germany, People's Republic of China, Italy, Brazil, and of course with research teams from Argentina.
The Estación de Fotobiología Playa Unión is willing to start research and human resources activities un joint with other researchers and institutions, both from Argentina and foreigners as well. You or your institution can contact us to discuss and try to outline a project, with specific and clear goals which may result in a highly positive, collaborative program. Contact us right away.
Yes. Due to our permanent activities, may we suggest that you contact us first, in order to arrange date and time of the visit with reasonable anticipation.
Check here our equipment and instalations.