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Burke LM, Davies TW, Wilcockson D, Jenkins S, Ellison A. Artificial light and cloud cover interact to disrupt celestial migrations at night. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 943:173790. [PMID: 38851339 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.173790] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2023] [Revised: 06/03/2024] [Accepted: 06/03/2024] [Indexed: 06/10/2024]
Abstract
The growth of human activity and infrastructure has led to an unprecedented rise in the use of Artificial Light at Night (ALAN) with demonstrable impacts on ecological communities and ecosystem services. However, there remains very little information on how ALAN interacts with or obscures light from celestial bodies, which provide vital orientating cues in a number of species. Furthermore, no studies to date have examined how climatic conditions such as cloud cover, known to influence the intensity of skyglow, interact with lunar irradiance and ALAN over the course of a lunar cycle to alter migratory abilities of species. Our night-time field study aimed to establish how lunar phase and climatic conditions (cloud cover) modulate the impact of ALAN on the abundance and migratory behaviour of Talitrus saltator, a key sandy beach detritivore which uses multiple light associated cues during nightly migrations. Our results showed that the number and size of individuals caught decreased significantly as ALAN intensity increased. Additionally, when exposed to ALAN more T. saltator were caught travelling parallel to the shoreline, indicating that the presence of ALAN is inhibiting their ability to navigate along their natural migration route, potentially impacting the distribution of the population. We found that lunar phase and cloud cover play a significant role in modifying the impact of ALAN, highlighting the importance of incorporating natural light cycles and climatic conditions when investigating ALAN impacts. Critically we demonstrate that light levels as low as 3 lx can have substantial effects on coastal invertebrate distributions. Our results provide the first evidence that ALAN impacted celestial migration can lead to changes to the distribution of a species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leo M Burke
- Bangor University, School of Natural Sciences, Bangor LL57 2UW, UK.
| | - Thomas W Davies
- University of Plymouth, School of Biological and Marine Sciences, Drake Circus, Plymouth PL4 8AA, UK
| | - David Wilcockson
- Aberystwyth University, Department of Life Sciences, Edward Llywd Building, Aberystwyth SY23 3DA, UK
| | - Stuart Jenkins
- Bangor University, School of Ocean Sciences, Menai Bridge LL59 5AB, UK
| | - Amy Ellison
- Bangor University, School of Natural Sciences, Bangor LL57 2UW, UK
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2
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Neptune TC, Benard MF. Longer days, larger grays: carryover effects of photoperiod and temperature in gray treefrogs, Hyla versicolor. Proc Biol Sci 2024; 291:20241336. [PMID: 38981527 PMCID: PMC11335022 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2024.1336] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/26/2023] [Revised: 06/17/2024] [Accepted: 06/18/2024] [Indexed: 07/11/2024] Open
Abstract
Environmental conditions like temperature and photoperiod can strongly shape organisms' growth and development. For many ectotherms with complex life cycles, global change will cause their offspring to experience warmer conditions and earlier-season photoperiods, two variables that can induce conflicting responses. We experimentally manipulated photoperiod and temperature during gray treefrog (Hyla versicolor) larval development to examine effects at metamorphosis and during short (10-day) and long (56-day) periods post-metamorphosis. Both early- and late-season photoperiods (April and August) decreased age and size at metamorphosis relative to the average-season (June) photoperiod, while warmer temperatures decreased age but increased size at metamorphosis. Warmer larval temperatures reduced short-term juvenile growth but had no long-term effect. Conversely, photoperiod had no short-term carryover effect, but juveniles from early- and late-season larval photoperiods had lower long-term growth rates than juveniles from the average-season photoperiod. Similar responses to early- and late-season photoperiods may be due to reduced total daylight compared with average-season photoperiods. However, juveniles from late-season photoperiods selected cooler temperatures than early-season juveniles, suggesting that not all effects of photoperiod were due to total light exposure. Our results indicate that despite both temperature and photoperiod affecting metamorphosis, the long-term effects of photoperiod may be much stronger than those of temperature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Troy C. Neptune
- Department of Biology, Case Western Reserve University, 10900 Euclid Ave, Cleveland, OH44106-7080, USA
| | - Michael F. Benard
- Department of Biology, Case Western Reserve University, 10900 Euclid Ave, Cleveland, OH44106-7080, USA
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3
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Kloas W, Stöck M, Lutz I, Ziková-Kloas A. Endocrine disruption in teleosts and amphibians is mediated by anthropogenic and natural environmental factors: implications for risk assessment. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2024; 379:20220505. [PMID: 38310939 PMCID: PMC10838649 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2022.0505] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2023] [Accepted: 11/07/2023] [Indexed: 02/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Environmental variation in the Anthropocene involves several factors that interfere with endocrine systems of wildlife and humans, presenting a planetary boundary of still unknown dimensions. Here, we focus on chemical compounds and other impacts of anthropogenic and natural origins that are adversely affecting reproduction and development. The main sink of these endocrine disruptors (EDs) is surface waters, where they mostly endanger aquatic vertebrates, like teleost fish and amphibians. For regulatory purposes, EDs are categorized into EATS modalities (oestrogenic, androgenic, thyroidal, steroidogenesis), only addressing endocrine systems being assessable by validated tests. However, there is evidence that non-EATS modalities-and even natural sources, such as decomposition products of plants or parasitic infections-can affect vertebrate endocrine systems. Recently, the disturbance of natural circadian light rhythms by artificial light at night (ALAN) has been identified as another ED. Reviewing the knowledge about EDs affecting teleosts and amphibians leads to implications for risk assessment. The generally accepted WHO-definition for EDs, which focuses exclusively on 'exogenous substances' and neglects parasitic infections or ALAN, seems to require some adaptation. Natural EDs have been involved in coevolutionary processes for ages without resulting in a general loss of biodiversity. Therefore, to address the 'One Health'-principle, future research and regulatory efforts should focus on minimizing anthropogenic factors for endocrine disruption. This article is part of the theme issue 'Endocrine responses to environmental variation: conceptual approaches and recent developments'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Werner Kloas
- Department of Fish Biology, Fisheries and Aquaculture, Leibniz Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries, Müggelseedamm 310, 12587 Berlin, Germany
- Department of Endocrinology, Institute of Biology and Albrecht Daniel Thaer Institute, Faculty of Life Sciences, Humboldt University, Unter den Linden 6, 10117 Berlin, Germany
| | - Matthias Stöck
- Department of Fish Biology, Fisheries and Aquaculture, Leibniz Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries, Müggelseedamm 310, 12587 Berlin, Germany
| | - Ilka Lutz
- Department of Fish Biology, Fisheries and Aquaculture, Leibniz Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries, Müggelseedamm 310, 12587 Berlin, Germany
| | - Andrea Ziková-Kloas
- Department of Fish Biology, Fisheries and Aquaculture, Leibniz Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries, Müggelseedamm 310, 12587 Berlin, Germany
- Ecotoxicological Laboratory, German Environment Agency, Schichauweg 58, 12307 Berlin, Germany
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Tidau S, Brough FT, Gimenez L, Jenkins SR, Davies TW. Impacts of artificial light at night on the early life history of two ecosystem engineers. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2023; 378:20220363. [PMID: 37899009 PMCID: PMC10613533 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2022.0363] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2023] [Accepted: 06/26/2023] [Indexed: 10/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Sessile marine invertebrates play a vital role as ecosystem engineers and in benthic-pelagic coupling. Most benthic fauna develop through larval stages and the importance of natural light cycles for larval biology and ecology is long-established. Natural light-dark cycles regulate two of the largest ocean-scale processes that are fundamental to larvae's life cycle: the timing of broadcast spawning for successful fertilization and diel vertical migration for foraging and predator avoidance. Given the reliance on light and the ecological role of larvae, surprisingly little is known about the impacts of artificial light at night (ALAN) on the early life history of habitat-forming species. We quantified ALAN impacts on larval performance (survival, growth, development) of two cosmopolitan ecosystem engineers in temperate marine ecosystems, the mussel Mytilus edulis and the barnacle Austrominius modestus. Higher ALAN irradiance reduced survival in both species (57% and 13%, respectively). ALAN effects on development and growth were small overall, and different between species, time-points and parentage. Our results show that ALAN adversely affects larval survival and reiterates the importance of paternal influence on offspring performance. ALAN impacts on the early life stages of ecosystem engineering species have implications not only for population viability but also the ecological communities that these species support. This article is part of the theme issue 'Light pollution in complex ecological systems'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Svenja Tidau
- School of Biological and Marine Sciences, University of Plymouth, Plymouth PL4 8AA, UK
| | - Fraser T. Brough
- School of Biological and Marine Sciences, University of Plymouth, Plymouth PL4 8AA, UK
| | - Luis Gimenez
- School of Ocean Sciences, Bangor University, Menai Bridge LL59 5AB, UK
| | - Stuart R. Jenkins
- School of Ocean Sciences, Bangor University, Menai Bridge LL59 5AB, UK
| | - Thomas W. Davies
- School of Biological and Marine Sciences, University of Plymouth, Plymouth PL4 8AA, UK
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Neptune TC, Benard MF. Photoperiod effects in a freshwater community: Amphibian larvae develop faster and zooplankton abundance increases under an early-season photoperiod. Ecol Evol 2023; 13:e10400. [PMID: 37560180 PMCID: PMC10408251 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.10400] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2023] [Revised: 07/21/2023] [Accepted: 07/24/2023] [Indexed: 08/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Organisms that shift their phenologies in response to global warming will experience novel photic environments, as photoperiod (daylength) continues to follow the same annual cycle. How different organisms respond to novel photoperiods could result in phenological mismatches and altered interspecific interactions. We conducted an outdoor mesocosm experiment exposing green frog (Rana clamitans) larvae, gray treefrog (Hyla versicolor) larvae, phytoplankton, periphyton, and zooplankton to a three-month shift in photoperiod: an early-season photoperiod (simulating April) and a late-season photoperiod (simulating July). We manipulated photoperiod by covering and uncovering tanks with clear or light-blocking lids to mimic realistic changes in daylength. We assessed amphibian life history traits and measured phytoplankton, periphyton, and zooplankton abundances. Green frog larvae and gray treefrog metamorphs were more developed under the early-season photoperiod. Gray treefrog total length was also reduced, but photoperiod did not affect green frog total length. Although phytoplankton and periphyton abundances were not affected by photoperiod, copepod nauplii were in greater abundance under the early-season photoperiod. Overall, this simplified aquatic community did not exhibit significant changes to structure when exposed to a three-month shift in photoperiod. Temperate amphibians that breed earlier in the year may develop faster, which may have long-term costs to post-metamorphic growth and performance. Asynchronous shifts in zooplankton abundances in response to altered photoperiods could subsequently affect freshwater community structure. While photoperiod has been shown to individually affect freshwater organisms, our study using replicated outdoor wetland communities shows that the comprehensive effects of photoperiod may be less important than other cues such as temperature and precipitation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Troy C. Neptune
- Department of BiologyCase Western Reserve UniversityClevelandOhioUSA
| | - Michael F. Benard
- Department of BiologyCase Western Reserve UniversityClevelandOhioUSA
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Duarte C, Quintanilla-Ahumada D, Anguita C, Silva-Rodriguez EA, Manríquez PH, Widdicombe S, Pulgar J, Miranda C, Jahnsen-Guzmán N, Quijón PA. Field experimental evidence of sandy beach community changes in response to artificial light at night (ALAN). THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 872:162086. [PMID: 36764536 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.162086] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2022] [Revised: 12/19/2022] [Accepted: 02/03/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Artificial light at night (ALAN) is a pervasive but still under-recognized driver of global change. In coastal settings, a large majority of the studies assessing ALAN impacts has focused on individual species, even though it is unclear whether results gathered from single species can be used to predict community-wide responses. Similarly, these studies often treat species as single life-stage entities, ignoring the variation associated with distinct life stages. This study addresses both limitations by focusing on the effects of ALAN on a sandy beach community consisting of species with distinct early- and late-life stages. Our hypothesis was that ALAN alters community structure and these changes are mediated by individual species and also by their ontogenetic stages. A field experiment was conducted in a sandy beach of north-central Chile using an artificial LED system. Samples were collected at different night hours (8-levels in total) across the intertidal (9-levels) over several days in November and January (austral spring and summer seasons). The abundance of adults of all species was significantly lower in ALAN treatments. Early stages of isopods showed the same pattern, but the opposite was observed for the early stages of the other two species. Clear differences were detected in the zonation of these species during natural darkness versus those exposed to ALAN, with some adult-juvenile differences in this response. These results support our hypothesis and document a series of changes affecting differentially both early and late life stages of these species, and ultimately, the structure of the entire community. Although the effects described correspond to short-term responses, more persistent effects are likely to occur if ALAN sources become established as permanent features in sandy beaches. The worldwide growth of ALAN suggests that the scope of its effect will continue to grow and represents a concern for sandy beach systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristian Duarte
- Departamento de Ecología y Biodiversidad, Facultad de Ciencias de la Vida, Universidad, Andrés Bello, Santiago, Chile; Centro de Investigación Marina Quintay (CIMARQ), Facultad de Ciencias de la Vida, Universidad Andrés Bello, Santiago, Chile.
| | - Diego Quintanilla-Ahumada
- Departamento de Ecología y Biodiversidad, Facultad de Ciencias de la Vida, Universidad, Andrés Bello, Santiago, Chile; Programa de Doctorado en Medicina de la Conservación, Universidad Andrés Bello, Santiago, Chile
| | - Cristóbal Anguita
- Laboratorio de Ecología de Vida Silvestre, Facultad de Ciencias Forestales y Conservación de la Naturaleza, Universidad de Chile, Av. Santa Rosa 11315, La Pintana, Santiago, Chile
| | - Eduardo A Silva-Rodriguez
- Instituto de Conservación, Biodiversidad y Territorio, Facultad de Ciencias Forestales y Recursos Naturales, Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia, Chile; Programa Austral Patagonia, Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia, Chile
| | - Patricio H Manríquez
- Centro de Estudios Avanzados en Zonas Áridas (CEAZA), Coquimbo, Chile; Laboratorio de Ecología y Conducta de la Ontogenia Temprana (LECOT), Coquimbo, Chile
| | - Stephen Widdicombe
- Plymouth Marine Laboratory, Prospect Place, West Hoe, Plymouth PL1 3DH, UK
| | - José Pulgar
- Departamento de Ecología y Biodiversidad, Facultad de Ciencias de la Vida, Universidad, Andrés Bello, Santiago, Chile; Centro de Investigación Marina Quintay (CIMARQ), Facultad de Ciencias de la Vida, Universidad Andrés Bello, Santiago, Chile
| | - Cristian Miranda
- Departamento de Ecología y Biodiversidad, Facultad de Ciencias de la Vida, Universidad, Andrés Bello, Santiago, Chile; Programa de Doctorado en Medicina de la Conservación, Universidad Andrés Bello, Santiago, Chile
| | - Nicole Jahnsen-Guzmán
- Departamento de Ecología y Biodiversidad, Facultad de Ciencias de la Vida, Universidad, Andrés Bello, Santiago, Chile; Programa de Doctorado en Medicina de la Conservación, Universidad Andrés Bello, Santiago, Chile
| | - Pedro A Quijón
- Department of Biology, University of Prince Edward Island, Charlottetown, PE, Canada
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7
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Gaston KJ, Gardner AS, Cox DTC. Anthropogenic changes to the nighttime environment. Bioscience 2023; 73:280-290. [PMID: 37091747 PMCID: PMC10113933 DOI: 10.1093/biosci/biad017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2022] [Revised: 12/16/2022] [Accepted: 02/23/2023] [Indexed: 04/25/2023] Open
Abstract
How the relative impacts of anthropogenic pressures on the natural environment vary between different taxonomic groups, habitats, and geographic regions is increasingly well established. By contrast, the times of day at which those pressures are most forcefully exerted or have greatest influence are not well understood. The impact on the nighttime environment bears particular scrutiny, given that for practical reasons (e.g., researchers themselves belong to a diurnal species), most studies on the impacts of anthropogenic pressures are conducted during the daytime on organisms that are predominantly day active or in ways that do not differentiate between daytime and nighttime. In the present article, we synthesize the current state of knowledge of impacts of anthropogenic pressures on the nighttime environment, highlighting key findings and examples. The evidence available suggests that the nighttime environment is under intense stress across increasing areas of the world, especially from nighttime pollution, climate change, and overexploitation of resources.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Alexandra S Gardner
- Environment and Sustainability Institute, University of Exeter, Penryn, Cornwall, United Kingdom
| | - Daniel T C Cox
- Environment and Sustainability Institute, University of Exeter, Penryn, Cornwall, United Kingdom
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Artifical light at night triggers slight transcriptomic effects on melatonin signaling but not synthesis in tadpoles of two anuran species. Comp Biochem Physiol A Mol Integr Physiol 2023; 280:111386. [PMID: 36740169 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpa.2023.111386] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2022] [Revised: 01/31/2023] [Accepted: 02/01/2023] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
The worldwide expansion of artificial light at night (ALAN) is acknowledged as a threat to biodiversity through alterations of the natural photoperiod triggering the disruption of physiological functions. In vertebrates, melatonin production during the dark phase can be decreased or suppressed by nocturnal light as shown in many taxa. But the effect of ALAN at low intensity mimicking light pollution in peri-urban area has never been investigated in amphibians. We filled this gap by studying the impact of low ALAN levels on the expression of genes related to melatonin synthesis and signaling in two anurans (agile frog, Rana dalmatina, and common toad, Bufo bufo). Circadian expression of genes encoding enzymes catalyzing melatonin synthesis (aralkylamine N-acetyltransferase, AANAT and acetylserotonin O-methyltransferase, ASMT) or melatonin receptors (Mel1a, Mel1b and Mel1c) was investigated using RT-qPCR after 23 days of nocturnal exposure to control (< 0.01 lx) or low ALAN (3 lx). We showed that the relative abundance of most transcripts was low in late afternoon and early evening (06 pm and 08 pm) and increased throughout the night in R. dalmatina. However, a clear and ample nocturnal pattern of target gene expression was not detected in control tadpoles of both species. Surprisingly, a low ALAN level had little influence on the relative expression of most melatonin-related genes. Only Mel1c expression in R. dalmatina and Mel1b expression in B. bufo were affected by ALAN. This target gene approach provides experimental evidence that melatonin signaling pathway was slightly affected by low ALAN level in anuran tadpoles.
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Aparício G, Carrilho M, Oliveira F, Mathias MDL, Tapisso JT, von Merten S. Artificial light affects the foraging behavior in greater white‐toothed shrews (
CROCIDURA RUSSULA
). Ethology 2022. [DOI: 10.1111/eth.13347] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Guilherme Aparício
- CESAM – Centro de Estudos do Ambiente e do Mar, Departamento de Biologia Animal Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade de Lisboa Lisboa Portugal
| | - Maílis Carrilho
- CESAM – Centro de Estudos do Ambiente e do Mar, Departamento de Biologia Animal Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade de Lisboa Lisboa Portugal
| | - Flávio Oliveira
- CESAM – Centro de Estudos do Ambiente e do Mar, Departamento de Biologia Animal Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade de Lisboa Lisboa Portugal
| | - Maria da Luz Mathias
- CESAM – Centro de Estudos do Ambiente e do Mar, Departamento de Biologia Animal Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade de Lisboa Lisboa Portugal
| | - Joaquim T. Tapisso
- CESAM – Centro de Estudos do Ambiente e do Mar, Departamento de Biologia Animal Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade de Lisboa Lisboa Portugal
| | - Sophie von Merten
- CESAM – Centro de Estudos do Ambiente e do Mar, Departamento de Biologia Animal Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade de Lisboa Lisboa Portugal
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Touzot M, Lefebure T, Lengagne T, Secondi J, Dumet A, Konecny-Dupre L, Veber P, Navratil V, Duchamp C, Mondy N. Transcriptome-wide deregulation of gene expression by artificial light at night in tadpoles of common toads. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 818:151734. [PMID: 34808173 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.151734] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2021] [Revised: 10/22/2021] [Accepted: 11/13/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Artificial light at night (ALAN) affects numerous physiological and behavioural mechanisms in various species by potentially disturbing circadian timekeeping systems and modifying melatonin levels. However, given the multiple direct and indirect effects of ALAN on organisms, large-scale transcriptomic approaches are essential to assess the global effect of ALAN on biological processes. Moreover, although studies have focused mainly on variations in gene expression during the night in the presence of ALAN, it is necessary to investigate the effect of ALAN on gene expression during the day. In this study, we combined de novo transcriptome sequencing and assembly, and a controlled laboratory experiment to evaluate the transcriptome-wide gene expression response using high-throughput (RNA-seq) in Bufo bufo tadpoles exposed to ecologically relevant light levels. Here, we demonstrated for the first time that ALAN affected gene expression at night (3.5% and 11% of differentially expressed genes when exposed to 0.1 and 5 lx compared to controls, respectively), but also during the day (11.2% of differentially expressed genes when exposed to 5 lx compared to controls) with a dose-dependent effect. ALAN globally induced a downregulation of genes (during the night, 58% and 62% of the genes were downregulated when exposed to 0.1 and 5 lx compared to controls, respectively, and during the day, 61.2% of the genes were downregulated when exposed to 5 lx compared to controls). ALAN effects were detected at very low levels of illuminance (0.1 lx) and affected mainly genes related to the innate immune system and, to a lesser extend to lipid metabolism. These results provide new insights into understanding the effects of ALAN on organism. ALAN impacted the expression of genes linked to a broad range of physiological pathways at very low levels of ALAN during night-time and during daytime, potentially resulting in reduced immune capacity under environmental immune challenges.
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Affiliation(s)
- Morgane Touzot
- Univ Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS, ENTPE, UMR 5023 LEHNA, F-69622, Villeurbanne, France.
| | - Tristan Lefebure
- Univ Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS, ENTPE, UMR 5023 LEHNA, F-69622, Villeurbanne, France
| | - Thierry Lengagne
- Univ Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS, ENTPE, UMR 5023 LEHNA, F-69622, Villeurbanne, France
| | - Jean Secondi
- Univ Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS, ENTPE, UMR 5023 LEHNA, F-69622, Villeurbanne, France; Faculté des Sciences, Université d'Angers, 49045 Angers, France
| | - Adeline Dumet
- Univ Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS, ENTPE, UMR 5023 LEHNA, F-69622, Villeurbanne, France
| | - Lara Konecny-Dupre
- Univ Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS, ENTPE, UMR 5023 LEHNA, F-69622, Villeurbanne, France
| | - Philippe Veber
- Université de Lyon, Université Lyon 1, CNRS, Laboratoire de Biométrie et Biologie Evolutive UMR 5558, F-69622 Villeurbanne, France
| | - Vincent Navratil
- PRABI, Pôle Rhône-Alpes Bioinformatics Center, Université Lyon 1, 69622 Villeurbanne, France; Institut Français de Bioinformatique, UMS 3601, 91057 Évry, France
| | - Claude Duchamp
- Univ Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS, ENTPE, UMR 5023 LEHNA, F-69622, Villeurbanne, France
| | - Nathalie Mondy
- Univ Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS, ENTPE, UMR 5023 LEHNA, F-69622, Villeurbanne, France
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11
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A Systematic Review for Establishing Relevant Environmental Parameters for Urban Lighting: Translating Research into Practice. SUSTAINABILITY 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/su14031107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
The application of lighting technologies developed in the 20th century has increased the brightness and changed the spectral composition of nocturnal night-time habitats and night skies across urban, peri-urban, rural, and pristine landscapes, and subsequently, researchers have observed the disturbance of biological rhythms of flora and fauna. To reduce these impacts, it is essential to translate relevant knowledge about the potential adverse effects of artificial light at night (ALAN) from research into applicable urban lighting practice. Therefore, the aim of this paper is to identify and report, via a systematic review, the effects of exposure to different physical properties of artificial light sources on various organism groups, including plants, arthropods, insects, spiders, fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and non-human mammals (including bats, rodents, and primates). PRISMA 2020 guidelines were used to identify a total of 1417 studies from Web of Science and PubMed. In 216 studies, diverse behavioral and physiological responses were observed across taxa when organisms were exposed to ALAN. The studies showed that the responses were dependent on high illuminance levels, duration of light exposure, and unnatural color spectra at night and also highlighted where research gaps remain in the domains of ALAN research and urban lighting practice. To avoid misinterpretation, and to define a common language, key terminologies and definitions connected to natural and artificial light have been provided. Furthermore, the adverse impacts of ALAN urgently need to be better researched, understood, and managed for the development of future lighting guidelines and standards to optimize sustainable design applications that preserve night-time environment(s) and their inhabiting flora and fauna.
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12
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Reviewing the Role of Outdoor Lighting in Achieving Sustainable Development Goals. SUSTAINABILITY 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/su132212657] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) aim at providing a healthier planet for present and future generations. At the most recent SDG summit held in 2019, Member States recognized that the achievements accomplished to date have been insufficient to achieve this mission. This paper presents a comprehensive literature review of 227 documents contextualizing outdoor lighting with SDGs, showing its potential to resolve some existing issues related to the SDG targets. From a list of 17 goals, six SDGs were identified to have relevant synergies with outdoor lighting in smart cities, including SDG 3 (Good health and well-being), SDG 11 (Sustainable cities and communities), SDG 14 (Life below water) and SDG 15 (Life on land). This review also links efficient lighting roles partially with SDG 7 (Affordable and clean energy) and SDG 13 (Climate action) through Target 7.3 and Target 13.2, respectively. This paper identifies outdoor lighting as a vector directly impacting 16 of the 50 targets in the six SDGs involved. Each section in this review discusses the main aspects of outdoor lighting by a human-centric, energy efficiency and environmental impacts. Each aspect addresses the most recent studies contributing to lighting solutions in the literature, helping us to understand the positive and negative impacts of artificial lighting on living beings. In addition, the work summarizes the proposed solutions and results tackling specific topics impacting SDG demands.
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Secondi J, Mondy N, Gippet JMW, Touzot M, Gardette V, Guillard L, Lengagne T. Artificial light at night alters activity, body mass, and corticosterone level in a tropical anuran. Behav Ecol 2021. [DOI: 10.1093/beheco/arab044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Photoperiod is a major factor regulating biological rhythms in animals and plants. At low latitudes, annual variation in daylength is low and species are expected to strongly rely on photic cues to reset their circadian clocks. A corollary is that individuals should be strongly affected by sudden changes in the photic regime as those generated by artificial light at night (ALAN). We tested this hypothesis in an anuran in Costa Rica (10°N). Using an outdoor experimental design, we exposed adult cane toads Rhinella marina, a broadly distributed tropical anuran species to two ALAN intensities (0.04 and 5 lx). Locomotor activity was reduced at the lowest intensity, and the activity pattern shifted from crepuscular to nocturnal. Contrary to humans and mice in which ALAN favor obesity, toads from the two exposed groups did not gain mass whereas controls did. Corticosterone was reduced at the highest intensity, a possible consequence of the reduced activity of toads or the altered regulation of their circadian pattern. Thus, the behavioral and physiological disruption that we observed supports the hypothesis of the strong reliance on photic cues to regulate circadian rhythms and control homeostasis in this intertropical anuran. Furthermore, our results suggest that the negative effects of ALAN on physiology, in particular body mass regulation, may differ between vertebrate groups, thus preventing anticipated generalization before more comparative studies have been carried out. We stress the importance of considering the impact of the changing nocturnal environment in the intertropical zone which host the largest fraction of biodiversity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jean Secondi
- Univ Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS, ENTPE, UMR5023 LEHNA, F-69622, Villeurbanne,France
- Faculté des Sciences, Université d’Angers, 49045 Angers, France
| | - Nathalie Mondy
- Univ Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS, ENTPE, UMR5023 LEHNA, F-69622, Villeurbanne,France
| | - Jérôme Marcel Walter Gippet
- Univ Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS, ENTPE, UMR5023 LEHNA, F-69622, Villeurbanne,France
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of Lausanne, Le Biophore, UNIL-Sorge, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Morgane Touzot
- Univ Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS, ENTPE, UMR5023 LEHNA, F-69622, Villeurbanne,France
| | - Vanessa Gardette
- Univ Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS, ENTPE, UMR5023 LEHNA, F-69622, Villeurbanne,France
| | - Ludovic Guillard
- Univ Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS, ENTPE, UMR5023 LEHNA, F-69622, Villeurbanne,France
| | - Thierry Lengagne
- Univ Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS, ENTPE, UMR5023 LEHNA, F-69622, Villeurbanne,France
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Schligler J, Cortese D, Beldade R, Swearer SE, Mills SC. Long-term exposure to artificial light at night in the wild decreases survival and growth of a coral reef fish. Proc Biol Sci 2021; 288:20210454. [PMID: 34102892 PMCID: PMC8187998 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2021.0454] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2021] [Accepted: 05/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Artificial light at night (ALAN) is an increasing anthropogenic pollutant, closely associated with human population density, and now well recognized in both terrestrial and aquatic environments. However, we have a relatively poor understanding of the effects of ALAN in the marine realm. Here, we carried out a field experiment in the coral reef lagoon of Moorea, French Polynesia, to investigate the effects of long-term exposure (18-23 months) to chronic light pollution at night on the survival and growth of wild juvenile orange-fin anemonefish, Amphiprion chrysopterus. Long-term exposure to environmentally relevant underwater illuminance (mean: 4.3 lux), reduced survival (mean: 36%) and growth (mean: 44%) of juvenile anemonefish compared to that of juveniles exposed to natural moonlight underwater (mean: 0.03 lux). Our study carried out in an ecologically realistic situation in which the direct effects of artificial lighting on juvenile anemonefish are combined with the indirect consequences of artificial lighting on other species, such as their competitors, predators, and prey, revealed the negative impacts of ALAN on life-history traits. Not only are there immediate impacts of ALAN on mortality, but the decreased growth of surviving individuals may also have considerable fitness consequences later in life. Future studies examining the mechanisms behind these findings are vital to understand how organisms can cope and survive in nature under this globally increasing pollutant.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jules Schligler
- USR 3278 CRIOBE, BP 1013, PSL Université Paris: EPHE-UPVD-CNRS, 98729 Papetoai, Moorea, French Polynesia
| | - Daphne Cortese
- USR 3278 CRIOBE, BP 1013, PSL Université Paris: EPHE-UPVD-CNRS, 98729 Papetoai, Moorea, French Polynesia
| | - Ricardo Beldade
- USR 3278 CRIOBE, BP 1013, PSL Université Paris: EPHE-UPVD-CNRS, 98729 Papetoai, Moorea, French Polynesia
- Las Cruces, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Estación Costera de Investigaciones Marinas and Center for Advanced Studies in Ecology and Biodiversity, Santiago de Chile, Chile
| | - Stephen E. Swearer
- National Centre for Coasts and Climate and School of BioSciences, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, 3010, Australia
| | - Suzanne C. Mills
- USR 3278 CRIOBE, BP 1013, PSL Université Paris: EPHE-UPVD-CNRS, 98729 Papetoai, Moorea, French Polynesia
- Laboratoire d'Excellence ‘CORAIL’, France
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Owens ACS, Lewis SM. Effects of artificial light on growth, development, and dispersal of two North American fireflies (Coleoptera: Lampyridae). JOURNAL OF INSECT PHYSIOLOGY 2021; 130:104200. [PMID: 33607160 DOI: 10.1016/j.jinsphys.2021.104200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2020] [Revised: 02/07/2021] [Accepted: 02/08/2021] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
Holometabolous insects exhibit complex life cycles in which both morphology and ecological niche change dramatically during development. In the larval stage, many insects have soft, slow-moving bodies and poor vision, limiting their ability to respond to environmental threats. Artificial light at night (ALAN) is an environmental perturbation known to severely impact the fitness of adult insects by disrupting both temporal and spatial orientation. The impact of ALAN on earlier life stages, however, is largely unknown. We conducted a series of laboratory experiments to investigate how two distinct forms of ALAN affect the development and movement of immature Photuris sp. and Photinus obscurellus fireflies. Although long-term exposure to dim light at night (dLAN), akin to urban skyglow, did not impact overall survivorship or duration of egg, larval, and pupal stages in either species, it did accelerate weight gain in early-instar Photuris larvae. Late-instar Photuris exposed to point sources of ALAN at the start of their nightly foraging period were also significantly more likely to burrow beneath the soil surface, rather than disperse across it. ALAN may therefore impede dispersal of firefly larvae away from illuminated areas, which could have downstream consequences for the reproductive fitness of adults.
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Affiliation(s)
- Avalon C S Owens
- Tufts University, Department of Biology, 200 College Avenue, Medford, MA 02155, United States.
| | - Sara M Lewis
- Tufts University, Department of Biology, 200 College Avenue, Medford, MA 02155, United States
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Miner KA, Huertas M, Aspbury AS, Gabor CR. Artificial Light at Night Alters the Physiology and Behavior of Western Mosquitofish (Gambusia affinis). Front Ecol Evol 2021. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2021.617063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Human population growth and its associated effects on the environment contribute to the rapid decrease of biodiversity worldwide. Artificial light at night (ALAN) is an anthropogenic pollutant that is increasing with the spread of urbanization and may contribute to biodiversity declines. ALAN alters the migration patterns of birds, communication in frogs, and impacts reproduction, behavior, and physiology of multiple other taxa. However, most of the studies on ALAN are based on terrestrial systems, and overall, the effects of ALAN on freshwater organisms are poorly understood. We investigated how ALAN affects the physiology, behavior, and reproduction of a widespread, tolerant species of freshwater fish. Gambusia affinis are small livebearing fish often found in urban streams. We exposed groups of female G. affinis to either a natural light cycle or a constant 24-h light cycle (ALAN) in the laboratory for 60 days. In another experiment, we exposed female G. affinis to the same treatments in outdoor mesocosms for 32 days. We found that exposure to ALAN lowered glucose levels in the brain and decreased swimming activity, but had no effect on cortisol release rates, reproduction, survival, or growth. This research is strengthened by measuring multiple metrics in response to ALAN and by incorporating both a field and laboratory component which confirm similar results. These results suggest that this tolerant species of fish may behaviorally adjust to ALAN rather than modulate their endocrine stress response.
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Kupprat F, Kloas W, Krüger A, Schmalsch C, Hölker F. Misbalance of thyroid hormones after two weeks of exposure to artificial light at night in Eurasian perch Perca fluviatilis. CONSERVATION PHYSIOLOGY 2021; 9:coaa124. [PMID: 33659060 PMCID: PMC7905158 DOI: 10.1093/conphys/coaa124] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2020] [Revised: 09/27/2020] [Accepted: 12/04/2020] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
Artificial light at night (ALAN) can affect the physiology and behavior of animals because it alters the natural rhythm of light and darkness. Thyroid hormones (TH) are partially regulated by the light information of photoperiod and are involved in metabolic adjustments to daily and seasonal changes in the environment, such as larval and juvenile development, somatic growth and reproduction. ALAN can change photoperiodic information and might thereby lead to changes in thyroid metabolism, but so far research on this topic is scarce. Therefore, we tested in two different experiments the effects of nocturnal illumination at a wide range of light intensities on TH in plasma of Eurasian perch (Perca fluviatilis). Total 3,3',5-triiodo-L-thyronine (T3) was significantly affected by ALAN and reduced at the highest tested intensity of 100 lx after only two weeks of exposure. Although total L-thyroxine (T4) was not significantly affected, the ratio of T3 to T4 tended to slightly decrease at 100 lx. In a second low-light experiment ALAN did not have clear effects on T3, T4 or the ratio of T3 to T4 at intensities between 0.01 lx and 1 lx. The results show first signs of endocrine disruption in thyroid metabolism after a relatively short ALAN exposure of two weeks under high-intensity streetlight conditions. Misbalanced thyroidal status can have serious implications for metabolic rates as well as developmental and reproductive processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Franziska Kupprat
- Leibniz-Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries, Müggelseedamm 310, 12587 Berlin, Germany
- Faculty of Life Sciences, Humboldt University, Invalidenstr. 42, 10099 Berlin, Germany
- Corresponding author: Leibniz-Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries, Müggelseedamm 310, 12587 Berlin, Germany.
| | - Werner Kloas
- Leibniz-Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries, Müggelseedamm 310, 12587 Berlin, Germany
- Faculty of Life Sciences, Humboldt University, Invalidenstr. 42, 10099 Berlin, Germany
| | - Angela Krüger
- Leibniz-Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries, Müggelseedamm 310, 12587 Berlin, Germany
| | - Claudia Schmalsch
- Leibniz-Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries, Müggelseedamm 310, 12587 Berlin, Germany
| | - Franz Hölker
- Leibniz-Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries, Müggelseedamm 310, 12587 Berlin, Germany
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Falcón J, Torriglia A, Attia D, Viénot F, Gronfier C, Behar-Cohen F, Martinsons C, Hicks D. Exposure to Artificial Light at Night and the Consequences for Flora, Fauna, and Ecosystems. Front Neurosci 2020; 14:602796. [PMID: 33304237 PMCID: PMC7701298 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2020.602796] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2020] [Accepted: 10/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The present review draws together wide-ranging studies performed over the last decades that catalogue the effects of artificial-light-at-night (ALAN) upon living species and their environment. We provide an overview of the tremendous variety of light-detection strategies which have evolved in living organisms - unicellular, plants and animals, covering chloroplasts (plants), and the plethora of ocular and extra-ocular organs (animals). We describe the visual pigments which permit photo-detection, paying attention to their spectral characteristics, which extend from the ultraviolet into infrared. We discuss how organisms use light information in a way crucial for their development, growth and survival: phototropism, phototaxis, photoperiodism, and synchronization of circadian clocks. These aspects are treated in depth, as their perturbation underlies much of the disruptive effects of ALAN. The review goes into detail on circadian networks in living organisms, since these fundamental features are of critical importance in regulating the interface between environment and body. Especially, hormonal synthesis and secretion are often under circadian and circannual control, hence perturbation of the clock will lead to hormonal imbalance. The review addresses how the ubiquitous introduction of light-emitting diode technology may exacerbate, or in some cases reduce, the generalized ever-increasing light pollution. Numerous examples are given of how widespread exposure to ALAN is perturbing many aspects of plant and animal behaviour and survival: foraging, orientation, migration, seasonal reproduction, colonization and more. We examine the potential problems at the level of individual species and populations and extend the debate to the consequences for ecosystems. We stress, through a few examples, the synergistic harmful effects resulting from the impacts of ALAN combined with other anthropogenic pressures, which often impact the neuroendocrine loops in vertebrates. The article concludes by debating how these anthropogenic changes could be mitigated by more reasonable use of available technology - for example by restricting illumination to more essential areas and hours, directing lighting to avoid wasteful radiation and selecting spectral emissions, to reduce impact on circadian clocks. We end by discussing how society should take into account the potentially major consequences that ALAN has on the natural world and the repercussions for ongoing human health and welfare.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jack Falcón
- Laboratoire Biologie des Organismes et Ecosystèmes Aquatiques (BOREA), MNHN, CNRS FRE 2030, SU, IRD 207, UCN, UA, Paris, France
| | - Alicia Torriglia
- Centre de Recherche des Cordeliers, INSERM U 1138, Ophtalmopole Hôpital Cochin, Assistance Publique - Hôpitaux de Paris, Université de Paris - SU, Paris, France
| | - Dina Attia
- ANSES, French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health & Safety, Maisons-Alfort, France
| | | | - Claude Gronfier
- Lyon Neuroscience Research Center (CRNL), Waking Team, Inserm UMRS 1028, CNRS UMR 5292, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Lyon, France
| | - Francine Behar-Cohen
- Centre de Recherche des Cordeliers, INSERM U 1138, Ophtalmopole Hôpital Cochin, Assistance Publique - Hôpitaux de Paris, Université de Paris - SU, Paris, France
| | | | - David Hicks
- Inserm, CNRS, Institut des Neurosciences Cellulaires et Intégratives, Université de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
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Stemp KM, Anderson TL, Davenport JM. Macrogeographic variation of a pond predator's top‐down effects in a common garden environment. POPUL ECOL 2020. [DOI: 10.1002/1438-390x.12071] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Kenzi M. Stemp
- Department of Biology Appalachian State University Boone North Carolina USA
| | - Thomas L. Anderson
- Department of Biology Appalachian State University Boone North Carolina USA
| | - Jon M. Davenport
- Department of Biology Appalachian State University Boone North Carolina USA
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20
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Effects of traffic-regulated street lighting on nocturnal insect abundance and bat activity. Basic Appl Ecol 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.baae.2020.06.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
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21
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Cope KL, Schook MW, Benard MF. Exposure to artificial light at night during the larval stage has delayed effects on juvenile corticosterone concentration in American toads, Anaxyrus americanus. Gen Comp Endocrinol 2020; 295:113508. [PMID: 32442544 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2020.113508] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2019] [Revised: 05/02/2020] [Accepted: 05/08/2020] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
Artificial Light At Night (ALAN) is an environmental stressor that can disrupt individual physiology and ecological interactions. Hormones such as corticosterone are often responsible for mediating an organism's response to environmental stressors. We investigated whether ALAN was associated with a corticosterone response and whether it exacerbated the effects of another common stressor, predation. We tested for consumptive, non-consumptive, and physiological effects of ALAN and predator presence (dragonfly larvae) on a widespread amphibian, the American toad (Anaxyrus americanus). We found predators had consumptive (decreased survival) and non-consumptive (decreased growth) effects on larval toads. ALAN did not affect larval toads nor did it interact with the predator treatment to increase larval toad predation. Despite the consumptive and non-consumptive effects of predators, neither predators nor ALAN affected corticosterone concentration in the larval and metamorph life-stages. In contrast to studies in other organisms, we did not find any evidence that suggested ALAN alters predator-prey interactions between dragonfly larvae and toads. However, there was an inverse relationship between corticosterone and survival that was exacerbated by exposure to ALAN when predators were absent. Additionally, larval-stage exposure to ALAN increased corticosterone concentration in juvenile toads. Our results suggest the physiological effects of ALAN may not be demonstrated until later life-stages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kacey L Cope
- Department of Biology, Case Western Reserve University, 10900 Euclid Ave., Cleveland, OH 44016, USA.
| | - Mandi W Schook
- Cleveland Metroparks Zoo, 4200 Wildlife Way, Cleveland, OH 44109, USA; Disney's Animals, Science and Environment, 1200 East Savannah Circle, Bay Lake, FL, USA.
| | - Michael F Benard
- Department of Biology, Case Western Reserve University, 10900 Euclid Ave., Cleveland, OH 44016, USA.
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Abstract
The disruption to natural light regimes caused by outdoor artificial nighttime lighting has significant impacts on human health and the natural world. Artificial light at night takes two forms, light emissions and skyglow (caused by the scattering of light by water, dust and gas molecules in the atmosphere). Key to determining where the biological impacts from each form are likely to be experienced is understanding their spatial occurrence, and how this varies with other landscape factors. To examine this, we used data from the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) day/night band and the World Atlas of Artificial Night Sky Brightness, to determine covariation in (a) light emissions, and (b) skyglow, with human population density, landcover, protected areas and roads in Britain. We demonstrate that, although artificial light at night increases with human density, the amount of light per person decreases with increasing urbanization (with per capita median direct emissions three times greater in rural than urban populations, and per capita median skyglow eleven times greater). There was significant variation in artificial light at night within different landcover types, emphasizing that light pollution is not a solely urban issue. Further, half of English National Parks have higher levels of skyglow than light emissions, indicating their failure to buffer biodiversity from pressures that artificial lighting poses. The higher per capita emissions in rural than urban areas provide different challenges and opportunities for mitigating the negative human health and environmental impacts of light pollution.
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Working with Inadequate Tools: Legislative Shortcomings in Protection against Ecological Effects of Artificial Light at Night. SUSTAINABILITY 2020. [DOI: 10.3390/su12062551] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
The fundamental change in nocturnal landscapes due to the increasing use of artificial light at night (ALAN) is recognized as being detrimental to the environment and raises important regulatory questions as to whether and how it should be regulated based on the manifold risks to the environment. Here, we present the results of an analysis of the current legal obligations on ALAN in context with a systematic review of adverse effects. The legal analysis includes the relevant aspects of European and German environmental law, specifically nature conservation and immission control. The review represents the results of 303 studies indicating significant disturbances of organisms and landscapes. We discuss the conditions for prohibitions by environmental laws and whether protection gaps persist and, hence, whether specific legislation for light pollution is necessary. While protection is predominantly provided for species with special protection status that reveal avoidance behavior of artificially lit landscapes and associated habitat loss, adverse effects on species and landscapes without special protection status are often unaddressed by existing regulations. Legislative shortcomings are caused by difficulties in proving adverse effect on the population level, detecting lighting malpractice, and applying the law to ALAN-related situations. Measures to reduce ALAN-induced environmental impacts are highlighted. We discuss whether an obligation to implement such measures is favorable for environmental protection and how regulations can be implemented.
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MALEK I, HAIM A. Bright artificial light at night is associated with increased body mass, poor reproductive success and compromised disease tolerance in Australian budgerigars (
Melopsittacus undulatus
). Integr Zool 2019; 14:589-603. [DOI: 10.1111/1749-4877.12409] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Itay MALEK
- Department of Evolutionary and Environmental BiologyUniversity of Haifa Mount Carmel Haifa Israel
| | - Abraham HAIM
- The Israeli Center for Interdisciplinary Research in ChronobiologyUniversity of Haifa Haifa Israel
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Abstract
Artificial light at night (ALAN) is increasing exponentially worldwide, accelerated by the transition to new efficient lighting technologies. However, ALAN and resulting light pollution can cause unintended physiological consequences. In vertebrates, production of melatonin—the “hormone of darkness” and a key player in circadian regulation—can be suppressed by ALAN. In this paper, we provide an overview of research on melatonin and ALAN in vertebrates. We discuss how ALAN disrupts natural photic environments, its effect on melatonin and circadian rhythms, and different photoreceptor systems across vertebrate taxa. We then present the results of a systematic review in which we identified studies on melatonin under typical light-polluted conditions in fishes, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals, including humans. Melatonin is suppressed by extremely low light intensities in many vertebrates, ranging from 0.01–0.03 lx for fishes and rodents to 6 lx for sensitive humans. Even lower, wavelength-dependent intensities are implied by some studies and require rigorous testing in ecological contexts. In many studies, melatonin suppression occurs at the minimum light levels tested, and, in better-studied groups, melatonin suppression is reported to occur at lower light levels. We identify major research gaps and conclude that, for most groups, crucial information is lacking. No studies were identified for amphibians and reptiles and long-term impacts of low-level ALAN exposure are unknown. Given the high sensitivity of vertebrate melatonin production to ALAN and the paucity of available information, it is crucial to research impacts of ALAN further in order to inform effective mitigation strategies for human health and the wellbeing and fitness of vertebrates in natural ecosystems.
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Ecological light pollution affects anuran calling season, daily calling period, and sensitivity to light in natural Brazilian wetlands. Naturwissenschaften 2019; 106:46. [PMID: 31280391 DOI: 10.1007/s00114-019-1640-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2019] [Revised: 06/24/2019] [Accepted: 06/25/2019] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
Ecological light pollution alters an environment's light cycle, potentially affecting photoperiod-controlled behavior. Anurans, for example, generally breed nocturnally, and the influence of light pollution on their natural history may therefore be especially strong. In this study, we tested this hypothesis by measuring male calling behavior of anuran communities in natural wetlands in southern Brazil exposed or not exposed to street lights. We recorded seasonal and diel calling activity and calling response to a light pulse. The peak calling season differed between continuously lit and unlit locations with most species in illuminated wetlands shortening their calling season and calling earlier in the year. In unlit breeding sites, Boana pulchella, Pseudis minuta, and Pseudopaludicola falcipes confined their calling activity to well-defined hours of the night, but in continuously lit areas, these species called more continuously through the night. A 2-minute light pulse inhibited calling, but only in unlit wetlands. After a light pulse, frogs quickly resumed calling-suggesting acclimatization to brief artificial light exposure. Our field experiment presents a convincing example of ecological light pollution showing that artificial light alters the seasonal and diel calling time of some South American wetland anurans. It also documents their acclimatization to brief lighting when being continuously exposed to light.
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