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Owens ACS, Van den Broeck M, De Cock R, Lewis SM. Behavioral responses of bioluminescent fireflies to artificial light at night. Front Ecol Evol 2022. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2022.946640] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Bioluminescent insects have been the subject of scientific interest and popular wonder for millennia. But in the 21st century, the fireflies, click beetles, and cave glow-worms that brighten our nights are threatened by an unprecedented competitor: anthropogenic light pollution. Artificial lights can obscure the light-based signals on which these and other bioluminescent organisms rely to court mates, deter predators, and attract prey. In the following review we summarize a recent influx of research into the behavioral consequences of artificial light at night for firefly beetles (Coleoptera: Lampyridae), which we organize into four distinct courtship signaling systems. We conclude by highlighting several opportunities for further research to advance this emerging field and by offering a set of up-to-date lighting recommendations that can help land managers and other stakeholders balance public safety and ecological sustainability.
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Owens ACS, Lewis SM. Artificial light impacts the mate success of female fireflies. R Soc Open Sci 2022; 9:220468. [PMID: 35958085 DOI: 10.6084/m9.figshare.c.6125244] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2022] [Accepted: 07/18/2022] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
Anthropogenic light pollution is a novel environmental disruption that affects the movement, foraging and mating behaviour of nocturnal animals. Most of these effects are sublethal, and their net impact on reproductive fitness and population persistence is often extrapolated from behavioural data. Without dedicated tracking of wild individuals, however, it is impossible to predict whether populations in light-polluted habitats will decline or, instead, move to shaded refuges. To disentangle these conflicting possibilities, we investigated how artificial light affects mating and movement in North American Photinus, a genus of bioluminescent fireflies known to experience courtship failure under artificial light. The degree to which artificial light reduced mate success depended on the intensity of the light treatment, its environmental context, and the temporal niche of the species in question. In the laboratory, direct exposure to artificial light completely prevented mating in semi-nocturnal Photinus obscurellus. In the field, artificial light had little impact on the movement or mate success of local Photinus pyralis and Photinus marginellus but strongly influenced mate location in Photinus greeni; all three species are relatively crepuscular. Our nuanced results suggest greater appreciation of behavioural diversity will help insect conservationists and dark sky advocates better target efforts to protect at-risk species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Avalon C S Owens
- Department of Biology, Tufts University, Medford, MA 02155-5801, USA
| | - Sara M Lewis
- Department of Biology, Tufts University, Medford, MA 02155-5801, USA
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Owens ACS, Lewis SM. Artificial light impacts the mate success of female fireflies. R Soc Open Sci 2022; 9:220468. [PMID: 35958085 PMCID: PMC9364009 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.220468] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2022] [Accepted: 07/18/2022] [Indexed: 05/07/2023]
Abstract
Anthropogenic light pollution is a novel environmental disruption that affects the movement, foraging and mating behaviour of nocturnal animals. Most of these effects are sublethal, and their net impact on reproductive fitness and population persistence is often extrapolated from behavioural data. Without dedicated tracking of wild individuals, however, it is impossible to predict whether populations in light-polluted habitats will decline or, instead, move to shaded refuges. To disentangle these conflicting possibilities, we investigated how artificial light affects mating and movement in North American Photinus, a genus of bioluminescent fireflies known to experience courtship failure under artificial light. The degree to which artificial light reduced mate success depended on the intensity of the light treatment, its environmental context, and the temporal niche of the species in question. In the laboratory, direct exposure to artificial light completely prevented mating in semi-nocturnal Photinus obscurellus. In the field, artificial light had little impact on the movement or mate success of local Photinus pyralis and Photinus marginellus but strongly influenced mate location in Photinus greeni; all three species are relatively crepuscular. Our nuanced results suggest greater appreciation of behavioural diversity will help insect conservationists and dark sky advocates better target efforts to protect at-risk species.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Sara M. Lewis
- Department of Biology, Tufts University, Medford, MA 02155-5801, USA
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Owens ACS, Dressler CT, Lewis SM. Costs and benefits of "insect friendly" artificial lights are taxon specific. Oecologia 2022; 199:487-497. [PMID: 35650413 DOI: 10.1007/s00442-022-05189-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2021] [Accepted: 05/17/2022] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
The expansion of human activity into natural habitats often results in the introduction of artificial light at night, which can disrupt local ecosystems. Recent advances in LED technology have enabled spectral tuning of artificial light sources, which could in theory limit their impact on vulnerable taxa. To date, however, experimental comparisons of ecologically friendly candidate colors have often considered only one type of behavioral impact, sometimes on only single species. Resulting recommendations cannot be broadly implemented if their consequences for other local taxa are unknown. Working at a popular firefly ecotourism site, we exposed the insect community to artificial illumination of three colors (blue, broad-spectrum amber, red) and measured flight-to-light behavior as well as the courtship flash behavior of male Photinus carolinus fireflies. Firefly courtship activity was greatest under blue and red lights, while the most flying insects were attracted to blue and broad-spectrum amber lights. Thus, while impacts of spectrally tuned artificial light varied across taxa, our results suggest that red light, rather than amber light, is least disruptive to insects overall, and therefore more generally insect friendly.
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Affiliation(s)
- Avalon C S Owens
- Department of Biology, Tufts University, 200 College Avenue, Medford, MA, 02155, USA.
| | - Caroline T Dressler
- Department of Biology, Tufts University, 200 College Avenue, Medford, MA, 02155, USA.,Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Organismal Biology, Brown University, 80 Waterman Street, Providence, RI, 02912, USA
| | - Sara M Lewis
- Department of Biology, Tufts University, 200 College Avenue, Medford, MA, 02155, USA
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Chen YR, Wei WL, Tzeng DTW, Owens ACS, Tang HC, Wu CS, Lin SS, Zhong S, Yang EC. Effects of artificial light at night (ALAN) on gene expression of Aquatica ficta firefly larvae. Environ Pollut 2021; 281:116944. [PMID: 33813192 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2021.116944] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2020] [Revised: 03/09/2021] [Accepted: 03/11/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Artificial light at night (ALAN) is a major driver of firefly population declines, but its physiological effects are not well understood. To investigate the impact of ALAN on firefly development, we exposed larval Aquatica ficta fireflies to ALAN for two weeks. High larval mortality was observed in the periods of 1-68 days and 106-134 days post-treatment, which may represent the short- and long-term impacts of ALAN. We then profiled the transcriptome of larval Aquatica ficta fireflies following two weeks of ALAN exposure. A total of 1262 (1.67% out of 75777 unigenes) were differentially expressed in the treatment group: 1157 were down-regulated, and 105 were up-regulated. Up-regulated unigenes were related to regulation of hormone levels, ecdysteroid metabolic process, and response to stimulus; down-regulated unigenes were related to negative regulation of insulin receptor signaling, germ cell development, oogenesis, spermatid development, and regulation of neuron differentiation. Transcriptome results suggest that the endocrine, reproductive, and neural development of firefly larvae could be impaired by even relatively brief period of ALAN exposure. This report contributes a much-needed molecular perspective to the growing body of research documenting the fitness impacts of ALAN on bioluminescent fireflies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yun-Ru Chen
- Department of Entomology, National Taiwan University, Taiwan
| | - Wei-Lun Wei
- Institute of Biotechnology, National Taiwan University, Taiwan
| | - David T W Tzeng
- School of Life Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, China
| | | | | | | | - Shih-Shun Lin
- Institute of Biotechnology, National Taiwan University, Taiwan
| | - Silin Zhong
- School of Life Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, China
| | - En-Cheng Yang
- Department of Entomology, National Taiwan University, Taiwan.
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Lewis SM, Thancharoen A, Wong CH, López‐Palafox T, Santos PV, Wu C, Faust L, De Cock R, Owens ACS, Lemelin RH, Gurung H, Jusoh WFA, Trujillo D, Yiu V, López PJ, Jaikla S, Reed JM. Firefly tourism: Advancing a global phenomenon toward a brighter future. Conservat Sci and Prac 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/csp2.391] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Sara M. Lewis
- IUCN Firefly Specialist Group Gland Switzerland
- Department of Biology Tufts University Medford Massachusetts USA
| | - Anchana Thancharoen
- IUCN Firefly Specialist Group Gland Switzerland
- Faculty of Agriculture, Department of Entomology Kasetsart University Bangkok Thailand
| | - Choong Hay Wong
- IUCN Firefly Specialist Group Gland Switzerland
- Malaysian Nature Society Kuala Lumpur Malaysia
| | - Tania López‐Palafox
- IUCN Firefly Specialist Group Gland Switzerland
- Department of Evolutionary Biology, Instituto de Ecología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, CDMX Mexico
| | - Paola Velasco Santos
- IUCN Firefly Specialist Group Gland Switzerland
- Institute for Anthropological Research, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, CDMX Mexico
| | - Chiahsiung Wu
- IUCN Firefly Specialist Group Gland Switzerland
- TreeGarden Taipei City Taiwan
| | - Lynn Faust
- IUCN Firefly Specialist Group Gland Switzerland
- Emory River Land Company Knoxville Tennessee USA
| | - Raphaël De Cock
- IUCN Firefly Specialist Group Gland Switzerland
- Department of Biology University of Antwerp Antwerp Belgium
| | - Avalon C. S. Owens
- IUCN Firefly Specialist Group Gland Switzerland
- Department of Biology Tufts University Medford Massachusetts USA
| | | | - Hum Gurung
- BirdLife International Cambridge United Kingdom
| | - Wan F. A. Jusoh
- IUCN Firefly Specialist Group Gland Switzerland
- Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum National University of Singapore Singapore
| | - Daniel Trujillo
- IUCN Firefly Specialist Group Gland Switzerland
- Tujlux Ecoviajes TourAgency, San Sebastián Atlahapa Tlaxcala Mexico
| | - Vor Yiu
- IUCN Firefly Specialist Group Gland Switzerland
- Hong Kong Entomological Society Hong Kong
| | - Pablo Jaramillo López
- IUCN Firefly Specialist Group Gland Switzerland
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Ecosistemas y Sustentabilidad CONACYT Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México Morelia Michoacán Mexico
| | - Soraya Jaikla
- IUCN Firefly Specialist Group Gland Switzerland
- Department of Entomology Kasetsart University Nakhon Pathom Thailand
| | - J. Michael Reed
- IUCN Firefly Specialist Group Gland Switzerland
- Department of Biology Tufts University Medford Massachusetts USA
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Owens ACS, Lewis SM. Effects of artificial light on growth, development, and dispersal of two North American fireflies (Coleoptera: Lampyridae). J Insect Physiol 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] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [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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Lewis SM, Wong CH, Owens ACS, Fallon C, Jepsen S, Thancharoen A, Wu C, De Cock R, Novák M, López-Palafox T, Khoo V, Reed JM. Corrigendum: A Global Perspective on Firefly Extinction Threats. Bioscience 2020. [DOI: 10.1093/biosci/biaa026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Sara M Lewis
- Firefly Specialist Group of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature Species Survival Commission (IUCN SSC)
- Department of Biology, Tufts University
| | - Choong Hay Wong
- Firefly Specialist Group of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature Species Survival Commission (IUCN SSC)
- Malaysia Nature Society, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Avalon C S Owens
- Firefly Specialist Group of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature Species Survival Commission (IUCN SSC)
- Department of Biology, Tufts University
| | - Candace Fallon
- Firefly Specialist Group of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature Species Survival Commission (IUCN SSC)
- The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation, Portland, Oregon
| | - Sarina Jepsen
- Firefly Specialist Group of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature Species Survival Commission (IUCN SSC)
- The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation, Portland, Oregon
| | - Anchana Thancharoen
- Firefly Specialist Group of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature Species Survival Commission (IUCN SSC)
- Department of Entomology, Faculty of Agriculture, Kasetsart University, in Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Chiahsiung Wu
- Firefly Specialist Group of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature Species Survival Commission (IUCN SSC)
- Huafan University, in Taipei City, Taiwan
| | - Raphael De Cock
- Firefly Specialist Group of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature Species Survival Commission (IUCN SSC)
- Department of Biology's Evolutionary Ecology Research Group, University of Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Martin Novák
- Firefly Specialist Group of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature Species Survival Commission (IUCN SSC)
- Department of Ecology, Czech University of Life Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Tania López-Palafox
- Firefly Specialist Group of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature Species Survival Commission (IUCN SSC)
- Instituto de Ecología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, México City, México
| | - Veronica Khoo
- Firefly Specialist Group of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature Species Survival Commission (IUCN SSC)
- Forest Biodiversity Division of the Forest Research Institute Malaysia, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - J Michael Reed
- Firefly Specialist Group of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature Species Survival Commission (IUCN SSC)
- Department of Biology, Tufts University
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Lewis SM, Wong CH, Owens ACS, Fallon C, Jepsen S, Thancharoen A, Wu C, De Cock R, Novák M, López-Palafox T, Khoo V, Reed JM. A Global Perspective on Firefly Extinction Threats. Bioscience 2020. [DOI: 10.1093/biosci/biz157] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Insect declines and their drivers have attracted considerable recent attention. Fireflies and glowworms are iconic insects whose conspicuous bioluminescent courtship displays carry unique cultural significance, giving them economic value as ecotourist attractions. Despite evidence of declines, a comprehensive review of the conservation status and threats facing the approximately 2000 firefly species worldwide is lacking. We conducted a survey of experts from diverse geographic regions to identify the most prominent perceived threats to firefly population and species persistence. Habitat loss, light pollution, and pesticide use were regarded as the most serious threats, although rankings differed substantially across regions. Our survey results accompany a comprehensive review of current evidence concerning the impact of these stressors on firefly populations. We also discuss risk factors likely to increase the vulnerability of certain species to particular threats. Finally, we highlight the need to establish monitoring programs to track long-term population trends for at-risk firefly taxa.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Candace Fallon
- The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation, Portland, Oregon
| | - Sarina Jepsen
- The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation, Portland, Oregon
| | - Anchana Thancharoen
- Department of Entomology, Faculty of Agriculture, Kasetsart University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | | | - Raphael De Cock
- Department of Biology's Evolutionary Ecology Research Group, University of Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Martin Novák
- Department of Ecology, Czech University of Life Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Tania López-Palafox
- Instituto de Ecología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, México City, México
| | - Veronica Khoo
- Forest Biodiversity Division of the Forest Research Institute Malaysia, Selangor, Malaysia
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Owens ACS, Lewis SM. The impact of artificial light at night on nocturnal insects: A review and synthesis. Ecol Evol 2018; 8:11337-11358. [PMID: 30519447 PMCID: PMC6262936 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.4557] [Citation(s) in RCA: 125] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2018] [Accepted: 07/14/2018] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
In recent decades, advances in lighting technology have precipitated exponential increases in night sky brightness worldwide, raising concerns in the scientific community about the impact of artificial light at night (ALAN) on crepuscular and nocturnal biodiversity. Long-term records show that insect abundance has declined significantly over this time, with worrying implications for terrestrial ecosystems. The majority of investigations into the vulnerability of nocturnal insects to artificial light have focused on the flight-to-light behavior exhibited by select insect families. However, ALAN can affect insects in other ways as well. This review proposes five categories of ALAN impact on nocturnal insects, highlighting past research and identifying key knowledge gaps. We conclude with a summary of relevant literature on bioluminescent fireflies, which emphasizes the unique vulnerability of terrestrial light-based communication systems to artificial illumination. Comprehensive understanding of the ecological impacts of ALAN on diverse nocturnal insect taxa will enable researchers to seek out methods whereby fireflies, moths, and other essential members of the nocturnal ecosystem can coexist with humans on an increasingly urbanized planet.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Sara M. Lewis
- Department of BiologyTufts UniversityMedfordMassachusetts
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