Is light pollution driving moth population declines? A review of causal mechanisms across the life cycle

Artificial night lighting inhibits feeding in moths

Biology Letters ◽

10.1098/rsbl.2016.0874 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 13 (3) ◽

pp. 20160874 ◽

Cited By ~ 31

Author(s):

Frank van Langevelde ◽

Roy H. A. van Grunsven ◽

Elmar M. Veenendaal ◽

Thijs P. M. Fijen

Keyword(s):

Driving Force ◽

Sublethal Effects ◽

Active Species ◽

Light Pollution ◽

Artificial Light ◽

Light Conditions ◽

Population Declines ◽

Moth Population ◽

Wavelength Radiation ◽

Short Wavelength Radiation

One major, yet poorly studied, change in the environment is nocturnal light pollution, which strongly alters habitats of nocturnally active species. Artificial night lighting is often considered as driving force behind rapid moth population declines in severely illuminated countries. To understand these declines, the question remains whether artificial light causes only increased mortality or also sublethal effects. We show that moths subjected to artificial night lighting spend less time feeding than moths in darkness, with the shortest time under light conditions rich in short wavelength radiation. These findings provide evidence for sublethal effects contributing to moth population declines. Because effects are strong under various types of light compared with dark conditions, the potential of spectral alterations as a conservation tool may be overestimated. Therefore, restoration and maintenance of darkness in illuminated areas is essential for reversing declines of moth populations.

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Plains lubber grasshopper (Brachystola magna) as a potential intermediate host for Oxyspirura petrowi in northern bobwhites (Colinus virginianus)

Parasitology Open ◽

10.1017/pao.2016.5 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 2 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

WHITNEY M. KISTLER ◽

SABRINA HOCK ◽

BEATRICE HERNOUT ◽

EVAN BRAKE ◽

NIKKI WILLIAMS ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Life Cycle ◽

Colinus Virginianus ◽

Acheta Domesticus ◽

Population Declines ◽

Intermediate Hosts ◽

Morphological Comparison ◽

Northern Bobwhites ◽

Bird Populations ◽

The Usa ◽

Future Work

SUMMARYOxyspirura petrowiis a heteroxenous parasitic nematode that has been reported in high prevalences from birds in the Order Galliformes experiencing population declines in the USA. There is a paucity of information regarding the natural historyO. petrowi, including the life cycle and effects of infection on wild bird populations. In order to study the life cycle of this parasite, we collected plains lubber grasshoppers (Brachystola magna) from a field location in Mitchell County, Texas. We found third-stage larvae (L3) in 37.9% (66/174)B. magna. We determined that they wereO. petrowithrough morphological comparison of L3 from experimentally infectedAcheta domesticusand by sequence analysis. Then, we showed thatB. magnaare a potential intermediate hosts forO. petrowiinfections in northern bobwhites (Colinus virginianus) in a laboratory setting by experimental infection. We first detected shedding of eggs in feces using a fecal float technique 52 days post infection. In addition, we recovered 87O. petrowifrom experimentally infected northern bobwhites. Although we detected shedding in feces, recovery of eggs was low (>5 eggs/g). Future work is needed to understand shedding routes and shedding patterns of northern bobwhites infected withO. petrowi.

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Ecophysiology of Amphibians: Information for Best Mechanistic Models

Diversity ◽

10.3390/d10040118 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 10 (4) ◽

pp. 118 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Rafael Bovo ◽

Carlos Navas ◽

Miguel Tejedo ◽

Saulo Valença ◽

Sidney Gouveia

Keyword(s):

Life Cycle ◽

Environmental Factors ◽

Natural History ◽

Physical Environment ◽

Environmental Changes ◽

Mechanistic Modeling ◽

Mechanistic Models ◽

Population Declines ◽

Biphasic Life Cycle ◽

History Of

Several amphibian lineages epitomize the faunal biodiversity crises, with numerous reports of population declines and extinctions worldwide. Predicting how such lineages will cope with environmental changes is an urgent challenge for biologists. A promising framework for this involves mechanistic modeling, which integrates organismal ecophysiological features and ecological models as a means to establish causal and consequential relationships of species with their physical environment. Solid frameworks built for other tetrapods (e.g., lizards) have proved successful in this context, but its extension to amphibians requires care. First, the natural history of amphibians is distinct within tetrapods, for it includes a biphasic life cycle that undergoes major habitat transitions and changes in sensitivity to environmental factors. Second, the accumulated data on amphibian ecophysiology is not nearly as expressive, is heavily biased towards adult lifeforms of few non-tropical lineages, and overlook the importance of hydrothermal relationships. Thus, we argue that critical usage and improvement in the available data is essential for enhancing the power of mechanistic modeling from the physiological ecology of amphibians. We highlight the complexity of ecophysiological variables and the need for understanding the natural history of the group under study and indicate directions deemed crucial to attaining steady progress in this field.

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Ultrastructural analysis of “Sensory” surface nerve endings and “putative” neurotransmitter sites in Schistosoma mansoni Miracidia

Proceedings, annual meeting, Electron Microscopy Society of America ◽

10.1017/s0424820100156791 ◽

1989 ◽

Vol 47 ◽

pp. 962-963

Author(s):

Betty Ruth Jones ◽

Steve Chi-Tang Pan

Keyword(s):

Nervous System ◽

Life Cycle ◽

Schistosoma Mansoni ◽

Snail Host ◽

Complex Life Cycle ◽

Rational Approach ◽

Effective Control ◽

The Social ◽

Social And Economic Development ◽

Basic Biology

INTRODUCTION: Schistosomiasis has been described as “one of the most devastating diseases of mankind, second only to malaria in its deleterious effects on the social and economic development of populations in many warm areas of the world.” The disease is worldwide and is probably spreading faster and becoming more intense than the overall research efforts designed to provide the basis for countering it. Moreover, there are indications that the development of water resources and the demands for increasing cultivation and food in developing countries may prevent adequate control of the disease and thus the number of infections are increasing.Our knowledge of the basic biology of the parasites causing the disease is far from adequate. Such knowledge is essential if we are to develop a rational approach to the effective control of human schistosomiasis. The miracidium is the first infective stage in the complex life cycle of schistosomes. The future of the entire life cycle depends on the capacity and ability of this organism to locate and enter a suitable snail host for further development, Little is known about the nervous system of the miracidium of Schistosoma mansoni and of other trematodes. Studies indicate that miracidia contain a well developed and complex nervous system that may aid the larvae in locating and entering a susceptible snail host (Wilson, 1970; Brooker, 1972; Chernin, 1974; Pan, 1980; Mehlhorn, 1988; and Jones, 1987-1988).

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A freeze-fracture-etched study of the physarum polycephalum plasma membrane during early formation of the macroplasmodial stage

Proceedings, annual meeting, Electron Microscopy Society of America ◽

10.1017/s0424820100147570 ◽

1993 ◽

Vol 51 ◽

pp. 346-347

Author(s):

Randolph W. Taylor ◽

Henrie Treadwell

Keyword(s):

Plasma Membrane ◽

Life Cycle ◽

Growth Phase ◽

Filter Paper ◽

Physarum Polycephalum ◽

Freeze Fracture ◽

Petri Dish ◽

Wire Screen ◽

Wide Mouth ◽

Sterile Filter

The plasma membrane of the Slime Mold, Physarum polycephalum, process unique morphological distinctions at different stages of the life cycle. Investigations of the plasma membrane of P. polycephalum, particularly, the arrangements of the intramembranous particles has provided useful information concerning possible changes occurring in higher organisms. In this report Freeze-fracture-etched techniques were used to investigate 3 hours post-fusion of the macroplasmodia stage of the P. polycephalum plasma membrane.Microplasmodia of Physarum polycephalum (M3C), axenically maintained, were collected in mid-expotential growth phase by centrifugation. Aliquots of microplasmodia were spread in 3 cm circles with a wide mouth pipette onto sterile filter paper which was supported on a wire screen contained in a petri dish. The cells were starved for 2 hrs at 24°C. After starvation, the cells were feed semidefined medium supplemented with hemin and incubated at 24°C. Three hours after incubation, samples were collected randomly from the petri plates, placed in plancettes and frozen with a propane-nitrogen jet freezer.

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