scholarly journals Effects of Artificial Light at Night (ALAN) on European Hedgehog Activity at Supplementary Feeding Stations

Animals ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (5) ◽  
pp. 768 ◽  
Author(s):  
Domhnall Finch ◽  
Bethany R. Smith ◽  
Charlotte Marshall ◽  
Frazer G. Coomber ◽  
Laura M. Kubasiewicz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Activity Patterns ◽  
Supplementary Feeding ◽  
Artificial Light ◽  
Negative Consequences ◽  
Long Term Effects ◽  
Light At Night ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
European Hedgehog ◽  
Negative Effect ◽  
Feeding Activities

Artificial light at night (ALAN) can have negative consequences for a wide range of taxa. However, the effects on nocturnal mammals other than bats are poorly understood. A citizen science camera trapping experiment was therefore used to assess the effect of ALAN on the activity of European hedgehogs (Erinaceus europaeus) at supplementary feeding stations in UK gardens. A crossover design was implemented at 33 gardens with two treatments—artificial light and darkness—each of which lasted for one week. The order of treatment depended on the existing lighting regime at the feeding station: dark treatments were applied first at dark feeding stations, whereas light treatments were used first where the station was already illuminated. Although temporal changes in activity patterns in response to the treatments were noted in some individuals, the direction of the effects was not consistent. Similarly, there was no overall impact of ALAN on the presence or feeding activities of hedgehogs in gardens where supplementary feeding stations were present. These findings are somewhat reassuring insofar as they demonstrate no net negative effect on a species thought to be in decline, in scenarios where the animals are already habituated to supplementary feeding. However, further research is needed to examine long-term effects and the effects of lighting on hedgehog prey, reproductive success and predation risk.

Does artificial light at night change the impact of silver nanoparticles on microbial decomposers and leaf litter decomposition in streams?

2019 ◽  
Vol 6 (6) ◽  
pp. 1728-1739 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gaozhong Pu ◽  
Danjuan Zeng ◽  
Ling Mo ◽  
Wen He ◽  
Longwu Zhou ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Silver Nanoparticles ◽  
Leaf Litter ◽  
Litter Decomposition ◽  
Leaf Litter Decomposition ◽  
Artificial Light ◽  
Light At Night ◽  
Negative Effect ◽  
The Impact

The negative effect of AgNP on leaf litter decomposition was alleviated by artificial light at night (ALAN).

scholarly journals The preference and costs of sleeping under light at night in forest and urban great tits

2019 ◽  
Vol 286 (1905) ◽  
pp. 20190872 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zeynep N. Ulgezen ◽  
Teemu Käpylä ◽  
Peter Meerlo ◽  
Kamiel Spoelstra ◽  
Marcel E. Visser ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Oxalic Acid ◽  
White Light ◽  
Cognitive Abilities ◽  
Daily Activity ◽  
Activity Patterns ◽  
Spectral Composition ◽  
Green Light ◽  
Artificial Light ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Light At Night

Artificial light at night (ALAN) is an increasing phenomenon associated with worldwide urbanization. In birds, broad-spectrum white ALAN can have disruptive effects on activity patterns, metabolism, stress response and immune function. There has been growing research on whether the use of alternative light spectra can reduce these negative effects, but surprisingly, there has been no study to determine which light spectrum birds prefer. To test such a preference, we gave urban and forest great tits (Parus major) the choice where to roost using pairwise combinations of darkness, white light or green dim light at night (1.5 lux). Birds preferred to sleep under artificial light instead of darkness, and green was preferred over white light. In a subsequent experiment, we investigated the consequence of sleeping under a particular light condition, and measured birds' daily activity levels, daily energy expenditure (DEE), oxalic acid as a biomarker for sleep debt and cognitive abilities. White light affected activity patterns more than green light. Moreover, there was an origin-dependent response to spectral composition: in urban birds, the total daily activity and night activity did not differ between white and green light, while forest birds were more active under white than green light. We also found that individuals who slept under white and green light had higher DEE. However, there were no differences in oxalic acid levels or cognitive abilities between light treatments. Thus, we argue that in naive birds that had never encountered light at night, white light might disrupt circadian rhythms more than green light. However, it is possible that the negative effects of ALAN on sleep and cognition might be observed only under intensities higher than 1.5 lux. These results suggest that reducing the intensity of light pollution as well as tuning the spectrum towards long wavelengths may considerably reduce its impact.

scholarly journals Assessing long‐term effects of artificial light at night on insects: what is missing and how to get there

2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 260-270
Author(s):  
Gregor Kalinkat ◽  
Maja Grubisic ◽  
Andreas Jechow ◽  
Roy H. A. Grunsven ◽  
Sibylle Schroer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Artificial Light ◽  
Long Term Effects ◽  
Light At Night

scholarly journals Artificial Light at Night Alleviates the Negative Effect of Pb on Freshwater Ecosystems

2019 ◽  
Vol 20 (6) ◽  
pp. 1343 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gaozhong Pu ◽  
Danjuan Zeng ◽  
Ling Mo ◽  
Jianxiong Liao ◽  
Xiaxia Chen
Keyword(s):  
Leaf Litter ◽  
Litter Decomposition ◽  
Decomposition Rate ◽  
Aquatic Ecosystems ◽  
Freshwater Ecosystems ◽  
Leaf Litter Decomposition ◽  
Artificial Light ◽  
Light At Night ◽  
Negative Effect ◽  
The Impact

Artificial light at night (ALAN) is an increasing phenomenon worldwide that can cause a series of biological and ecological effects, yet little is known about its potential interaction with other stressors in aquatic ecosystems. Here, we tested whether the impact of lead (Pb) on litter decomposition was altered by ALAN exposure using an indoor microcosm experiment. The results showed that ALAN exposure alone significantly increased leaf litter decomposition, decreased the lignin content of leaf litter, and altered fungal community composition and structure. The decomposition rate was 51% higher in Pb with ALAN exposure treatments than in Pb without ALAN treatments, resulting in increased microbial biomass, β-glucosidase (β-G) activity, and the enhanced correlation between β-G and litter decomposition rate. These results indicate that the negative effect of Pb on leaf litter decomposition in aquatic ecosystems may be alleviated by ALAN. In addition, ALAN exposure also alters the correlation among fungi associated with leaf litter decomposition. In summary, this study expands our understanding of Pb toxicity on litter decomposition in freshwater ecosystems and highlights the importance of considering ALAN when assessing environmental metal pollutions.

scholarly journals Lifelong exposure to artificial light at night impacts stridulation and locomotion activity patterns in the cricket Gryllus bimaculatus

2021 ◽  
Vol 288 (1959) ◽  
pp. 20211626
Author(s):  
Keren Levy ◽  
Yoav Wegrzyn ◽  
Ronny Efronny ◽  
Anat Barnea ◽  
Amir Ayali
Keyword(s):  
Activity Patterns ◽  
Population Level ◽  
Field Cricket ◽  
Artificial Light ◽  
Light At Night ◽  
Insect Behaviour ◽  
Relative Level ◽  
Continuous Increase ◽  
Individual Level ◽  
Custom Made

Living organisms experience a worldwide continuous increase in artificial light at night (ALAN), negatively affecting their behaviour. The field cricket, an established model in physiology and behaviour, can provide insights into the effect of ALAN on insect behaviour. The stridulation and locomotion patterns of adult male crickets reared under different lifelong ALAN intensities were monitored simultaneously for five consecutive days in custom-made anechoic chambers. Daily activity periods and acrophases were compared between the experimental groups. Control crickets exhibited a robust rhythm, stridulating at night and demonstrating locomotor activity during the day. By contrast, ALAN affected both the relative level and timing of the crickets' nocturnal and diurnal activity. ALAN induced free-running patterns, manifested in significant changes in the median and variance of the activity periods, and even arrhythmic behaviour. The magnitude of disruption was light intensity dependent, revealing an increase in the difference between the activity periods calculated for stridulation and locomotion in the same individual. This finding may indicate the existence of two peripheral clocks. Our results demonstrate that ecologically relevant ALAN intensities affect crickets’ behavioural patterns, and may lead to decoupling of locomotion and stridulation behaviours at the individual level, and to loss of synchronization at the population level.

Cold Nights, City Lights: Artificial Light at Night Reduces Photoperiodically Induced Diapause in Urban and Rural Populations of Aedes albopictus (Diptera: Culicidae)

2020 ◽  
Vol 57 (6) ◽  
pp. 1694-1699 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katie M Westby ◽  
Kim A Medley
Keyword(s):  
Local Adaptation ◽  
Aedes Albopictus ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Activity Patterns ◽  
Rapid Evolution ◽  
Egg Laying ◽  
Artificial Light ◽  
Light At Night ◽  
Diapause Incidence

Abstract As the planet becomes increasingly urbanized, it is imperative that we understand the ecological and evolutionary consequences of urbanization on species. One common attribute of urbanization that differs from rural areas is the prevalence of artificial light at night (ALAN). For many species, light is one of the most important and reliable environmental cues, largely governing the timing of daily and seasonal activity patterns. Recently, it has been shown that ALAN can alter behavioral, phenological, and physiological traits in diverse taxa. For temperate insects, diapause is an essential trait for winter survival and commences in response to declining daylight hours in the fall. Diapause is under strong selection pressure in the mosquito, Aedes albopictus (Skuse); local adaptation and rapid evolution has been observed along a latitudinal cline. It is unknown how ALAN affects this photosensitive trait or if local adaptation has occurred along an urbanization gradient. Using a common garden experiment, we experimentally demonstrated that simulated ALAN reduces diapause incidence in this species by as much as 40%. There was no difference, however, between urban and rural demes. We also calculated diapause incidence from wild demes in urban areas to determine whether wild populations exhibited lower than predicted incidence compared to estimates from total nocturnal darkness. In early fall, lower than predicted diapause incidence was recorded, but all demes reached nearly 100% diapause before terminating egg laying. It is possible that nocturnal resting behavior in vegetation limits the amount of ALAN exposure this species experiences potentially limiting local adaptation.

Prenatal hypoxia increases blood pressure in male rat offspring and affects their response to artificial light at night

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-8
Author(s):  
Hana Sutovska ◽  
Lubos Molcan ◽  
Romana Koprdova ◽  
Michaela Piesova ◽  
Mojmír Mach ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Blood Pressure ◽  
Cardiovascular System ◽  
Mature Male ◽  
Male Offspring ◽  
Prenatal Hypoxia ◽  
Male Rat ◽  
Artificial Light ◽  
Negative Consequences ◽  
Light At Night ◽  
Rat Offspring

Abstract Prenatal hypoxia (PH) has negative consequences on the cardiovascular system in adulthood and can affect the responses to additional insults later in life. We explored the effects of PH imposed during embryonic day 20 (10.5% O2 for 12 h) on circadian rhythms of systolic blood pressure (BP) and heart rate (HR) in mature male rat offspring measured by telemetry. We evaluated: (1) stability of BP and HR changes after PH; (2) circadian variability of BP and HR after 2 and 5 weeks of exposure to artificial light at night (ALAN; 1–2 lx); and (3) response of BP and HR to norepinephrine. PH increased BP in the dark (134 ± 2 mmHg vs. control 127 ± 2 mmHg; p = 0.05) and marginally in the light (125 ± 1 mmHg vs. control 120 ± 2 mmHg) phase of the day but not HR. The effect of PH was highly repeatable between 21- and 27-week-old PH male offspring. Two weeks of ALAN decreased the circadian variability of HR (p < 0.05) and BP more in control than PH rats. After 5 weeks of ALAN, the circadian variability of HR and BP were damped compared to LD and did not differ between control and PH rats (p < 0.05). Responses of BP and HR to norepinephrine did not differ between control and PH rats. Hypoxia at the end of the embryonic period increases BP and affects the functioning of the cardiovascular system in mature male offspring. ALAN in adulthood decreased the circadian variability of cardiovascular parameters, more in control than PH rats.

scholarly journals The effect of artificial light at night on the biomass of caterpillars feeding in urban tree canopies

2020 ◽  
Vol 23 (6) ◽  
pp. 1311-1319 ◽  
Author(s):  
Áron Péter ◽  
Gábor Seress ◽  
Krisztina Sándor ◽  
Ernő Vincze ◽  
Krisztián Pál Klucsik ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Technological Development ◽  
Urban Ecosystems ◽  
Reproductive Rate ◽  
Light Pollution ◽  
Artificial Light ◽  
Temporal Consistency ◽  
Light At Night ◽  
Territory Quality ◽  
Negative Effect ◽  
Study Sites

Abstract Alternation of day and night is the oldest cycle on Earth, which is increasingly disturbed by the accelerating rate of urbanization and technological development. Despite the ubiquity of light pollution in cities, many aspects of its influence on urban ecosystems are still poorly understood. Here we studied the effect of artificial light at night (ALAN) on the biomass of arboreal caterpillar populations, which are a major component of the diet of many insectivorous animals. We predicted that increasing ALAN intensity is associated with reduced caterpillar biomass, because ALAN may increase predation risk for both caterpillars and adult lepidopterans (i.e. moths), and can also hinder the moths’ reproductive rate. We estimated caterpillar biomass from frass samples (n = 3061) collected from 36 focal trees in two cities in Hungary during four consecutive years. To quantify ALAN we measured light intensity during night at each focal tree (range of illumination: 0.69–3.18 lx). We found that caterpillar biomass of individual trees was repeatable over the four years. This temporal consistency in prey biomass production may be important for birds because it can help predict territory quality, especially in cities where caterpillar abundance is generally low. Our results did not support the negative effect of ALAN on urban caterpillar populations, because ALAN intensity was not related to caterpillar biomass, and this lack of effect was consistent between study sites and tree species. We suggest that the effect of ALAN on urban caterpillar biomass is either weak and thus can be masked by other, local environmental factors, or light pollution may have antagonistic effects acting during different stages of the lepidopteran life cycle. Another explanation could be that even the lower levels of our sites’ public lighting are strong enough to cause serious detrimental effects for caterpillars, resulting in their uniformly low biomass.

scholarly journals Cascading effects of artificial light at night: resource-mediated control of herbivores in a grassland ecosystem

2015 ◽  
Vol 370 (1667) ◽  
pp. 20140131 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jonathan Bennie ◽  
Thomas W. Davies ◽  
David Cruse ◽  
Richard Inger ◽  
Kevin J. Gaston
Keyword(s):  
Acyrthosiphon Pisum ◽  
Biological Effects ◽  
Spectral Composition ◽  
Artificial Light ◽  
Top Down ◽  
Light At Night ◽  
Specialist Herbivore ◽  
Bottom Up ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
The Impact

Artificial light at night has a wide range of biological effects on both plants and animals. Here, we review mechanisms by which artificial light at night may restructure ecological communities by modifying the interactions between species. Such mechanisms may be top-down (predator, parasite or grazer controlled), bottom-up (resource-controlled) or involve non-trophic processes, such as pollination, seed dispersal or competition. We present results from an experiment investigating both top-down and bottom-up effects of artificial light at night on the population density of pea aphids Acyrthosiphon pisum in a diverse artificial grassland community in the presence and absence of predators and under low-level light of different spectral composition. We found no evidence for top-down control of A. pisum in this system, but did find evidence for bottom-up effects mediated through the impact of light on flower head density in a leguminous food plant. These results suggest that physiological effects of light on a plant species within a diverse plant community can have detectable demographic effects on a specialist herbivore.

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