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Fobert EK, Miller CR, Swearer SE, Mayer-Pinto M. The impacts of artificial light at night on the ecology of temperate and tropical reefs. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2023; 378:20220362. [PMID: 37899007 PMCID: PMC10613546 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2022.0362] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2023] [Accepted: 07/19/2023] [Indexed: 10/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Despite 22% of the world's coastal regions experiencing some degree of light pollution, and biologically important artificial light at night (ALAN) reaching large portions of the seafloor (greater than 75%) near coastal developments, the impacts of ALAN on temperate and tropical reefs are still relatively unknown. Because many reef species have evolved in response to low-light nocturnal environments, consistent daily, lunar, and seasonal light cycles, and distinct light spectra, these impacts are likely to be profound. Recent studies have found ALAN can decrease reproductive success of fishes, alter predation rates of invertebrates and fishes, and impact the physiology and biochemistry of reef-building corals. In this paper, we integrate knowledge of the role of natural light in temperate and tropical reefs with a synthesis of the current literature on the impacts of ALAN on reef organisms to explore potential changes at the system level in reef communities exposed to ALAN. Specifically, we identify the direct impacts of ALAN on individual organisms and flow on effects for reef communities, and present potential scenarios where ALAN could significantly alter system-level dynamics, possibly even creating novel ecosystems. Lastly, we highlight large knowledge gaps in our understanding of the overall impact of ALAN on reef systems. This article is part of the theme issue 'Light pollution in complex ecological systems'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily K. Fobert
- School of BioSciences, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia
| | - Colleen R. Miller
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
| | - Stephen E. Swearer
- National Centre for Coasts and Climate (NCCC), School of BioSciences, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia
| | - Mariana Mayer-Pinto
- Centre for Marine Science and Innovation, Evolution and Ecology Research Centre, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Science, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales 2052, Australia
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Sinclair GM, Di Giannantonio M, Jones OAH, Long SM. Is substrate choice an overlooked variable in ecotoxicology experiments? ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING AND ASSESSMENT 2023; 195:344. [PMID: 36715783 PMCID: PMC9886613 DOI: 10.1007/s10661-023-10935-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2022] [Accepted: 01/10/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
It is crucial to understand the effects caused by experimental parameters such as temperature, light, and food type on lab and field-based ecotoxicology experiments, as these variables, and combinations thereof, can affect results. The type of substrate used in exposure experiments, however, is generally assumed to have no effect. This may not always be correct. The metabolic changes in the freshwater crustacean, Austrochiltonia subtenuis exposed to copper, using three common substrates, gauze; toilet paper; and cellulose were investigated. Substrate alone did not affect survival, but each substrate elicited a different metabolic response and adult and juvenile amphipods had different substrate preferences. Several classes of metabolites were shown to change in response to different substrates and toxicant. These included disaccharides, monosaccharides, fatty acids, and tricarboxylic acid cycle intermediates. The results illustrate that metabolomic responses can differ in response to experimental factors that were previously thought not to be significant. In fact, our data indicate that substrate should be viewed as an experimental factor as important to control for as more well-known confounders such as temperature or food, thus challenging the current paradigm. Assuming substrate type has no effect on the experiment could potentially lead to errors in contaminant toxicity assessments. We propose that ideal good practise would be that all experimental factors should be evaluated for their potential influence on metabolomic profiles prior to contaminant response experiments being undertaken.
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Affiliation(s)
- Georgia M Sinclair
- Australian Centre for Research on Separation Science (ACROSS), School of Science, RMIT University, PO Box 71, Bundoora West Campus, Bundoora, VIC, 3083, Australia.
| | - Michela Di Giannantonio
- National Research Council (CNR-IAS), Institute for the study of Anthropic Impacts and Sustainability in Marine Environment, Genoa, Italy
- Aquatic Environmental Stress (AQUEST) Research Group School of Science, RMIT University, Bundoora, VIC, 3083, Australia
| | - Oliver A H Jones
- Australian Centre for Research on Separation Science (ACROSS), School of Science, RMIT University, PO Box 71, Bundoora West Campus, Bundoora, VIC, 3083, Australia
| | - Sara M Long
- Aquatic Environmental Stress (AQUEST) Research Group School of Science, RMIT University, Bundoora, VIC, 3083, Australia
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Velasque M, Denton JA, Briffa M. Under the influence of light: How light pollution disrupts personality and metabolism in hermit crabs. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2023; 316:120594. [PMID: 36370979 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2022.120594] [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: 07/02/2022] [Revised: 10/31/2022] [Accepted: 11/01/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Anthropogenic disturbances are known to cause significant physiological and behavioural changes in animals and, thus, are the critical focus of numerous studies. Light pollution is an increasingly recognised source of disturbance that has the potential to impact animal physiology and behaviour. Here, we investigate the effect of constant light on a personality trait and metabolic rate in the European hermit crab Pagurus bernhardus. We used Bayesian mixed models to estimate average behavioural change (i.e. sample mean level behavioural plasticity) and between- and within-individual variation in boldness in response to laboratory light. Hermit crabs experiencing constant light were consistently less bold and had a higher metabolic rate than those kept under a standard laboratory light regime (12:12 h light/dark). However, there was no effect of light on individual consistency in behaviour. As boldness is associated with coping with risk, hermit crabs exposed to light pollution at night may experience increased perceived predation risk, adjusting their behaviour to compensate for the increased conspicuousness. However, reduced boldness could lead to lower rates of foraging and this, in combination with elevated metabolic rate, has the potential for a reduction in energy balance.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Velasque
- School of Biological and Marine Sciences, University of Plymouth, Plymouth, Devon, United Kingdom; Genomics & Regulatory Systems Unit, Okinawa Institute of Science & Technology, Okinawa, Japan; The Experimental Evolutionary Biology Lab, School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia.
| | - J A Denton
- The World Mosquito Program, Institute of Vector-borne Disease, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
| | - M Briffa
- School of Biological and Marine Sciences, University of Plymouth, Plymouth, Devon, United Kingdom
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Xu H, Shi C, Ye Y, Song C, Mu C, Wang C. Time-Restricted Feeding Could Not Reduce Rainbow Trout Lipid Deposition Induced by Artificial Night Light. Metabolites 2022; 12:metabo12100904. [PMID: 36295806 PMCID: PMC9606968 DOI: 10.3390/metabo12100904] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2022] [Revised: 09/18/2022] [Accepted: 09/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Artificial night light (ALAN) could lead to circadian rhythm disorders and disrupt normal lipid metabolism, while time-restricted feeding (TRF) could maintain metabolic homeostasis. In mammals, TRF has been demonstrated to have extraordinary effects on the metabolic regulation caused by circadian rhythm disorders, but studies in lower vertebrates such as fish are still scarce. In this study, the impacts of ALAN on the body composition and lipid metabolism of juvenile rainbow trout were investigated by continuous light (LL) exposure as well as whether TRF could alleviate the negative effects of LL. The results showed that LL upregulated the expression of lipid synthesis (fas and srebp-1c) genes and suppressed the expression of lipid lipolysis (pparβ, cpt-1a, and lpl) genes in the liver, finally promoting lipid accumulation in juvenile rainbow trout. However, LL downregulated the expression of genes (Δ6-fad, Δ9-fad, elovl2, and elovl5) related to long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid (LC-PUFA) synthesis, resulting in a significant decrease in the proportion of LC-PUFA in the dorsal muscle. In serum, LL led to a decrease in glucose (Glu) levels and an increase in triglyceride (TG) and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (H-DLC) levels. On the other hand, TRF (mid-dark stage feeding (D)) and mid-light stage feeding (L)) upregulated the expression of both the lipid synthesis (srebp-1c and pparγ), lipolysis (pparα, pparβ, and cpt-1a), and lipid transport (cd36/fat and fatp-1) genes, finally increasing the whole-body lipid, liver protein, and lipid content. Meanwhile, TRF (D and L groups) increased the proportion of polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) and LC-PUFA in serum. In contrast, random feeding (R group) increased the serum Glu levels and decreased TG, total cholesterol (T-CHO), and H-DLC levels, suggesting stress and poor nutritional status. In conclusion, ALAN led to lipid accumulation and a significant decrease in muscle LC-PUFA proportion, and TRF failed to rescue these negative effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hanying Xu
- Key Laboratory of Aquacultural Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, Ningbo University, 818 Fenghua Road, Ningbo 315211, China
- Marine Economic Research Center, Dong Hai Strategic Research Institute, Ningbo University, 818 Fenghua Road, Ningbo 315211, China
| | - Ce Shi
- Key Laboratory of Aquacultural Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, Ningbo University, 818 Fenghua Road, Ningbo 315211, China
- Marine Economic Research Center, Dong Hai Strategic Research Institute, Ningbo University, 818 Fenghua Road, Ningbo 315211, China
- Collaborative Innovation Center for Zhejiang Marine High-Efficiency and Healthy Aquaculture, 818 Fenghua Road, Ningbo 315211, China
- Correspondence: (C.S.); (C.W.)
| | - Yangfang Ye
- Key Laboratory of Aquacultural Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, Ningbo University, 818 Fenghua Road, Ningbo 315211, China
- Collaborative Innovation Center for Zhejiang Marine High-Efficiency and Healthy Aquaculture, 818 Fenghua Road, Ningbo 315211, China
| | - Changbin Song
- Institute of Semiconductors, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100083, China
| | - Changkao Mu
- Key Laboratory of Aquacultural Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, Ningbo University, 818 Fenghua Road, Ningbo 315211, China
- Collaborative Innovation Center for Zhejiang Marine High-Efficiency and Healthy Aquaculture, 818 Fenghua Road, Ningbo 315211, China
| | - Chunlin Wang
- Key Laboratory of Aquacultural Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, Ningbo University, 818 Fenghua Road, Ningbo 315211, China
- Collaborative Innovation Center for Zhejiang Marine High-Efficiency and Healthy Aquaculture, 818 Fenghua Road, Ningbo 315211, China
- Correspondence: (C.S.); (C.W.)
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Shah RM, Stephenson S, Crosswell J, Gorman D, Hillyer KE, Palombo EA, Jones OAH, Cook S, Bodrossy L, van de Kamp J, Walsh TK, Bissett A, Steven ADL, Beale DJ. Omics-based ecosurveillance uncovers the influence of estuarine macrophytes on sediment microbial function and metabolic redundancy in a tropical ecosystem. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 809:151175. [PMID: 34699819 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.151175] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2021] [Revised: 10/18/2021] [Accepted: 10/19/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Vertical zonation within estuarine ecosystems can strongly influence microbial diversity and function by regulating competition, predation, and environmental stability. The degree to which microbial communities exhibit horizontal patterns through an estuary has received comparatively less attention. Here, we take a multi-omics ecosurveillance approach to study environmental gradients created by the transition between dominant vegetation types along a near pristine tropical river system (Wenlock River, Far North Queensland, Australia). The study sites included intertidal mudflats fringed by saltmarsh, mangrove or mixed soft substrata habitats. Collected sediments were analyzed for eukaryotes and prokaryotes using small sub-unit (SSU) rRNA gene amplicons to profile the relative taxonomic composition. Central carbon metabolism metabolites and other associated organic polar metabolites were analyzed using established metabolomics-based approaches, coupled with total heavy metals analysis. Eukaryotic taxonomic information was found to be more informative of habitat type. Bacterial taxonomy and community composition also showed habitat-specificity, with phyla Proteobacteria and Cyanobacteria strongly linked to mangroves and saltmarshes, respectively. In contrast, metabolite profiling was critical for understanding the biochemical pathways and expressed functional outputs in these systems that were tied to predicted microbial gene function (16S rRNA). A high degree of metabolic redundancy was observed in the bacterial communities, with the metabolomics data suggesting varying degrees of metabolic criticality based on habitat type. The predicted functions of the bacterial taxa combined with annotated metabolites accounted for the conservative perspective of microbial community redundancy against the putative metabolic pathway impacts in the metabolomics data. Coupling these data demonstrates that habitat-mediated estuarine gradients drive patterns of community diversity and metabolic function and highlights the real redundancy potential of habitat microbiomes. This information is useful as a point of comparison for these sensitive ecosystems and provides a framework for identifying potentially vulnerable or at-risk systems before they are significantly degraded.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rohan M Shah
- Land and Water, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Dutton Park, QLD 4102, Australia; Department of Chemistry and Biotechnology, School of Science, Computing and Engineering Technologies, Swinburne University of Technology, Hawthorn, VIC 3122, Australia
| | - Sarah Stephenson
- Oceans and Atmosphere, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Lucas Heights, NSW 2234, Australia
| | - Joseph Crosswell
- Oceans and Atmosphere, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Dutton Park, QLD 4102, Australia
| | - Daniel Gorman
- Oceans and Atmosphere, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Indian Ocean Marine Research Centre, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia
| | - Katie E Hillyer
- Land and Water, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Dutton Park, QLD 4102, Australia
| | - Enzo A Palombo
- Department of Chemistry and Biotechnology, School of Science, Computing and Engineering Technologies, Swinburne University of Technology, Hawthorn, VIC 3122, Australia
| | - Oliver A H Jones
- Australian Centre for Research on Separation Science (ACROSS), School of Science, RMIT University, Bundoora West Campus, PO Box 71, Bundoora, VIC 3083, Australia
| | - Stephen Cook
- Land and Water, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Berrimah, NT 0828, Australia
| | - Levente Bodrossy
- Oceans and Atmosphere, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Battery Point, TAS 7004, Australia
| | - Jodie van de Kamp
- Oceans and Atmosphere, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Battery Point, TAS 7004, Australia
| | - Thomas K Walsh
- Land and Water, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Acton, ACT 2601, Australia
| | - Andrew Bissett
- Oceans and Atmosphere, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Battery Point, TAS 7004, Australia
| | - Andrew D L Steven
- Oceans and Atmosphere, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Dutton Park, QLD 4102, Australia
| | - David J Beale
- Land and Water, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Dutton Park, QLD 4102, Australia.
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How moonlight shapes environments, life histories, and ecological interactions on coral reefs. Emerg Top Life Sci 2022; 6:45-56. [PMID: 35019136 DOI: 10.1042/etls20210237] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2021] [Revised: 12/05/2021] [Accepted: 12/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
The lunar cycle drives variation in nocturnal brightness. For the epipelagic larvae of coral reef organisms, nocturnal illumination may have widespread and underappreciated consequences. At sea, the onset of darkness coincides with an influx of mesopelagic organisms to shallow water (i.e. 'diel vertical migrants') that include predators (e.g. lanternfishes) and prey (zooplankton) of zooplanktivorous coral reef larvae. Moonlight generally suppresses this influx, but lunar periodicity in the timing and intensity of nocturnal brightness may affect vertically migrating predators and prey differently. A major turnover of species occurs at sunset on the reef, with diurnal species seeking shelter and nocturnal species emerging to hunt. The hunting ability of nocturnal reef-based predators is aided by the light of the moon. Consequently, variation in nocturnal illumination is likely to shape the timing of reproduction, larval development, and settlement for many coral reef organisms. This synthesis underscores the potential importance of trophic linkages between coral reefs and adjacent pelagic ecosystems, facilitated by the diel migrations of mesopelagic organisms and the ontogenetic migrations of coral reef larvae. Research is needed to better understand the effects of lunar cycles on life-history strategies, and the potentially disruptive effects of light pollution, turbidity, and climate-driven changes to nocturnal cloud cover. These underappreciated threats may alter patterns of nocturnal illumination that have shaped the evolutionary history of many coral reef organisms, with consequences for larval survival and population replenishment that could rival or exceed other effects arising from climate change.
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Manríquez PH, Jara ME, González CP, Seguel M, Quijón PA, Widdicombe S, Pulgar JM, Quintanilla-Ahumada D, Anguita C, Duarte C. Effects of artificial light at night and predator cues on foraging and predator avoidance in the keystone inshore mollusc Concholepas concholepas. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2021; 280:116895. [PMID: 33784562 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2021.116895] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2020] [Revised: 03/01/2021] [Accepted: 03/03/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
The growth of Artificial Light At Night (ALAN) is potentially having widespread effects on terrestrial and coastal habitats. In this study we addressed both the individual effects of ALAN, as well as its combined effect with predation risk on the behaviour of Concholepas concholepas, a fishery resource and a keystone species in the southeastern Pacific coast. We measured the influence of ALAN and predation risk on this mollusc's feeding rate, use of refuge for light and crawling out of water behaviour. These behavioural responses were studied using light intensities that mimicked levels that had been recorded in coastal habitat exposed to ALAN. Cues were from two species known to prey on C. concholepas during its early ontogeny: the crab Acanthocyclus hassleri and the seastar Heliaster helianthus. The feeding rates of C. concholepas were 3-4 times higher in darkness and in the absence of predator cues. In contrast, ALAN-exposed C. concholepas showed lower feeding activity and were more likely to be in a refuge than those exposed to control conditions. In the presence of olfactory predator cues, and regardless of light treatment, C. concholepas tended to crawl-out of the waterline. We provide evidence to support the hypothesis that exposure to either ALAN or predation risk can alter the feeding behaviour of C. concholepas. However, predator cue recognition in C. concholepas was not affected by ALAN in situations where ALAN and predator cues were both present: C. concholepas continued to forage when predation risk was low, i.e., in darkness and away from predator cues. Whilst this response means that ALAN may not lead to increased predation mortality in C. concholepas, it will reduce feeding activity in this naturally nocturnal species in the absence of dark refugia. Such results may have implications for the long-term health, productivity and sustainability of this keystone species.
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Affiliation(s)
- 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.
| | - María Elisa Jara
- Laboratorio de Ecología y Conducta de La Ontogenia Temprana (LECOT), Coquimbo, Chile
| | - Claudio P González
- Centro de Estudios Avanzados en Zonas Áridas (CEAZA), Coquimbo, Chile; Laboratorio de Ecología y Conducta de La Ontogenia Temprana (LECOT), Coquimbo, Chile
| | - Mylene Seguel
- Centro de Estudios Avanzados en Zonas Áridas (CEAZA), Coquimbo, Chile; Laboratorio de Ecología y Conducta de La Ontogenia Temprana (LECOT), Coquimbo, Chile
| | - Pedro A Quijón
- Department of Biology, University of Prince Edward Island, Charlottetown, PE, Canada
| | - Stephen Widdicombe
- Plymouth Marine Laboratory, Prospect Place, West Hoe, Plymouth PL1 3DH, UK
| | - José M Pulgar
- Departamento de Ecología y Biodiversidad, 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
| | - Cristobal 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
| | - Cristian Duarte
- Departamento de Ecología y Biodiversidad, Facultad de Ciencias de La Vida, Universidad Andrés Bello, Santiago, Chile; Centro de Investigación Marina de Quintay (CIMARQ), Facultad de Ciencias de La Vida, Universidad Andrés Bello, Chile
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