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van Koppenhagen N, Haller J, Kappeler J, Gossner MM, Bolliger J. LED streetlight characteristics alter the functional composition of ground-dwelling invertebrates. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2024; 355:124209. [PMID: 38795821 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2024.124209] [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: 03/27/2024] [Revised: 05/15/2024] [Accepted: 05/22/2024] [Indexed: 05/28/2024]
Abstract
Artificial Light at Night (ALAN) has been identified as a primary driver of environmental change in the 21st century with key impacts on ecosystems. At the same time, developments of LED lighting systems with adjustable parameters-such as color temperature and light intensity-may provide an opportunity to mitigate the negative effects of ALAN. To test the potential effects of LED properties, we conducted a comprehensive field study over two summers at three forest sites in Switzerland. We investigated the impact of three key attributes of LED lights (color temperature, brightness, and luminaire shape) on the abundance and community structure of ground-dwelling invertebrate functional groups (predators, omnivores, and detritivores). We found a significantly increased nocturnal attraction of omnivores (+275%) and predators (+70%), but not detritivores, to ALAN, altering arthropod community composition and trophic interactions in forests. LED color temperature and luminaire shape showed minimal effects on all three functional groups, while reducing light level from 100% to 50% attracted fewer individuals in all groups with a significant effect in omnivores (-57%). In addition, we observed significant interactions of color temperatures and luminaire shapes with light intensity, with a decrease in numbers when dimming the light to 50% intensity combined with a color temperature of 3700 K for predators (-53%), with diffusing luminaire shapes for omnivores (-77%) and with standard luminaire shape for detritivores (-27%). The predator-detritivore ratio showed a significant color temperature - light level interaction, with increased numbers of predators around streetlights with 3700 K and 100% intensity, resulting in an elevated top-down pressure on detritivores. These results suggest the importance of considering combined light characteristics in future outdoor lighting designs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicola van Koppenhagen
- Swiss Federal Research Institute WSL, Zürcherstrasse 111, CH-8903, Birmensdorf, Switzerland.
| | - Jörg Haller
- EKZ, Dreikönigstrasse 18, CH-8022, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Julia Kappeler
- Swiss Federal Research Institute WSL, Zürcherstrasse 111, CH-8903, Birmensdorf, Switzerland
| | - Martin M Gossner
- Swiss Federal Research Institute WSL, Zürcherstrasse 111, CH-8903, Birmensdorf, Switzerland; ETH Zurich, Department of Environmental Systems Science, Institute of Terrestrial Ecosystems, CH-8092, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Janine Bolliger
- Swiss Federal Research Institute WSL, Zürcherstrasse 111, CH-8903, Birmensdorf, Switzerland
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Spoelstra K, Teurlincx S, Courbois M, Hopkins ZM, Visser ME, Jones TM, Hopkins GR. Long-term exposure to experimental light affects the ground-dwelling invertebrate community, independent of light spectra. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2023; 378:20220364. [PMID: 37899017 PMCID: PMC10613541 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2022.0364] [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: 05/09/2023] [Accepted: 08/30/2023] [Indexed: 10/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Our planet endures a progressive increase in artificial light at night (ALAN), which affects virtually all species, and thereby biodiversity. Mitigation strategies include reducing its intensity and duration, and the adjustment of light spectrum using modern light emitting diode (LED) light sources. Here, we studied ground-dwelling invertebrate (predominantly insects, arachnids, molluscs, millipedes, woodlice and worms) diversity and community composition after 3 or 4 years of continued nightly exposure (every night from sunset to sunrise) to experimental ALAN with three different spectra (white-, and green- and red-dominated light), as well as for a dark control, in natural forest-edge habitat. Diversity of pitfall-trapped ground-dwelling invertebrates, and the local contribution to beta diversity, did not differ between the dark control and illuminated sites, or between the different spectra. The invertebrate community composition, however, was significantly affected by the presence of light. Keeping lights off during single nights did show an immediate effect on the composition of trapped invertebrates compared to illuminated nights. These effects of light on species composition may impact ecosystems by cascading effects across the food web. This article is part of the theme issue 'Light pollution in complex ecological systems'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kamiel Spoelstra
- Department of Animal Ecology, Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO-KNAW), P.O. Box 50, 6700 AB Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Sven Teurlincx
- Department of Animal Ecology, Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO-KNAW), P.O. Box 50, 6700 AB Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Matthijs Courbois
- Department of Animal Ecology, Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO-KNAW), P.O. Box 50, 6700 AB Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Zoë M. Hopkins
- School of BioSciences, University of Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia
| | - Marcel E. Visser
- Department of Animal Ecology, Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO-KNAW), P.O. Box 50, 6700 AB Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Therésa M. Jones
- School of BioSciences, University of Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia
| | - Gareth R. Hopkins
- School of BioSciences, University of Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia
- Department of Biology, Western Oregon University, 345 Monmouth Avenue North, Monmouth, OR 97361, USA
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Parkinson E, Tiegs SD. Spectral composition of light-emitting diodes impacts aquatic and terrestrial invertebrate communities with potential implications for cross-ecosystem subsidies. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2023; 378:20220361. [PMID: 37899013 PMCID: PMC10613537 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2022.0361] [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: 02/27/2023] [Accepted: 07/19/2023] [Indexed: 10/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Resource exchanges in the form of invertebrate fluxes are a key component of aquatic-terrestrial habitat coupling, but this interface is susceptible to human activities, including the imposition of artificial light at night. To better understand the effects of spectral composition of light-emitting diodes (LEDs)-a technology that is rapidly supplanting other lighting types-on emergent aquatic insects and terrestrial insects, we experimentally added LED fixtures that emit different light spectra to the littoral zone and adjacent riparian habitat of a pond. We installed four replicate LED treatments of different wavelengths (410, 530 and 630 nm), neutral white (4000 k) and a dark control, and sampled invertebrates in both terrestrial and over-water littoral traps. Invertebrate communities differed among light treatments and between habitats, as did total insect biomass and mean individual insect size. Proportional allochthonous biomass was greater in the riparian habitat and among some light treatments, demonstrating an asymmetrical effect of differently coloured LEDs on aquatic-terrestrial resource exchanges. Overall, our findings demonstrate that variation in wavelength from LEDs may impact the flux of resources between systems, as well as the communities of insects that are attracted to particular spectra of LED lighting, with probable implications for consumers. This article is part of the theme issue 'Light pollution in complex ecological systems'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth Parkinson
- Department of Biological Sciences, Oakland University, Rochester, MI, 48309, USA
| | - Scott D. Tiegs
- Department of Biological Sciences, Oakland University, Rochester, MI, 48309, USA
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Eckhartt GM, Ruxton GD. Insects within bushes assemble and forage closer to artificial light at night. Ethology 2023. [DOI: 10.1111/eth.13373] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/05/2023]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Graeme D. Ruxton
- School of Biology University of St Andrews St Andrews KY16 9TH UK
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Dickerson AL, Hall ML, Jones TM. Effects of variation in natural and artificial light at night on acoustic communication: a review and prospectus. Anim Behav 2023. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2023.01.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/03/2023]
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Eckhartt GM, Ruxton GD. Artificial light at night may decrease predation risk for terrestrial insects. Biol Lett 2022; 18:20220281. [PMID: 36349582 PMCID: PMC9653218 DOI: 10.1098/rsbl.2022.0281] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2022] [Accepted: 10/18/2022] [Indexed: 10/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Artificial light at night (ALAN) is thought to be detrimental for terrestrial insect populations. While there exists evidence for lower abundance under ALAN, underlying mechanisms remain unclear. One mechanism by which ALAN may contribute to insect declines may be through facilitating increased predation. We investigated this by experimentally manipulating insect-substitute abundance under differential levels of light. We used insect-containing birdfeed placed at varying distances from streetlights as a proxy for terrestrial insects, inspecting the rate of predation before and after dusk (when streetlights are, respectively, off and on). We found that there was a significantly greater effect of increasing distance on predation after dusk, suggesting that predation was actually reduced by greater levels of artificial light. This may occur because ALAN also increases the vulnerability of insectivores to their own predators. Implications for foraging behaviour and alternative explanations are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Graeme D. Ruxton
- School of Biology, University of St Andrews, St Andrews KY16 9TH, UK
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Kehoe R, Sanders D, van Veen FJ. Towards a mechanistic understanding of the effects of artificial light at night on insect populations and communities. CURRENT OPINION IN INSECT SCIENCE 2022; 53:100950. [PMID: 35868610 DOI: 10.1016/j.cois.2022.100950] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2022] [Revised: 07/04/2022] [Accepted: 07/07/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Artificial light at night (ALAN) is markedly changing the night-time environment with many studies showing single-species responses. Exposure to ALAN can lead to population declines that should have consequences for the functioning and stability of ecological communities. Here, we summarise current knowledge on how insect communities are affected by ALAN. Based on reported effects of ALAN on the interactions between species, and what has been demonstrated for similar effects in other contexts, we argue that direct effects of ALAN on a few species can potentially propagate through the network of species interactions to have widespread effects in ecological communities. This can lead to a shift in community structure and simplified communities. We discuss the diversity of ALAN as a pressure and highlight major gaps in the research field. In particular, we conclude that landscape level impacts on populations and communities are understudied.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel Kehoe
- Environment and Sustainability Institute, University of Exeter, Penryn Campus, Penryn, Cornwall TR10 9FE, United Kingdom
| | - Dirk Sanders
- Environment and Sustainability Institute, University of Exeter, Penryn Campus, Penryn, Cornwall TR10 9FE, United Kingdom
| | - Frank Jf van Veen
- Centre for Ecology & Conservation, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Exeter, Penryn Campus, Penryn, Cornwall TR10 9FE, United Kingdom.
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