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Caley A, Marzinelli EM, Byrne M, Mayer-Pinto M. Artificial light at night and warming impact grazing rates and gonad index of the sea urchin Centrostephanus rodgersii. Proc Biol Sci 2024; 291:20240415. [PMID: 38628122 PMCID: PMC11021935 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2024.0415] [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: 02/20/2023] [Accepted: 03/15/2024] [Indexed: 04/19/2024] Open
Abstract
Artificial light at night (ALAN) is a growing threat to coastal habitats, and is likely to exacerbate the impacts of other stressors. Kelp forests are dominant habitats on temperate reefs but are declining due to ocean warming and overgrazing. We tested the independent and interactive effects of ALAN (dark versus ALAN) and warming (ambient versus warm) on grazing rates and gonad index of the sea urchin Centrostephanus rodgersii. Within these treatments, urchins were fed either 'fresh' kelp or 'treated' kelp. Treated kelp (Ecklonia radiata) was exposed to the same light and temperature combinations as urchins. We assessed photosynthetic yield, carbon and nitrogen content and C : N ratio of treated kelp to help identify potential drivers behind any effects on urchins. Grazing increased with warming and ALAN for urchins fed fresh kelp, and increased with warming for urchins fed treated kelp. Gonad index was higher in ALAN/ambient and dark/warm treatments compared to dark/ambient treatments for urchins fed fresh kelp. Kelp carbon content was higher in ALAN/ambient treatments than ALAN/warm treatments at one time point. This indicates ocean warming and ALAN may increase urchin grazing pressure on rocky reefs, an important finding for management strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amelia Caley
- 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
| | - Ezequiel M. Marzinelli
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Maria Byrne
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, 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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Bará S, Falchi F. Artificial light at night: a global disruptor of the night-time environment. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2023; 378:20220352. [PMID: 37899010 PMCID: PMC10613534 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2022.0352] [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: 02/17/2023] [Accepted: 04/17/2023] [Indexed: 10/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Light pollution is the alteration of the natural levels of darkness by an increased concentration of light particles in the night-time environment, resulting from human activity. Light pollution is profoundly changing the night-time environmental conditions across wide areas of the planet, and is a relevant stressor whose effects on life are being unveiled by a compelling body of research. In this paper, we briefly review the basic aspects of artificial light at night as a pollutant, describing its character, magnitude and extent, its worldwide distribution, its temporal and spectral change trends, as well as its dependence on current light production technologies and prevailing social uses of light. It is shown that the overall effects of light pollution are not restricted to local disturbances, but give rise to a global, multiscale disruption of the night-time environment. This article is part of the theme issue 'Light pollution in complex ecological systems'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Salvador Bará
- Departamento de Física Aplicada, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela (USC), Santiago de Compostela, 15782 Galicia Spain
| | - Fabio Falchi
- Departamento de Física Aplicada, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela (USC), Santiago de Compostela, 15782 Galicia Spain
- ISTIL Istituto di Scienza e Tecnologia dell'Inquinamento Luminoso–Light Pollution Science and Technology Institute, Via Roma, 13 - I 36016 Thiene, Italy
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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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Tidau S, Brough FT, Gimenez L, Jenkins SR, Davies TW. Impacts of artificial light at night on the early life history of two ecosystem engineers. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2023; 378:20220363. [PMID: 37899009 PMCID: PMC10613533 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2022.0363] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2023] [Accepted: 06/26/2023] [Indexed: 10/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Sessile marine invertebrates play a vital role as ecosystem engineers and in benthic-pelagic coupling. Most benthic fauna develop through larval stages and the importance of natural light cycles for larval biology and ecology is long-established. Natural light-dark cycles regulate two of the largest ocean-scale processes that are fundamental to larvae's life cycle: the timing of broadcast spawning for successful fertilization and diel vertical migration for foraging and predator avoidance. Given the reliance on light and the ecological role of larvae, surprisingly little is known about the impacts of artificial light at night (ALAN) on the early life history of habitat-forming species. We quantified ALAN impacts on larval performance (survival, growth, development) of two cosmopolitan ecosystem engineers in temperate marine ecosystems, the mussel Mytilus edulis and the barnacle Austrominius modestus. Higher ALAN irradiance reduced survival in both species (57% and 13%, respectively). ALAN effects on development and growth were small overall, and different between species, time-points and parentage. Our results show that ALAN adversely affects larval survival and reiterates the importance of paternal influence on offspring performance. ALAN impacts on the early life stages of ecosystem engineering species have implications not only for population viability but also the ecological communities that these species support. This article is part of the theme issue 'Light pollution in complex ecological systems'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Svenja Tidau
- School of Biological and Marine Sciences, University of Plymouth, Plymouth PL4 8AA, UK
| | - Fraser T. Brough
- School of Biological and Marine Sciences, University of Plymouth, Plymouth PL4 8AA, UK
| | - Luis Gimenez
- School of Ocean Sciences, Bangor University, Menai Bridge LL59 5AB, UK
| | - Stuart R. Jenkins
- School of Ocean Sciences, Bangor University, Menai Bridge LL59 5AB, UK
| | - Thomas W. Davies
- School of Biological and Marine Sciences, University of Plymouth, Plymouth PL4 8AA, UK
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Mardones ML, Lambert J, Wiedenmann J, Davies TW, Levy O, D'Angelo C. Artificial light at night (ALAN) disrupts behavioural patterns of reef corals. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2023; 194:115365. [PMID: 37579595 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.115365] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2023] [Revised: 07/27/2023] [Accepted: 07/30/2023] [Indexed: 08/16/2023]
Abstract
Increasing levels of Artificial Light At Night (ALAN) alter the natural diel cycles of organisms at global scale. ALAN constitutes a potential threat to the light-dependent functioning of symbiotic scleractinian corals, the habit-founders of warm, shallow water reefs. Here, we show that ALAN disrupts the natural diel tentacle expansion and contraction behaviour, a key mechanism for prey capture and nutrient acquisition in corals. We exposed four symbiotic scleractinian coral species to different ALAN treatments (0.4-2.5 μmol quanta m-2 s-1). Exposure to ALAN levels of 1.2 μmol quanta m-2 s-1 and above altered the normal tentacle expansion response in diurnal species (Stylophora pistillata and Duncanopsammia axifuga). The tentacle expansion pattern of nocturnal species (Montastraea cavernosa and Lobophyllia hemprichii) was less affected, which may indicate a greater capacity to tolerate ALAN exposure. The results of this work suggest that ALAN has the potential to affect nutrient acquisition mechanisms of symbiotic corals which may in turn result in changes in the coral community structure in shallow water reefs in ALAN-exposed areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- M L Mardones
- Coral Reef Laboratory, University of Southampton, European Way, Southampton, UK
| | - J Lambert
- Coral Reef Laboratory, University of Southampton, European Way, Southampton, UK
| | - J Wiedenmann
- Coral Reef Laboratory, University of Southampton, European Way, Southampton, UK
| | - T W Davies
- School of Biological and Marine Sciences, University of Plymouth, Plymouth, UK
| | - O Levy
- Mina and Everard Goodman Faculty of Life Sciences, Bar-Ilan University, Israel; Israel The H. Steinitz Marine Biology Laboratory, The Interuniversity Institute for Marine Sciences of Eilat, Israel
| | - C D'Angelo
- Coral Reef Laboratory, University of Southampton, European Way, Southampton, UK.
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Kramer N, Tamir R, Galindo-Martínez CT, Wangpraseurt D, Loya Y. Light pollution alters the skeletal morphology of coral juveniles and impairs their light capture capacity. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2023; 193:115212. [PMID: 37385181 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.115212] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2023] [Revised: 06/13/2023] [Accepted: 06/21/2023] [Indexed: 07/01/2023]
Abstract
Urbanization and infrastructure development have changed the night-time light regime of many coastal marine habitats. Consequently, Artificial Light at Night (ALAN) is becoming a global ecological concern, particularly in nearshore coral reef ecosystems. However, the effects of ALAN on coral architecture and their optical properties are unexplored. Here, we conducted a long-term ex situ experiment (30 months from settlement) on juvenile Stylophora pistillata corals grown under ALAN conditions using light-emitting diodes (LEDs) and fluorescent lamps, mimicking light-polluted habitats. We found that corals exposed to ALAN exhibited altered skeletal morphology that subsequently resulted in reduced light capture capacity, while also gaining better structural and optical modifications to increased light levels than their ambient-light counterparts. Additionally, light-polluted corals developed a more porous skeleton compared to the control corals. We suggest that ALAN induces light stress in corals, leading to a decrease in the solar energy available for photosynthesis during daytime illumination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Netanel Kramer
- School of Zoology, Tel-Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel; The Steinhardt Museum of Natural History, Israel National Center for Biodiversity Studies, Tel Aviv, Israel.
| | - Raz Tamir
- Israel Oceanography & Limnological Research, National Institute of Oceanography, Haifa, Israel
| | | | - Daniel Wangpraseurt
- Marine Biology Research Division, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California San Diego,San Diego, USA; Department of Nanoengineering, University of California San Diego, San Diego, USA
| | - Yossi Loya
- School of Zoology, Tel-Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
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Christoforou E, Dominoni D, Lindström J, Diamantopoulou C, Czyzewski J, Mirzai N, Spatharis S. The effects of artificial light at night (ALAN) on the gaping activity and feeding of mussels. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2023; 192:115105. [PMID: 37290299 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.115105] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2023] [Revised: 05/21/2023] [Accepted: 05/25/2023] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Artificial Light at Night (ALAN) is a common environmental pollutant which affects >22 % of the world's coastlines. However, the impact of ALAN wavelengths on coastal organisms is under-investigated. Here, we tested the impact of red, green, and white ALAN on the gaping activity and phytoplankton consumption of Mytilus edulis mussels and compared these to dark night. Mussels exhibited a semi-diel activity pattern. Although ALAN did not significantly affect the time open nor the phytoplankton consumption, it did have a colour-specific effect on the gaping frequency with red and white ALAN resulting in lower activity compared to the dark night. Green ALAN caused higher gaping frequency and a negative relationship between consumption and proportion of time open compared to the other treatments. Our findings suggest colour-specific ALAN effects on mussels and call for further investigation on the associated physiological mechanisms and potential ecological consequences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eleni Christoforou
- University of Glasgow, School of Biodiversity, One Health & Veterinary Medicine, G12 8QQ Glasgow, UK; Cyprus University of Technology, Department of Chemical Engineering, 3036 Limassol, Cyprus.
| | - Davide Dominoni
- University of Glasgow, School of Biodiversity, One Health & Veterinary Medicine, G12 8QQ Glasgow, UK
| | - Jan Lindström
- University of Glasgow, School of Biodiversity, One Health & Veterinary Medicine, G12 8QQ Glasgow, UK
| | - Christina Diamantopoulou
- University of Glasgow, School of Biodiversity, One Health & Veterinary Medicine, G12 8QQ Glasgow, UK; University of Amsterdam, Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics, 1098 XH Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Jakub Czyzewski
- University of Glasgow, School of Biodiversity, One Health & Veterinary Medicine, BioElectronics Unit, G12 8QQ Glasgow, UK
| | - Nosrat Mirzai
- University of Glasgow, School of Biodiversity, One Health & Veterinary Medicine, BioElectronics Unit, G12 8QQ Glasgow, UK
| | - Sofie Spatharis
- University of Glasgow, School of Biodiversity, One Health & Veterinary Medicine, G12 8QQ Glasgow, UK
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Tidau S, Whittle J, Jenkins SR, Davies TW. Artificial light at night reverses monthly foraging pattern under simulated moonlight. Biol Lett 2022; 18:20220110. [PMID: 35892207 PMCID: PMC9326264 DOI: 10.1098/rsbl.2022.0110] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Mounting evidence shows that artificial light at night (ALAN) alters biological processes across levels of organization, from cells to communities. Yet, the combined impacts of ALAN and natural sources of night-time illumination remain little explored. This is in part due the lack of accurate simulations of the complex changes moonlight intensity, timing and spectra throughout a single night and lunar cycles in laboratory experiments. We custom-built a novel system to simulate natural patterns of moonlight to test how different ALAN intensities affect predator–prey relationships over the full lunar cycle. Exposure to high intensity ALAN (10 and 50 lx) reversed the natural lunar-guided foraging pattern by the gastropod mesopredator Nucella lapillus on its prey Semibalanus balanoides. Foraging decreased during brighter moonlight in naturally lit conditions. When exposed to high intensity ALAN, foraging increased with brighter moonlight. Low intensity ALAN (0.1 and 0.5 lx) had no impact on foraging. Our results show that ALAN alters the foraging pattern guided by changes in moonlight brightness. ALAN impacts on ecosystems can depend on lunar light cycles. Accurate simulations of night-time light cycle will warrant more realistic insights into ALAN impacts and also facilitate advances in fundamental night-time ecology and chronobiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Svenja Tidau
- School of Biological and Marine Sciences, University of Plymouth, Plymouth PL4 8AA, UK.,School of Ocean Sciences, University of Bangor, Menai Bridge LL59 5AB, UK
| | - Jack Whittle
- School of Ocean Sciences, University of Bangor, Menai Bridge LL59 5AB, UK
| | - Stuart R Jenkins
- School of Ocean Sciences, University of Bangor, Menai Bridge LL59 5AB, UK
| | - Thomas W Davies
- School of Biological and Marine Sciences, University of Plymouth, Plymouth PL4 8AA, UK
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Häfker NS, Connan-McGinty S, Hobbs L, McKee D, Cohen JH, Last KS. Animal behavior is central in shaping the realized diel light niche. Commun Biol 2022; 5:562. [PMID: 35676530 PMCID: PMC9177748 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-022-03472-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2022] [Accepted: 05/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
AbstractAnimal behavior in space and time is structured by the perceived day/night cycle. However, this is modified by the animals’ own movement within its habitat, creating a realized diel light niche (RDLN). To understand the RDLN, we investigated the light as experienced by zooplankton undergoing synchronized diel vertical migration (DVM) in an Arctic fjord around the spring equinox. We reveal a highly dampened light cycle with diel changes being about two orders of magnitude smaller compared to the surface or a static depth. The RDLN is further characterized by unique wavelength-specific irradiance cycles. We discuss the relevance of RDLNs for animal adaptations and interactions, as well as implications for circadian clock entrainment in the wild and laboratory.
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Hölker F, Bolliger J, Davies TW, Giavi S, Jechow A, Kalinkat G, Longcore T, Spoelstra K, Tidau S, Visser ME, Knop E. 11 Pressing Research Questions on How Light Pollution Affects Biodiversity. Front Ecol Evol 2021. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2021.767177] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Artificial light at night (ALAN) is closely associated with modern societies and is rapidly increasing worldwide. A dynamically growing body of literature shows that ALAN poses a serious threat to all levels of biodiversity—from genes to ecosystems. Many “unknowns” remain to be addressed however, before we fully understand the impact of ALAN on biodiversity and can design effective mitigation measures. Here, we distilled the findings of a workshop on the effects of ALAN on biodiversity at the first World Biodiversity Forum in Davos attended by several major research groups in the field from across the globe. We argue that 11 pressing research questions have to be answered to find ways to reduce the impact of ALAN on biodiversity. The questions address fundamental knowledge gaps, ranging from basic challenges on how to standardize light measurements, through the multi-level impacts on biodiversity, to opportunities and challenges for more sustainable use.
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Ellison AR, Wilcockson D, Cable J. Circadian dynamics of the teleost skin immune-microbiome interface. MICROBIOME 2021; 9:222. [PMID: 34782020 PMCID: PMC8594171 DOI: 10.1186/s40168-021-01160-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2021] [Accepted: 08/28/2021] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Circadian rhythms of host immune activity and their microbiomes are likely pivotal to health and disease resistance. The integration of chronotherapeutic approaches to disease mitigation in managed animals, however, is yet to be realised. In aquaculture, light manipulation is commonly used to enhance growth and control reproduction but may have unknown negative consequences for animal health. Infectious diseases are a major barrier to sustainable aquaculture and understanding the circadian dynamics of fish immunity and crosstalk with the microbiome is urgently needed. RESULTS Here, using rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) as a model, we combine 16S rRNA metabarcoding, metagenomic sequencing and direct mRNA quantification methods to simultaneously characterise the circadian dynamics of skin clock and immune gene expression, and daily changes of skin microbiota. We demonstrate daily rhythms in fish skin immune expression and microbiomes, which are modulated by photoperiod and parasitic lice infection. We identify putative associations of host clock and immune gene profiles with microbial composition. Our results suggest circadian perturbation, that shifts the magnitude and timing of immune and microbiota activity, is detrimental to fish health. CONCLUSIONS The substantial circadian dynamics and fish host expression-microbiome relationships we find represent a valuable foundation for investigating the utility of chronotherapies in aquaculture, and more broadly contributes to our understanding of the role of microbiomes in circadian health of vertebrates. Video Abstract.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amy R Ellison
- School of Natural Sciences, Bangor University, Bangor, LL57 2DG, UK.
| | - David Wilcockson
- Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences (IBERS), Aberystwyth University, Aberystwyth, SY23 3DA, UK
| | - Jo Cable
- School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, CF10 3AX, UK
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