The Dark Side of Light: Species and Community Impacts of Night Lighting

Grant number: DP150101191 | Funding period: 2015 - 2018

Completed

Abstract

The presence of artificial light at night (LAN) is one of the most profound recent changes in urban ecosystems. Correlated with increases in LAN are declines in the survival and fitness of species living in urban environments. This project aims to use a multi-disciplinary approach to explore the effect of LAN on survival, reproduction and physiology. It integrates field surveys with laboratory and field experiments and aims to utilise sophisticated physiological assays to identify the links between LAN, melatonin, immunity, survival and reproduction. The intended outcome of this research is to provide fundamental insights into the biological consequences of LAN at the species and community l..

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Related publications (9)

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Long-term exposure to experimental light affects the ground-dwelling invertebrate community, independent of light spectra

K Spoelstra, S Teurlincx, M Courbois, ZM Hopkins, ME Visser, TM Jones, GR Hopkins

2023-12-18

Our planet endures a progressive increase in artificial light at night (ALAN), which affects virtually all species, and thereby bi..

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Urban street lighting differentially affects community attributes of airborne and ground-dwelling invertebrate assemblages

MT Lockett, TM Jones, MA Elgar, KJ Gaston, ME Visser, GR Hopkins

2021-10-01

The introduction of artificial light at night (ALAN) into natural and urbanised landscapes is a known and highly pervasive disrupt..

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Dim artificial light at night reduces the cellular immune response of the black field cricket, Teleogryllus commodus

J Durrant, MP Green, TM Jones

2020-06-01

A functioning immune system is crucial for protection against disease and illness, yet increasing evidence suggests that species l..

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Guiding lights: Foraging responses of juvenile nocturnal orb-web spiders to the presence of artificial light at night

NJ Willmott, J Henneken, MA Elgar, TM Jones

2019-05-01

The reach of artificial light at night (ALAN) is growing rapidly around the globe, including the increasing use of energy-efficien..

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Artificial light at night as a driver of evolution across urban–rural landscapes

GR Hopkins, KJ Gaston, ME Visser, MA Elgar, TM Jones

2018-10-01

Light is fundamental to biological systems, affecting the daily rhythms of bacteria, plants, and animals. Artificial light at nigh..

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Artificial light at night prolongs juvenile development time in the black field cricket, Teleogryllus commodus

J Durrant, LM Botha, MP Green, TM Jones

2018-06-01

A growing body of evidence exists to support a detrimental effect of the presence of artificial light at night (ALAN) on life-hist..

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Artificial light at night alters life history in a nocturnal orb-web spider

NJ Willmott, J Henneken, CJ Selleck, TM Jones

2018-01-01

The prevalence of artificial light at night (ALAN) is increasing rapidly around the world. The potential physiological costs of th..

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Pheromones-based sexual selection in a rapidly changing world

J Henneken, TM Jones

2017-12-01

Insects utilise chemical cues for a range of different purposes and the complexity and degree of specificity of these signals is a..

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Effects of lifetime exposure to artificial light at night on cricket (Teleogryllus commodus) courtship and mating behaviour

LM Botha, TM Jones, GR Hopkins

2017-07-01

Increasing evidence suggests that key fitness-related behaviours of animals related to courtship and mating may be disrupted by an..

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