scholarly journals Large-scale deregulation of gene expression by artificial light at night in tadpoles of common toads

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Morgane Touzot ◽  
Tristan Lefebure ◽  
Thierry Lengagne ◽  
Jean Secondi ◽  
Adeline Dumet ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Bufo Bufo ◽  
Artificial Light ◽  
Light At Night ◽  
Light Levels ◽  
Immune Challenges ◽  
Physiological Pathways ◽  
Low Levels ◽  
Dose Dependent

Artificial light at night (ALAN) affects numerous physiological and behavioural mechanisms in various species by potentially disturbing circadian timekeeping systems. Although gene-specific approaches have already shown the deleterious effect of ALAN on the circadian clock, immunity and reproduction, large-scale transcriptomic approaches with ecologically relevant light levels are still lacking to assess the global impact of ALAN on biological processes. Moreover, studies have focused mainly on variations in gene expression during the night in the presence of ALAN but never during the day. In a controlled laboratory experiment, transcriptome sequencing of Bufo bufo tadpoles revealed that ALAN affected gene expression at both night and daytime with a dose-dependent effect and globally induced a downregulation of genes. ALAN effects were detected at very low levels of illuminance (0.1 lux) and affected mainly genes related to the innate immune system and, to a lesser extend to lipid metabolism. These results indicate that a broad range of physiological pathways is impacted at the molecular level by very low levels of ALAN potentially resulting in reduced survival under environmental immune challenges.

scholarly journals Artificial light at night shifts the circadian system but still leads to physiological disruption in a wild bird

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Davide M. Dominoni ◽  
Maaike de Jong ◽  
Kees van Oers ◽  
Peter O’Shaughnessy ◽  
Gavin Blackburn ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Circadian Clock ◽  
Candidate Genes ◽  
Clock Gene ◽  
Circadian Disruption ◽  
Artificial Light ◽  
Wild Animals ◽  
Light At Night ◽  
Internal Desynchronization ◽  
Physiological Pathways

AbstractGlobally increasing levels of artificial light at night (ALAN) have been associated with shifts in behavioral rhythms of many wild organisms. It is however unknown to what extent this change in behavior is due to shifts in the circadian clock, and, importantly, whether the physiological pathways orchestrated by the circadian clock are desynchronized by ALAN. Such circadian disruption could have severe consequences for wildlife health, as shown for humans. Here, we analyze the effects of experimental ALAN on rhythmic behavior, gene expression and metabolomic profiles in a wild songbird, the great tit (Parus major). We exposed 34 captive males to three ALAN intensities or to dark nights and recorded their activity rhythms. After three weeks, we collected mid-day and midnight samples of hypothalamus, hippocampus, liver, spleen and plasma. ALAN advanced wake-up time, and this shift was paralleled by an advance in hypothalamic expression of the clock gene BMAL1, which is key to integrating physiological pathways. BMAL1 advances were remarkably consistent across tissues, suggesting close links of brain and peripheral clock gene expression with activity rhythms. However, only a minority of other candidate genes (4 out of 12) paralleled the shifted BMAL1 expression. Moreover, metabolomic profiling showed that only 9.7% of the 755 analyzed metabolites followed the circadian shift. Thus, despite the shifted timing of key clock functions under ALAN, birds suffered internal desynchronization. We thus suggest circadian disruption to be a key link between ALAN and health impacts, in birds and humans alike.Significance StatementShifts in daily activity are a common consequence of artificial light at night (ALAN). In humans, shifted activity cycles often become desynchronized from internal physiological rhythms, with serious health implications. To what extent a similar desynchronization occurs in wild animals experiencing ALAN is currently unknown. We exposed captive great tits to increasing levels of LAN, and found that activity patterns and a core clock gene, BMAL1, shifted in concert. However, only a minority of additional candidate genes and less than 10% of the metabolites followed this circadian shift, suggesting internal desynchronization of physiological rhythms. Our study emphasizes the massive potential for ALAN to impact the health of wild animals through circadian disruption.

scholarly journals The Endosymbiotic Coral Algae Symbiodiniaceae Are Sensitive to a Sensory Pollutant: Artificial Light at Night, ALAN

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Inbal Ayalon ◽  
Jennifer I. C. Benichou ◽  
Dror Avisar ◽  
Oren Levy
Keyword(s):  
Cell Cultures ◽  
Marine Ecosystem ◽  
Photochemical Quenching ◽  
Artificial Light ◽  
Light At Night ◽  
Symbiotic Algae ◽  
Light Spectra ◽  
Clade C ◽  
Low Levels ◽  
Non Photochemical Quenching

Artificial Light at Night, ALAN, is a major emerging issue in biodiversity conservation, which can negatively impact both terrestrial and marine environments. Therefore, it should be taken into serious consideration in strategic planning for urban development. While the lion’s share of research has dealt with terrestrial organisms, only a handful of studies have focused on the marine milieu. To determine if ALAN impacts the coral reef symbiotic algae, that are fundamental for sustainable coral reefs, we conducted a short experiment over a period of one-month by illuminating isolated Symbiodiniaceae cell cultures from the genera Cladocopium (formerly Clade C) and Durusdinium (formerly Clade D) with LED light. Cell cultures were exposed nightly to ALAN levels of 0.15 μmol quanta m–2 s–1 (∼4–5 lux) with three light spectra: blue, yellow and white. Our findings showed that even in very low levels of light at night, the photo-physiology of the algae’s Electron Transport Rate (ETR), Non-Photochemical Quenching, (NPQ), total chlorophyll, and meiotic index presented significantly lower values under ALAN, primarily, but not exclusively, in Cladocopium cell cultures. The findings also showed that diverse Symbiodiniaceae types have different photo-physiology and photosynthesis performances under ALAN. We believe that our results sound an alarm for the probable detrimental effects of an increasing sensory pollutant, ALAN, on the eco-physiology of symbiotic corals. The results of this study point to the potential effects of ALAN on other organisms in marine ecosystem such as fish, zooplankton, and phytoplankton in which their biorhythms is entrained by natural light and dark cycles.

scholarly journals Artificial Light at Night Influences Clock-Gene Expression, Activity, and Fecundity in the Mosquito Culex pipiens f. molestus

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (22) ◽  
pp. 6220 ◽  
Author(s):  
Honnen ◽  
Kypke ◽  
Hölker ◽  
Monaghan
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Culex Pipiens ◽  
Clock Gene ◽  
Clock Cycle ◽  
Diel Activity ◽  
Artificial Light ◽  
Light At Night ◽  
Clock Gene Expression ◽  
Expression Activity ◽  
And Behavior

Light is an important environmental cue, and exposure to artificial light at night (ALAN) may disrupt organismal physiology and behavior. We investigated whether ALAN led to changes in clock-gene expression, diel activity patterns, and fecundity in laboratory populations of the mosquito Culex pipiens f. molestus (Diptera, Culicidae), a species that occurs in urban areas and is thus regularly exposed to ALAN. Populations were kept under 16hours (h):8h light:dark cycles or were subjected to an additional 3.5 h of light (100–300 lx) in the evenings. ALAN induced significant changes in expression in all genes studied, either alone (period) or as an interaction with time (timeless, cryptochrome2, Clock, cycle). Changes were sex-specific: period was down-regulated in both sexes, cycle was up-regulated in females, and Clock was down-regulated in males. ALAN-exposed mosquitoes were less active during the extra-light phase, but exposed females were more active later in the night. ALAN-exposed females also produced smaller and fewer eggs. Our findings indicate a sex-specific impact of ALAN on the physiology and behavior of Culex pipiens f. molestus and that changes in clock-gene expression, activity, and fecundity may be linked.

scholarly journals 0038 Sleeping with Low Levels of Artificial Light at Night Increases Systemic Inflammation in Humans

SLEEP ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 42 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. A15-A16 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jesse W Mindel ◽  
Samantha L Rojas ◽  
David Kline ◽  
Shengying Bao ◽  
Ali Rezai ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Systemic Inflammation ◽  
Artificial Light ◽  
Light At Night ◽  
Low Levels

scholarly journals Out of the Dark: Establishing a Large-Scale Field Experiment to Assess the Effects of Artificial Light at Night on Species and Food Webs

2015 ◽  
Vol 7 (11) ◽  
pp. 15593-15616 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephanie Holzhauer ◽  
Steffen Franke ◽  
Christopher Kyba ◽  
Alessandro Manfrin ◽  
Reinhard Klenke ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Field Experiment ◽  
Food Webs ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Artificial Light ◽  
Light At Night ◽  
Scale Field ◽  
Large Scale Field

Effects of artificial light at night (ALAN) on gene expression of Aquatica ficta firefly larvae

2021 ◽  
pp. 116944
Author(s):  
Yun-Ru Chen ◽  
Wei-Lun Wei ◽  
David T.W. Tzeng ◽  
C.S. Owens Avalon ◽  
Hsin-Chieh Tang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Artificial Light ◽  
Light At Night

Influence of industrial light pollution on the sea-finding behaviour of flatback turtle hatchlings

2014 ◽  
Vol 41 (5) ◽  
pp. 421 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ruth L. Kamrowski ◽  
Col Limpus ◽  
Kellie Pendoley ◽  
Mark Hamann
Keyword(s):  
Cloud Cover ◽  
Industrial Development ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Marine Turtle ◽  
Artificial Light ◽  
Moon Phase ◽  
Light Levels ◽  
Combination Of Methods ◽  
Industrial Lighting ◽  
Nesting Beaches

Context Numerous studies show that artificial light disrupts the sea-finding ability of marine turtle hatchlings. Yet very little has been published regarding sea-finding for flatback turtles. Given the current industrialisation of Australia’s coastline, and the large potential for disruption posed by industrial light, this study is a timely investigation into sea-finding behaviour of flatback turtle hatchlings. Aims We investigate sea-finding by flatback turtle hatchlings in relation to ambient light present in areas of planned or ongoing industrial development, and evaluate the fan and arena-based methods that are frequently used for quantifying hatchling dispersion. Methods Using a combination of methods, we assessed the angular range and directional preference of sea-finding hatchlings at two key flatback turtle rookeries, Peak and Curtis Islands, during January–February 2012 and 2013, and at Curtis Island in January 2014. Relative light levels at each site were measured using an Optec SSP-3 stellar photometer, and moon phase, moon stage and cloud cover were also recorded. Key results We found no evidence of impaired hatchling orientation, and observed very low levels of light at Peak Island. However, at Curtis Island, hatchlings displayed reduced sea-finding ability, with light horizons from the direction of nearby industry significantly brighter than from other directions. The sea-finding disruption observed at Curtis Island was less pronounced in the presence of moonlight. Conclusions The reduced sea-finding ability of Curtis Island hatchlings was likely due to both altered light horizons from nearby industry, as well as beach topography. Both methods of assessing hatchling orientation have benefits and limitations. We suggest that fan-based methods, combined with strategically placed arenas, would provide the best data for accurately assessing hatchling sea-finding. Implications Sky glow produced by large-scale industrial development appears detrimental to sea-finding by flatback turtle hatchlings. As development continues around Australia’s coastline, we strongly recommend continued monitoring of lighting impacts at adjacent turtle nesting beaches. We also advise rigorous management of industrial lighting, which considers cumulative light levels in regions of multiple light producers, as well as moon phase, moon-stage, cloud cover and time of hatchling emergence. All these factors affect the likelihood of disrupted hatchling sea-finding behaviour at nesting beaches exposed to artificial light-glow, industrial or otherwise.

scholarly journals Learning to feed in the dark: how light level influences feeding in the hawkmoth Manduca sexta

2021 ◽  
Vol 17 (9) ◽  
pp. 20210320
Author(s):  
Tanvi Deora ◽  
Mahad A. Ahmed ◽  
Bingni W. Brunton ◽  
Thomas L. Daniel
Keyword(s):  
Motor Control ◽  
Manduca Sexta ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Light Level ◽  
Artificial Light ◽  
Motion Sensors ◽  
Light Conditions ◽  
Light At Night ◽  
Light Levels ◽  
Artificial Flowers

Nocturnal insects like moths are essential for pollination, providing resilience to the diurnal pollination networks. Moths use both vision and mechanosensation to locate the nectary opening in the flowers with their proboscis. However, increased light levels due to artificial light at night (ALAN) pose a serious threat to nocturnal insects. Here, we examined how light levels influence the efficacy by which the crepuscular hawkmoth Manduca sexta locates the nectary. We used three-dimensional-printed artificial flowers fitted with motion sensors in the nectary and machine vision to track the motion of hovering moths under two light levels: 0.1 lux (moonlight) and 50 lux (dawn/dusk). We found that moths in higher light conditions took significantly longer to find the nectary, even with repeated visits to the same flower. In addition to taking longer, moths in higher light conditions hovered further from the flower during feeding. Increased light levels adversely affect learning and motor control in these animals.

scholarly journals Low Levels of Artificial Light at Night Strengthen Top-Down Control in Insect Food Web

2018 ◽  
Vol 28 (15) ◽  
pp. 2474-2478.e3 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dirk Sanders ◽  
Rachel Kehoe ◽  
Dave Cruse ◽  
F.J. Frank van Veen ◽  
Kevin J. Gaston
Keyword(s):  
Food Web ◽  
Artificial Light ◽  
Top Down ◽  
Light At Night ◽  
Low Levels

scholarly journals Artificial light at nigh drives early dawn chorus onset times of the Saffron Finch (Sicalis flaveola) in an Andean city

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Oscar Humberto Marín Gómez
Keyword(s):  
Noise Pollution ◽  
Anthropogenic Noise ◽  
Artificial Light ◽  
Urban Birds ◽  
Light At Night ◽  
Dawn Chorus ◽  
Artificial Lighting ◽  
The North ◽  
Light Levels ◽  
Social Dynamic

AbstractUrban birds around the world have to cope with dominant city stressors as anthropogenic noise and artificial light at night by adjusting the temporal and spectral traits of their acoustic signals. It is widely known that higher anthropogenic noise and artificial light levels can disrupt the morning singing routines, but its influence in tropical urban birds remains poorly explored. Here, I assessed the association between light and noise pollution with the dawn chorus onset of the Saffron Finch (Sicalis flaveola) in an Andean city of Colombia. I studied 32 urban sites distributed in the north of the city, which comprise different conditions of urban development based on the built cover. I annotated the time when the first individual of the Saffron Finch was heard at each site and then I obtained anthropogenic noise and artificial light at night measurements using a smartphone. Findings of this study show that Saffron Finches living in highly developed sites sang earlier at dawn than those occupying less urbanized sites. Unexpectedly this timing difference was related to artificial lighting instead of anthropogenic noise, suggesting that artificial light could drive earlier dawn chorus in a tropical urban bird. Saffron Finches could take advantage of earlier singing for signaling territorial ownership among neighbors, as expected by the social dynamic hypothesis. However, findings of this study should be interpreted carefully because the dawn chorus is a complex phenomenon influenced by many multiple factors. Future studies need to assess the influence of ALAN on the dawn chorus timing of Neotropical urban birds by taking into account the influence of confounding factors related to urbanization as well as meteorological, ecological, and social drivers.

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